I'm a first time color sander. Help!

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by IvelDesigns

Will i be able to get it as shinny by hand as i am with the buffer? i realize it will be more work. i'm just worried that you'll be able to tell one spot from another.

Yes, you will able to if you put a lot of work into. I had a bad experience when I was like 17 with a buffer, and it scared me away from them for a while. I had very nice paint job on my Z28 back then (color sanded buffed professionally) and someone ran into my dr side fender in a parking lot. Being tight on cash I painted it myself. It was black so color matching wasn't a issue, but my sprayed finish stuck out like a sore thumb compared to the adjacent hood and door. Being that I had burned through some spots on a truck I had, I wasn't about to put the buffer on my Camaro. I color sanded and hand buffed that fender to match the rest of the car. I had several hours work on that one fender, but I rubbed it out perfect, so I know its doable, but it is kinda a PITA!

[jott_06]

just thought i'd throw this out there even though most of you just do this as a hobby, At the body shop i work at we do all of our wet sanding the very next day after we paint and we use DA sanders. I bought a special finishing DA from Snap On that has a 3m hookit pad and 3m makes special wet sanding paper for the DA. We start out with 1500 grit and a spray bottle with water to remove all the dirt and orange peel then go over it once with 3000 grit which almost brings it to a shine and removes any swirl marks that the 1500 might have left. You just have to remember to keep the DA moving because it will sand through. Then we just follow the standard proceedures for buffing. We use 3m extra cut compound with a wool pad followed by there foam pad polish Buffing it as soon as we do makes it buff much easier also since the paint is still soft but you have to be a little more careful.

[piecesparts]

What type of buffer and buffing pad are you using? Yes you can get as good as the buffer with a hand polish, but the elbow grease is expensive.

[LONGHAIR]

Honest opinion? ....no, you are not going to get an "all-over" to look as good as it can with a buffer. You may get it "acceptable" and the finer you sand will help.

Be sure to post this in the Paint & Body forum. There is a couple of guys in there that will be able to point you in the right direction.

Please don't.....I will move this entire thing over there. I was just letting it ride for a few days. Besides, there is already one running over there.

[IvelDesigns]

Originally Posted by LONGHAIR

Please don't.....I will move this entire thing over there. I was just letting it ride for a few days. Besides, there is already one running over there.

didn't see that thread there when i posted this. thx for letting this ride for a couple days before moving.

one more question to add. in the other thread you talk about waxing after the polish. I've heard that you should let new paint "cure" for 90 days before waxing. i've listened to that so far, only using clean water for the last month on the truck. it makes sense to me to protect it, especially after thinning down the clear by sanding.

is there any truth to the 90 day suggestion?

when i do wax, what product do you suggest (something i can get from a local parts store) and what process do you go through. waxing has always been a mystery to me, so i'd greatly appreciate any info you have to share.

[LONGHAIR]

The time factor is more of a brand specific thing. I would wait at least 30 days though. There are several brands of "polishes/glazes" that are safe to use during that time though.
I generally use 3M or Meguire's products, but there are tons of them out there.

[IvelDesigns]

well, the hood is nearly done. I've gone over it with the fine-cut cleaner twice, cleaning it with a clean(ish) 100% cotten terry after each section. i did each side of the hood in 4 sections, overlapping each of them.

i plan to go over the whole truck with the machine glaze once i've done the whole truck (for this week i may only do the cab and save the bed until another week).

This is a quick couple shots showing the progress. I haven't started the roof yet, so i'll do a before and after shot up there.

[bad6772]

Looks good.....And on a added note.....Although not to be rude....I almost always never have to wet sand....But you might add a few drops of dish washing liquid in your water ...just to help things stay lubricated......that also works when wet sanding the body before paint......But none the less it looks killer.......

[IvelDesigns]

yeah, this was my first time doing body work, and my dad's first spray job since '82. also the first time he's ever sprayed clear.

many lessons learned over the course of this project. Hopefully we actually learned from them

[IvelDesigns]

well, so far tonight i've finished all of the sanding and did the first round of fine-cut over everything. I rolled it out and washed it off, then got the wife and kids to help me look it over for spots that need more work. turned out to be pretty much every large area

so, i'm starting round two over the whole thing. i've taken tomorrow afternoon off and will go over it with the machine glaze then. I'm really happy with how it's turning out. it's still not perfect, but it's close enough for me.

[67_C-30]

Its looking great!

[67_C-30]

Finished pics???

[Bob 68327]

Look at my Good Guys Thread the red truck is Levi's

[piecesparts]

Looks like you figured it out.