Wet sand before or after clear coat?

9

95-STANG-GT

New Member

Dec 23, 2004

15

0

0

North Carolina

Apr 4, 2005

#1

• Apr 4, 2005

• #1

Just what to know if you wet sand the base coat then spray the clear and wet sand the clear or do you prime-base-clear than wet sand just the clear.
I would think that the base coat would show imperfections unless you wet sand it before you hit it with the clear.

'95 Mustang GT 5 speed,Artic white(flaking like crazy), K&N filter,

 

302GT

New Member

Mar 30, 2005

81

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Carson City,Nv.

Apr 4, 2005

#2

• Apr 4, 2005

• #2

You wet sand after the clear coat.

 

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wytstang

Mustang Master

Mar 14, 2004

4,988

4

78

Summerville,SC missing South Fl. weather :(

Apr 4, 2005

#3

• Apr 4, 2005

• #3

After...

 

M

mustangman33

Member

Mar 13, 2004

262

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16

Chicago, IL

Apr 4, 2005

#4

• Apr 4, 2005

• #4

After, but if you have flaws in the base, you will want to fix those first by wet sanding, then respray, then clear.

 

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YellowBoss

New Member

Jun 8, 2003

33

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Pittsburgh

Apr 4, 2005

#5

• Apr 4, 2005

• #5

definitely after the clear. the wet sanding is mostly just to smooth out the orange peel surface you get when you spray the clear. it's best to get rid of imperfections before you shoot the color if possible.

Joe

 

pwcracer

Founding Member

Jun 13, 2000

347

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16

Hastings, MN, USA

Apr 4, 2005

#6

• Apr 4, 2005

• #6

I use a wet sanding block, and I start with 1500 and move to 2000, then I use Finesse-it products from 3m with good results..

 

90_Red_LX

Member

Sep 29, 2003

668

5

19

Asheboro, NC

Apr 4, 2005

#7

• Apr 4, 2005

• #7

How hard is it to wetsand? My car needs it bad, but I'd need someone to shoot a coat of clear on there. Is it very possible to mess the car up if u don't do it right? Do you sand everything or just the metal? Also I'm not sure if my paint is thick enough, as it does look a little thin from a couple rock chips I've seen.

 

pwcracer

Founding Member

Jun 13, 2000

347

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16

Hastings, MN, USA

Apr 4, 2005

#8

• Apr 4, 2005

• #8

It is easy, as I have found out from my last 5 paintjobs, to either Sand through, or Buff through the clear and the color. I have done both and it seems to happen on edges, corners, etc.. You would need a good automotive buffer, Dewalt makes one, but I think it's about $200.. There are some good sites that explain how to do it.. http://www.carcraft.com/howto/926/
comes to mind..

 

90_Red_LX

Member

Sep 29, 2003

668

5

19

Asheboro, NC

Apr 4, 2005

#9

• Apr 4, 2005

• #9

Thanks. Once I get a little money saved up I may look into this a lot more, bookmarked for now. A lot of dead red paint comes off on the applicator pad during wax, and the car has a fade to it. A wetsand would really bring this car out. Does the paint have to be so thick though? Not sure if my factory paint is thick enough.

 

pwcracer

Founding Member

Jun 13, 2000

347

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16

Hastings, MN, USA

Apr 4, 2005

#10

• Apr 4, 2005

• #10

If red paint is coming off, I doubt you can wetsand it. Sounds like a new paint job to me...

 

squall9393

New Member

Feb 7, 2004

534

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0

Oceanside, CA

Apr 4, 2005

#11

• Apr 4, 2005

• #11

Don't mean to hyjack this thread but does anyone have a link to somewhere that tells you how to paint cars. I wanna paint my engine bay and have never done it and I've been looking for an excuse to go out buy my own materials and do it myself.

 

94yellowsleeper

New Member

Mar 30, 2005

45

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0

Bloomington, MN

Apr 4, 2005

#12

• Apr 4, 2005

• #12

squall9393 said:

Don't mean to hyjack this thread but does anyone have a link to somewhere that tells you how to paint cars. I wanna paint my engine bay and have never done it and I've been looking for an excuse to go out buy my own materials and do it myself.

Click to expand...

i just bought and started reading a really good book called "How to Paint your Car" very informative and easy to understand. i also just picked up the monster garage "how to custom paint damn near anything". it covers some of the same stuff, but had tons of info on custom stuff (flames, graphics, and pinstriping) both were about 20 bucks

 

9

95-STANG-GT

New Member

Dec 23, 2004

15

0

0

North Carolina

Apr 5, 2005

#13

• Apr 5, 2005

• #13

94yellowsleeper said:

i just bought and started reading a really good book called "How to Paint your Car" very informative and easy to understand. i also just picked up the monster garage "how to custom paint damn near anything". it covers some of the same stuff, but had tons of info on custom stuff (flames, graphics, and pinstriping) both were about 20 bucks

Click to expand...

Thanks, Just found this book on ebay for $19.00.

 

G

getusummm

Member

Dec 26, 2004

156

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16

Apr 5, 2005

#14

• Apr 5, 2005

• #14

There is a ton of info on the internet. You just gotta search.

Usually most people recommend 3 lights coats of base, then 3 coats of clear. I prefer 6 and 6. That way if i have any small imperfections(runs, sags, stuff like that) i have enough paint to wet sand it and not go through. Also, when you start buffing, you have to be very careful around the edges. Usually the nooks, crannys and edges should be done by hand.