Sanding Tricks of the Masters

[aircooled356]

I hate sanding. I love sanding. It all depends on my mood.
Some consider it therapeutic.
Some despise it.
Some love it.
Some do it just for the $.
Some just do it to have something to do.
Some think of it is an art form.
Some just want it to end. Soon.

So, to help everyone out, could you please post your tricks?
Our cars are very unique, lots of compound curves, louvers on cars....
Lots of relatively flat panels on the buses.

Here is an opportunity to submit your own tried and true tricks to getting to those unusual areas that VW's seem to possess.
Details on sandpaper grit at what stage, improvised sticks, blocks, tools, etc.
It's OK to share your experiences with us. We're all family.

[schell '59]

..as much as i would love to share "secrets" i have to say there isn't any...just person preferrance and techniques i guess.

although,there is a right way and a wrong way to do it...and since every dent is different ,you just simply "get it" after doing it for so long.

they say after 10 yrs you don't even think about it anymore,you just go in head first and before you know it...it's time for paint.

but even after 16+ years,i still learn something all the time!!!

i would say,open grit,the less metal stress and warp,keep an "X" pattern at ALL times,never sand left to right (as this makes parallel wash board affect)...and when wet sanding,WATER IS YOUR FRIEND!!!...and guide coat everything!
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see my "gallery" for more pics other than the website.

[jzjames]

Sanding is a skill learned through practice. There's got to be a motivation in you to learn it or it's prob not going to happen . The motivation is to see the completed successful result of sanding.
And I would say good manual dexterity is a God given talent.

Patience, perseverance, one step after another. After a time the job will be completed and you move on to the next job. It's the only way anything in life gets accomplished.

Use many different implements on the detailed small areas to fit the shapes that must be sanded. Improvise and make your own shaped sanding blocks.

Always try to think outside the box.

[tmb077]

I'm far from being a professional bodyman, but I have had my share of experiences doing my own cars and working on a few for friends over the past 20 years to have enough to regret and wish I could have a 'do-over' on now after learning more. I also listen when pro's speak. I have gained a lot of knowledge from simply paying attention to what 'real' body guys say.

3 of my favorite tips i've ever received...

don't force it. if you force it you'll cut corners just to get it done. you have to want to do it, and wanting to do it will make you want to do it right.

let your sandpaper do the work. use the right grit and block/tool for the job. granted, there's no set guide for what to use when, it's one of those things you learn after making a few mistakes i guess jzjames also brought up a good point about making your own sanding blocks when necessary, sometimes cutting up tools you have to make what you need is the best thing you can do

wetsanding before buffing-use a little dishsoap in your water bucket to help glide the paper across the surface, and sand in circles, after all, your buffer spins, it doesn't go left-right or up and down. the guy who told me this one I thought was just pulling my leg, but I had to try it, and I still sand in circles today before buffing.
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got two H2O, but gasping for air...

[jspbtown]

I think alot of misconceptions that people get are based on what they see on TV. The cars shows which show restorations often make it seem like a realy quick process. It isn't. It takes patience and time.

[schell '59]

...very well said boys,very well said!!
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see my "gallery" for more pics other than the website.

[spook]

Its a Zen thing , really
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[eshan2]

As stated above its a learned thing.The X pattern is a must.Good sanding blocks and boards are another must.Some can get pricey especially the long boards.I have these
http://adjustablesander.com/prokit1.html but you can get others for less $$.Durablock or similar.You also need a good quality sandpaper.Mirka,3M,Klingspor etc.Look here for more stuff and choices.
http://www.tcpglobal.com/autobodydepot/abdsanders.aspx
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I love the smell of nitro in the morning.
1963 Beetle currently under reconstruction.
Ernest.

[CanadianBug]

[aircooled356]

Great stories.
And tips.
Sounds like "Practice makes Perfect" applies to bodywork also.
I guess that's why there is not a sticky called "sandpaper basics".
Paint and bodywork is such an art...as opposed to engine building which is more.....technical?
It is relatively easy to explain how to measure tolerances or follow a step by step procedure...
But bodywork is a whole other animal and very few people can master both.
My hat's off to all that wield a hammer and dolly.
Keep the tips coming folks.

[vaughn bros.]

Cloth covered VW fuel hose or brake hose with sand paper wrapped around it makes a good flexible sander (drip rails). Also get all the free paint sticks from home depot you can carry. We wrap 1000 grit around them all the time. They make good sanders too!

[Alby's Dubby2]

I've been doing car, motorcycle and bicycle 'bodywork' as a hobby for many years.
Agree with 2 good points;
dishwash liquid in the water bucket
guidecoat everything - I even guidecoat bog (filler).

I have found over the years that I don't need to use such fine paper as finish paper before paint - no 600 or 800 for me.
400 is fine (enough).

In many ways I'd rather sand than mask...

Paul

[vpogv]

[schell '59]

..here's one tip that drives me to drink:

a guy i used to work with has a habit of using a mixing stick as a block for certin areas...a twisted,uneven mixing stick...


we were doing the pro street 55 and he had been helping me and i noticed it...i said to him "...i you really think that block sanding a rear qtr with a mixing stick is a good thing why don't we just used this"....

i handed him a 2x4 from the shelf.
_________________
WWW.401RESTOS.COM

see my "gallery" for more pics other than the website.

[tmb077]

[theastronaut]

Here's a site with a ton of good info on blocks and block sanding.

http://www.antiquecar.com/bodyshop_block_sanding.php
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Strive for perfection in everything. Take the best that exist and make it better. If it doesn't exist, create it. Accept nothing nearly right or good enough."
-Sir Henry Royce, co-founder of Rolls-Royce

'64 Sunroof OG Bahama Blue
'66 Bug
Pro-Touring '66 Chevy C10 Short Fleet Big Window Build

[cams-76]

i am finding it tough to make the filler round like the front fenders. I have been doing coat after coat of filler trying to get the top of the fender perfectly round like it should be. there was a flat spot on the top of the stock fender and i am having the toughest time getting to where i think it is good enough. am i being too technical? there is always a few flat feeling spots. maybe i wont see them in paint?

[Alby's Dubby2]

[aircooled356]