Body Sanding

[Myfirst67]

I want to try to do some bodywork on my car like sanding and wanted to know some stuff.Like should i use a sander or do it by hand? If i do use a sander weres the the best place to get them from for the best price and how many volts to look for?Also whats the best way to get Bond-Doh off

 

[Ozsum67]

I used an orbital sander that I got at Home Depot. Also, a small sanding block. Don't use your hands except for fine, finish sanding. You'll never get it even. Try an abrasive disk that goes on a drill to get rid of the bondo. It is really crude looking, but makes short work of it. I used one to rough out the bondo, or to get it close to form, before sanding. I'n not talking about one of the grinding disks. This thing is about an inch thick, and a few inches in diameter. Also, wear eye and lung protection.

 

[Myfirst67]

what grade of sand paper did u use on your sander?

 

[Myfirst67]

and a nother thing is your orbital sander a palm sander?

 

[GaPonyFarm]

You really need something more than a palm sander, or even an orbital sander. A good 4.5" grinder with sanding disks is a better tool for stripping. For prepping the body for paint you really need to use varying lengths of sanding blocks to prevent getting ripples.

For stripping I like to use 80 grit, sometimes with alot of paint/bondo I'll go to 40 grit.

 

[Ozsum67]

Yes, a palm sander is fine. The key is to start with a coarser grade and go up in fineness. I would start with a 100 as 80 is too coarse and you will spend wasted time getting scratches out.

 

[Cobain03]

im using a palm sander now with 100 grit paper on it. also, as ozsum said, i used a thing you put into your drill and you can buy them for heavy/light paint striping or more as you need.

 

[Ozsum67]

im using a palm sander now with 100 grit paper on it. also, as ozsum said, i used a thing you put into your drill and you can buy them for heavy/light paint striping or more as you need.

Yea, kind of a poor man's way, but effective. You don't have to rush out and buy a compressor and a DA and body file and the like. You do need some sort of good eye though. Being **** eyed won't work.

 

[allcarfan]

I suggest a DA sander and a Pneumatic body File

 

[Ozsum67]

Like I said, no need to spend a ton a jack.

 

[jae902]

The proper way to do it is to use a DA sander. But not necessary, you can use a palm sander from sears. You have to use something that is vibrating to take the paint off. If you use a drill with an attachment, it will just rip into the paint and leave grooves. Why are you trying to take the old bondo off? Only take it off if you need to put new bondo on. Bondo work is hard stuff, not really hard but tiring. Otherwise, rip the paint off with a palm sander using 80 grit, then primer and wetsand it with like 300 grit. Primer again and then wetsand again.

 

[Ozsum67]

The proper way to do it is to use a DA sander. But not necessary, you can use a palm sander from sears. You have to use something that is vibrating to take the paint off. If you use a drill with an attachment, it will just rip into the paint and leave grooves. Why are you trying to take the old bondo off? Only take it off if you need to put new bondo on. Bondo work is hard stuff, not really hard but tiring. Otherwise, rip the paint off with a palm sander using 80 grit, then primer and wetsand it with like 300 grit. Primer again and then wetsand again.

I can only asume that there is old bondo that, like all bondo, rust gets behind. The wheel is a great way to rip out the old in a quick fashion.

 

[Myfirst67]

Im taking the old bondo off because its broken up in some places.

 

[67GTA-FB429]

Get a low speed adjustable electric grinder with aa 8-10" pad. Use about a 36 grit to remove paint and bondo. Get a finer drit for just paint. The grinder is low speed high torque it will take everything off easily without throwing a lot of cr*p up in the air. This is what body shops use.

Something like this. make sure it has adjustable speed.
http://www.nikotausa.com/catalog/detail.asp?productid=222&subcatid=196

 

[Myfirst67]

I know were i can get a 4" Angle Grinder for $10 its not a 8-10" but should i get it?