Autobody Paint and Wet-Sanding Tips From the Pros We show proper automotive clearcoat and paint application and share tips on the wet-sanding and buffing processes. Wet sanding is a widely used method to fix a range of cosmetic issues a car might have. then work your way back up to 2500 or 3000. Regular primer can be wet sanded after about 10-15 minutes. Keep the sanding pattern irregular to avoid producing deep scratches that might remain visible. Final sanding before applying colour coats is generally carried out wet using the appropriate fine grades of WetorDry abrasive paper. The horizontal surfaces take a beating from the ultra-violet rays of the sun. When the paint arrived, I hit one of the color match cards with the basecoat to make sure it was a match before starting in on any bodywork, grinding, and sanding. OK Dave, that makes sense now. Biba Correct Sandpaper Grit You Should Sand Your Car With – Before Paint! Automotive Paint Scratch Repair At Home DIY. Take the spray bottle in the other hand and spray the surface if it ever begins to dry out. Scrub down the area in question with soapy water or degreaser. Small areas can be sanded dry but a finer finish and extended abrasive life is achieved by wet sanding. Cleaning the Exterior of the Car. Step 7: Sand the car. Step Two: Test and Wet Sand With 1200 or 1500 Sandpaper. However, if it is a finished paint job you are sanding, 800-1000 grit sandpaper will be perfect. Before you go and sand the whole car, do a test on a small area; a lower corner in the rear bumper is a great place to do your test. Immerse the paper in water for 10 minutes, then sand in a circular motion. Wet sand the primer, making sure to sand out any drips, scratches or other rough spots with 800-1200 grit sand paper. 1. Wet sanding is typically done after dry sanding to get an even finish. Painting cars, houses, or anything else is 99 percent prep work and one percent application. Usually when you sand a surface, it needs to be dry. But wet sanding your car uses a lubricant, like water, between the sandpaper and your car’s surface to get a smooth finish rather than scratching the living daylights out of your car.. Step 8: Sand with the proper technique. Most factory paint jobs can handle a repaint with out stripping the entire car to the metal. Wipe the surface gently after cleaning with a clean microfiber towel. So painting a car in the fairly recent old days meant starting by laboriously hand wet-sanding the entire body (after any necessary bodywork, of course) with 180 to 220 grit paper, feathering out chips and scratches as mentioned, and then going back over the whole thing with 360 to 400 grit wet-sanding. When sanding enamel paint, you will use a technique called wet sanding.This requires water and high-grade sandpaper. It is about Rick Mahoney's (Blue Bell PA) '73 Superduty Firebird. It helps to remove dirt that may have settled onto the body of the car as the paint was drying and caused an uneven look on the paint … Starting first with this Ranger that I repaired the cab corner on. or the color come off on your hand when you rub it . Auto Body taught us about the importance of final surface prep with a good wet-sanding of the foundation with 400-800–grit paper; we got ours from Summit Racing Equipment. the paint .. if you sand the clear to buff ultra smooth use 1500 to 2000 grit to color sand and buff with buffer. Colors take a little longer. Wet sanding 2K Urethane primer is best done with 400 to 600 grit wet/dry paper on a Durablock. Wet-sand the base coat before starting the clear coat.Wet sanding makes the surfaces smoother. Sand the paint either to the bare metal, the original primer, or at least sufficiently for the new paint to adhere. It is often a step in polishing cars and other items. Apply light and steady pressure with one hand and begin sanding. And yes you can wet sand and put a new coat of base and then apply clear. just fix the dents , 320 the car to prime, water sand with 400 to 600 grit . Also, between primer and paint applications, you should wet sand the vehicle with a 1000 - 1200 grit piece of sandpaper. The type of sandpaper you need for wet sanding is called silicon carbide -- or wet/dry -- sandpaper. Besides sanding the surface, any holes or cracks should be covered, too. How and Why You Need To Use Wax and Grease Remover Before a Paint Job. Before performing wet sanding, make sure to properly assess if the vehicle really needs it. I would start at 3000 and go down until you start seeing improvement. I'd wait at least 30 minutes, if not an hour before wet sanding any spray paint colors. In most cases wet sanding is done when you are dealing with a larger surface, say if you had to repaint the entire car. This type of sanding makes it possible to achieve an extremely fine finish without actually damaging the surface. I have quite a few reasons for not liking these. the car may not be painted with base/clear coat paint .. if you can sand lightly sand it and it is the color of the paint . Top 10 Auto Paint Repair Problems and Solutions Wet sanding is a process that’s often used on car paint jobs, guitars, and even 3D prints to give them a mirror-smooth look. It’s carried out using a lubricant, usually water and soap, which is believed to be the most effective way to ensure that the paint does not get damaged during this whole procedure.