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Thu Feb 13, 2003 10:03 pm

I had my bug painted and I need it to get wet sanded and polished. How long would it take for me to do it? The guy said start with 600 kinda looks like an orange peal. So
I think it will be ok to start in some areas with that I heard of run tools where would I be able to get some nicey nice paper to use and polish.?
How could i not create swirls when I polish it?
any input would help never did this before thanks
mark

Fri Feb 14, 2003 5:40 am

i've never done it myself but i've read up on it. let the paint dry several weeks before sanding. if it's enamel paint, you might have to wait 2 or 3 months depending on weather. no kidding. start with 1000 grit and wet sand the whole car by hand. but don't use your bare hand. (fingers leave marks) use a sponge or a soft sanding block. then go to 1500, 2000, 2500. after that, use a fine polishing compound. Meguiar's has a 3 bottle system you can use after the sanding. I think it's Meguair's, it could be 3M. Anyway, it starts with a rubbing compound, then a swirl mark remover, then a final polishing compound. the bottles use an orbital polisher for application. it's A LOT of work but when done properly, you will have a show quality paint.

Fri Feb 14, 2003 12:42 pm

If you start with 600 you may as well repaint the vehicle-that is way to rough. I would use either 1500 or 2000 and I have done it by hand, by block and sponge. Taking your time and changing the paper often is good advice. Adding a very small amount of dish soap keeps the paper lubricated and keep the area where you are sanding soaked at all times.

What kind of paint was it. Urethane, enamel, lacquer, was there a clear coat involved or single stage. If there is no clear coat and you used a single stage urethane-you are not supposed to wet sand as it will hurt the uv protectant properties. If it is a metalflake and single stage-do not wet sand or you will mess up the metal flake. If it is urethane clear you can wet sand the next day, the stuff dries hard as rock and becomes more difficult the longer you wait. I am not trying to contradict what d1zoomers said but I have never heard of waiting that long to wet sand and buff and I have been doing this for 15 years-could be proprietary(up to the individual manufacturer).

However, you should not apply a wax to the finish until after 1 month. You will need a high speed buffer capable of at least 2000-2500rpm and the ability to slow down to around 1000 rpm. Use rubbing compound at high speed making slow even passes applying light pressure. Slow the buffer down to around 1500-1800 rpm with a polish with same light pressure-slow even strokes. Finish with around 1000-1500 with the swirl mark remover and a foam pad if possible(with same even passes with light pressure). If you are unsure normally the maker of these products will put on the back the reccommended rpms. Also the mistakes I see most often are: trying to do to much surface are at one time, work in small sections- going over the edges or getting to near edges-buffing is alot of confidence as it is easy to take the paint off of edges and body lines, do those spots by hand or maybe use an orbital- moving the buffer erratically or too quickly-get a spur for the buffing pads and spur the pad after every pass- the dried up compounds will scratch the finsh.

I will have to disagree with d1zoomers again here. MY reccomendation for steps-buffed with "rubbing coumpound", polished with non-silicone "polish"-finished with a non-silicone based swirl mark remover. Sorry for the long post as it is my first but hope this helps. Any more questions I would be happy to answer. I do not profess to know it all these are my personal experiences.

Mike D.

Mon Feb 17, 2003 11:35 am

a few years ago there was a article describing this in vw trends not sure when though

Mon Feb 17, 2003 11:36 am

i guess we go to the same school huh?

Mon Feb 17, 2003 11:57 am

yea My name is Mark I live in the 5's
X7409 give me a buzz if u want to chill