Color sand all panels?

[CC69Rat]

Wow !

[CC69Rat]

theastronaut -- How many coats of clear do you usually spray? Does 1000 grit take it off pretty quickly? (quicker than 1500 obviously..) Would 3 med / wet coats be enough or go 4?

[ryanmctee]

I second the wow factor! You guys could shoot a Lexus commercial - " the relentless pursuit of perfection ". Hats off to you. I watched a great youtube video last night, that has changed my mind somewhat on the sanding. I'm going to start off with 1200 (since I have a full sleeve) and work one panel at a time up to 2500 then buff. So far I have been afraid that I'm going to cut through all the clear, but after watching so many videos, and soaking up all this information I figure "No guts, No glory". Great post, keep them coming!

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by CC69Rat

theastronaut -- How many coats of clear do you usually spray? Does 1000 grit take it off pretty quickly? (quicker than 1500 obviously..) Would 3 med / wet coats be enough or go 4?

Three good coats should be fine but four would be ideal- you want enough thickness left over to protect the basecoat. You're only nipping the top of the orange peel off with 1000 grit, and it does cut fast. It cuts fast enough that you need to stop after a few passes and use a squeegee to check your progress. I would say that you're not really taking that much more paint off by using 1000 grit instead of 1500, except for the slightly deeper scratches that 1000 leaves. By using guide coat before sanding with 2000 you can see exactly when you've sanded enough to get the 1000 grit scratches out, so you're only taking the bare minimum amount of clear off to get the imperfections out.


I found this "cutaway" view that shows how you're only cutting the very top layer off to get down to a flat surface.

[ryanmctee]

Same guidecoat as when blocking primer? Just a light fog?

[CC69Rat]

So you sharpie the clear?? I have done that with bare metal for dolly work, but never the clear. Pretty cool stuff. I like the idea of hanging the hood too. you could almost let the bottom sit on the stand and just get a slight angle on it (so you can see in the light / reflections) and the water and junk drains off. Most excellent work sir..

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by ryanmctee

Same guidecoat as when blocking primer? Just a light fog?

I mask it out and *lightly* spray over-reduced black basecoat on the panel, and then take a rag wetted with reducer and rub the guidecoat down into the scratches. You want it to be very thin so it doesn't clog the sandpaper. You can also just pour the basecoat mix on your towel and rub it on the panel, keeping it wet with thinner. It's harder to get it as even and thin that way but it works good for smaller panels.

Originally Posted by CC69Rat

So you sharpie the clear?? I have done that with bare metal for dolly work, but never the clear. Pretty cool stuff. I like the idea of hanging the hood too. you could almost let the bottom sit on the stand and just get a slight angle on it (so you can see in the light / reflections) and the water and junk drains off. Most excellent work sir..

Thanks! I use hooks in the ceiling and and ratchet straps to hold it up, while the bottom rest on a folding stand. I have a 4 foot double tube florescent light that I drag around while wetsanding and buffing so there's always a light right where I need it. For guidecoat, I explained that above, but I use a sharpie marker to mark deeper/stray-grit scratches that won't buff out.

[CC69Rat]

So, you just put this right on top of the clear .. right out of the gun? (the clear) then do the initial cut with 1000, 1500 and final with 2000 / 2500 to make it flat and buff.

I am going to be painting my 68 soon, so I just might use this technique!

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by CC69Rat

So, you just put this right on top of the clear .. right out of the gun? (the clear) then do the initial cut with 1000, 1500 and final with 2000 / 2500 to make it flat and buff.

I am going to be painting my 68 soon, so I just might use this technique!

I sand it with 1000 grit first, no guide coat- just use a squeegee to check sanding progress often. Guide coat will clog the paper since it doesn't stick to the glossy clear.

Then guidecoat it with reduced basecoat as described earlier and sand with Meguires' 2000 grit on a soft pad. I like to sand in one direction so all of the sanding scratches are lined up- this helps with the next step. Fresh 2000 grit will take out the 1000 grit scratches just fine, no need for 1500 inbetween. Keep checking often to make sure the guidecoat isn't clogging the paper.

Then sand with 2500 grit, no guide coat, but sanding in a different direction than I did with the 2000- this way you can use a squeegee and see if all of the 2000 grit scratches are gone.

[gearheads78]

theastronaut....you have some great tips. I may be duplicating some of your techniques the next time I cut one. Never even thought about filtering the water or using a guide coat when polishing.

[ryanmctee]

Some progress is being made. I can positively say this is the most tedious thing on the truck I've done so far. I definately don't want to start a career in color sanding / buffing.... Anyways, I've started with 1200 on a 3m #20 sponge pad. I think I may have been better off with a harder pad? Seems that the softer sponge type pad doesn't cut as hard/fast. Anyways, I got the hood and doors pretty flat with the 1200 and then buffed with 3m rubbing compound - JUST TO SEE WHERE I AM. I'm super impatient, and have to see results. Obvisouly the 1200 scratches show up, so I'll hit them with 2000 then finish with 2500. Anyways, progress is being made... Funny thing is this: IF I had listened to my wife (duh) and taken her advise, I don't think I wouldn have started the sanding. The truck turned out plenty good - FOR ME, it had some dust nibs/peel but nothing I couldn't have buffed out to my satisfaction - especially since this is going to be a daily driver; MY DAILY DRIVER; not a weekender show truck. Oh well, live and learn. Can't wait till the sanding/buffing is OVER Sorry for the rant here....

[ryanmctee]

Ok, please disregard my last post about listening to my wife and leaving the orange peel . I think I was acting like a ten year old and throwing a tantrum about the amount of work it takes to make panels look right. This weekend I got my doors sanded and buffed and installed. Now I can say that I'll wet sand and buff my lawnmower if I ever paint it. It just takes time and elbow grease to get amazing results. Thank a million to those whom have posted their advise on this one - especially CC69Rat - your grand slam build thread has really helped me in the motivation department.

[CC69Rat]

WOW ! Man! That's coming out great.

Now, .. take some #7 Meguires Mirror Glaze. It's called 'Show Car Polish' Wad a nice soft cloth (Microfiber) in a ball so your fingers dont dig down into the clear and wipe it softly from one end of the panel to the other in straight lines. Don't swirl around in circles .. just from end to end, keep the panel seams as your stopping point.

Be patient brother .. you're getting there ! Looks killer !!

[ryanmctee]

Thanks. Your thread on the new black truck really got me going. You should be a detailer by trade. Unbelievable how you took that old faded paint and turned it into a real head turner! Can't thank you enough for your advise!

[CC69Rat]

By the way .. the 2000/2500 pass is more for buffing than for 'cutting'. Just try to cross over your 1200/1500 scratches to make them easier to buff out. It's much cleaner to buff 2000+ than 1500. You wouldn't think it would make that much difference but .. That extra haze from 2000 really buffs out nice.

[CC69Rat]

Glad I could help you !! I used to cut and buff multi-million dollar airplanes. You talk about some sanding!! It was ridiculous.

By the way my wife is Brazilian. Her parents are Taiwanese, so .. if you can imagine she just hasn't seen the 'old trucks' much. My in-laws live with us. My truck is sititng in the garage looking ~decent~ and one day they come home and find me sanding the paint! They FREAKED OUT.. It was funny.

So, .. I know what you mean about the wife. Just trust yourself, go slow, .. the worst thing you can do right now is get in a hurry. Just give it some lovin !! It'll pay off, I promise.

[HuggerCST]

Very nice!

[notsolo]

Originally Posted by CC69Rat

Glad I could help you !! I used to cut and buff multi-million dollar airplanes. You talk about some sanding!! It was ridiculous.

By the way my wife is Brazilian. Her parents are Taiwanese, so .. if you can imagine she just hasn't seen the 'old trucks' much. My in-laws live with us. My truck is sititng in the garage looking ~decent~ and one day they come home and find me sanding the paint! They FREAKED OUT.. It was funny.

So, .. I know what you mean about the wife. Just trust yourself, go slow, .. the worst thing you can do right now is get in a hurry. Just give it some lovin !! It'll pay off, I promise.

WOW ...Very Nice...Great Thread Ryan...Excellent advice.CC69RAT..My hands hurt just thinking about this...

[CC69Rat]

The reason I started at 1500 is:

I knew the paint was old
I didn't know how much paint was on it, until I started cutting into it
I didn't want to cut it too fast - you can always take more off but putting it back on might be a different ballgame
I can spend 6hrs on one panel cutting it down, or 48hrs sanding, priming, and repainting it.
At 1500, yes I'm cautious
with new paint, and 3 coats of New clear -- absolutely 1000 for the first initial peel cut for seasoned guys who have done this before. 1200 or even 1500 for the ones who might take an edge off or sand over a round seam, etc.

Just trying to help my brotha out ! I'm no pro but I am a perfectionist. I learned something here too. when I paint my 68, I will be using the technique above for guide coating the clear. That's awesome.

Here's my Before and After shots ..
Later ..

[BigDan3131]

The only thing I don't see mentioned is using a 5 gallon bucket. I use a clean bucket and while I'm filling it I drizzle a little bit of Dawn dishwashing soap in to the water. It helps keep the paper from sticking to the paint. Also soak your paper for twenty minutes to make it more pliable.

[CC69Rat]

Yeah I use a bucket too, but used Megiuers car wash soap instead of Dawn.. but same concept.
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[sfjone]

GOOD JOB MAN.. LOOKS GOOD....REAL GOOD..
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[ryanmctee]

Been awhile since I've updated this post. I spent quite a bit of time on the hood with 1200, then 1500, then 2000, and finally 2500. 3M Rubbing compound on a wool bonnet, Meguires swirl remover on a foam pad, and finsihed with Meguires show car glaze on a finer foam pad. I am very pleased with the results. All it takes is time and plenty of it at that. Thanks to all whom have put in their opinions on this post! Here's some pictures of the hood and tailgate all finished up:

[Dunenutt]

Looks awesome!

That first scratch is gonna hurt

[CC69Rat]

Incredible job brother ! Looks great!