Wet Sanding

[PBodyGT87]

I'm about to do prepwork for the fiero to get it painted. We'd rather do it ourselves because it's going to save time and money, and we can be more meticulous about getting all the areas clean (since Richard's "Magic Finish" 900$ paint job started to peel one year later)

Has anyone ever wet-sanded before? My brother has already learned it in his body shop classes in college, but I just wanted to get some addition information.

[transmaro93]

what doyou need to know??? is this a full paint....? is there bodywork/filler involved? need some more details to find out where you are at bud...

[PBodyGT87]

full paint. only body work needed is just that we're putting a new fascia on. no dents to be pulled or anything, so no bodywork or fillers. it's a fiero, so fiberglass and plastic body panels. fiberglass hood and rear deck panel, the rest are plastic skins.

[johnjzjz]

talk to who is doing the painting and ask what grit paper he wants to be used -- other wise like the other paint job it might peal from being sanded to fine - like 400 instead of 320 kind of thing -- the painter will tell you -- dont guess ask -- jz

[transmaro93]

320 is way to aggressive for a base clear job... id wetsand everything for final with 500 grit because im sure he will be sealing it too so that willhelp the sealer to stick i wouldnt go any lower than that....

[bokey]

Wet sanding is done after you paint the car; it is meant to keep the surface clean and acts as a lubricant -- so, for example, after you get your paint on the car you wet sand it down with some very fine grit sand paper; this keeps all the dust particles out of the way so you don't end up making a big scracth etc. by sanding over the dust particles... it also helps speed up the sanding process.

Maybe some of these places will help ya out if you have any other questions:

http://www.sturgisboatworks.com/Newsletters/sanding_tips_wet_sanding_is_norm.htm
http://www.diyfixit.co.uk/nflash/painting/Sanding/wet.htm
http://www.type2.com/library/body/saprep.htm

[HardcoreZ28]

Wet sanding is NOT only for once the car is painted.....that is color sanding. If you're going right over the current paintjob then wetsand it with 500 grit paper only until you take all of the shine out. You only need to break the clear. However you don't have a lot of time to paint the car once it's sanded otherwise you'll need to scuff it again with a Scotch Brite pad or other method. You could probably even get away with 400 grit paper if you have trouble finding 500 but be sure to keep it very clean. Anything that gets under the paper as you're sanding can leave scratches in your finish that you won't notice until after it's painted. It's going to sound funny but if you listen to it as you're sanding you can hear if there's any grit stuck under there.

[HardcoreZ28]

Oh and one more thing......put some dish soap in with your water to help lubricate the surface more.

[transmaro93]

hardcore hit it on the money... bokey i dont know where your getting you info but slap them when you get a chance...

[camaro2you]

hardcore hit it on the money... bokey i dont know where your getting you info but slap them when you get a chance...

Agreed, wet sanding is also a good way to get a car STRAIGHT after you get the guide coat on if you can use a block like a durablock long block.

[Frosty]

Wet sanding is NOT only for once the car is painted.....that is color sanding. If you're going right over the current paintjob then wetsand it with 500 grit paper only until you take all of the shine out. You only need to break the clear. However you don't have a lot of time to paint the car once it's sanded otherwise you'll need to scuff it again with a Scotch Brite pad or other method. You could probably even get away with 400 grit paper if you have trouble finding 500 but be sure to keep it very clean. Anything that gets under the paper as you're sanding can leave scratches in your finish that you won't notice until after it's painted. It's going to sound funny but if you listen to it as you're sanding you can hear if there's any grit stuck under there.

DING!

[bokey]

Wet sanding is NOT only for once the car is painted.....that is color sanding. If you're going right over the current paintjob then wetsand it with 500 grit paper only until you take all of the shine out. You only need to break the clear. However you don't have a lot of time to paint the car once it's sanded otherwise you'll need to scuff it again with a Scotch Brite pad or other method. You could probably even get away with 400 grit paper if you have trouble finding 500 but be sure to keep it very clean. Anything that gets under the paper as you're sanding can leave scratches in your finish that you won't notice until after it's painted. It's going to sound funny but if you listen to it as you're sanding you can hear if there's any grit stuck under there.

Never said only; you do wet sand between coats of paint

[Teds89IROC]

DING!

X2!

[Frosty]

X2!

Good movie :D