Teach me how to Wetsand

[Don's Ruby]

Ok so someone dinged my front pass side corner panel and ive applied the necessary ford touch up paint as it went down to metal. I now need to wetsand and buff it but don't exactly know how. I have a PC buffer and basic knowledge on detailing. So can someone please explain the process.

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[VinnAY]

Wet sand would be something 400grit or higher with soapy water, keep the surface saturated with soapy water.

 

[Performance nut]

Sub'd.

I haven't painted a car but have done lots of painting before. It's all about lubrication and technique. Paint in thin layers, wet sand with 2000, paint thin layers, wet sand with 2000. Repeat until you have the thickness you want. Then wet sand with 3000, wait till it cures, polish, and seal it up.

They key I have found is keep it thin. It's easier to correct mistakes and looks better in the end. Var paint is different so I am hoping there is some sagely advise if I am wrong.

 

[RoninRed]

look up chrisfix on youtube, he has a tutorial on this exact point

 

[Road Dog]

If you haven't visited your local Automotive paint supply shop don't try this. You seldom find emory cloth fine enough to do this job at the local Hardware store. Try the guys there and get the good stuff.

 

[NowhereFast]

Wet sand would be something 400grit or higher with soapy water, keep the surface saturated with soapy water.

Do not touch the paint with anything less than 1500 grit. You're sanding paint here, not bondo.

I would start at 2500 grit and go down to 2000 if that doesn't do it. The paint on new cars is silly thin, and it's more than easy to cut through the clear if you're not careful.

I believe Larry from AmmoNYC on YouTube has some great videos on the subject of touch ups.

 

[Performance nut]

Please post pics

 

[Don's Ruby]

Thanks for the replies guys, I'm going to tackle this on Saturday with pictures of my results. Hopefully i won't need a paint job after this.

 

[Performance nut]

Do not touch the paint with anything less than 1500 grit. You're sanding paint here, not bondo.

I would start at 2500 grit and go down to 2000 if that doesn't do it. The paint on new cars is silly thin, and it's more than easy to cut through the clear if you're not careful.

I believe Larry from AmmoNYC on YouTube has some great videos on the subject of touch ups.

Good call man! Really awesome video on doing some great work.
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[VinnAY]

Do not touch the paint with anything less than 1500 grit. You're sanding paint here, not bondo.

I would start at 2500 grit and go down to 2000 if that doesn't do it. The paint on new cars is silly thin, and it's more than easy to cut through the clear if you're not careful.

I believe Larry from AmmoNYC on YouTube has some great videos on the subject of touch ups.

Yep you're right.

 

[drabon74]

Oem modern paint is a lot different than the paint in that video. Use 3m trizac paper only, 2000-3000, you will need a da and compound to buff out the sanding, then, a polish to clear that up. In all honesty I would let a pro do it, or at the very leat practice on a newer ford body panel from the junk yard in the same color. You must also soak the sandpaper 24 hours in soap water or your odds of inducing tracers and rids goes up dramatically. It is very easy to sand through the ultra thin factory clear.

 

[CorryBasler]

Wet sand would be something 400grit or higher with soapy water, keep the surface saturated with soapy water.

I ain't no expert here, but 400 grit is going to wreck your paint.

 

[VinnAY]

I ain't no expert here, but 400 grit is going to wreck your paint.

Yep I said that all wrong. :headbonk:

 

[Voo Doo]

We did 2500 followed by 3000.got a lot of the peel out but take it sloooow! You can burn thru the minuscule clear and into the paint in a nano second!

 

[Performance nut]

We did 2500 followed by 3000.got a lot of the peel out but take it sloooow! You can burn thru the minuscule clear and into the paint in a nano second!

Good tip. Was considering using very little press with mine to see how it fairs after a couple of passes. Are you a professional or hobbist?

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