TheSamba.com :: View topic - Tired of sanding! How much is enough? Help...

Fri Apr 08, 2011 8:14 pm

aircooled356 wrote: Bummer. I guess I'll keep sanding away at it. Can I primer over 220 or should I go to 320?
Sand to 180-220 grit then prime. The finer the grit the harder it is to get the filler to be straight. 80 grit then 180 grit then prime is my technique. I have done this for years with no problem. When you sand the primer getting ready for a topcoat, you need to sand that to 320 if you use a DA and to 400 if you do it by hand. Top coat covers 320-400 just fine.

Tue Jun 14, 2011 8:52 pm

I'm returning to this thread after a two month hiatus. I had three projects going during that time. :shock: I needed a bit of a rest from all of the bodywork on the 57' so I turned my attention to a 71' vert that needed an engine and major rust removal. Just what I needed. :roll:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=459852&highlight=
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=467223&highlight=
So, I 've got to get a 65' sunroof (that will be my 16yr old daughters) car up and mobile. Replaced pans on that but it is still up off the pan. Then I can finish on the baja. After I do the clutch in the wife's Hyundai. :( Ordered paint so the trigger has been pulled. Going aquamarine metallic body, silver metallic roll cage and bumpers and Dove grey for the interior. At least it is in the garage. Got a notice from the HOA "car up on blocks" got two more weeks to wreak havoc so game on. Stay tuned! :twisted:

Tue Jan 03, 2012 4:01 pm

Ok, Got the wife's clutch done, the daughters 65 mated to the pan and the vert is put away for the winter.
I spent a couple of months on the 57 pan and it is just about finished.
I guess it is time to sand some more.....Oh joy. :roll:
I keep tellin myself it's only a baja but.....I hope to show it at Sac BOR this spring.
Wish me luck!

Tue Jan 03, 2012 4:52 pm

..wishin you luck!!!

..now you have a better idea what it really takes to go all the way and do em correctly!!

Tue Jan 03, 2012 6:30 pm

Oh man! I hope your not really tired of sanding yet!! You have lots of sanding ahead of you!!

Tue Jan 03, 2012 6:34 pm

he he thinkin the same thing!! most think they are done after primer!!

lets factor in..sealer then base,sand for texture and dirt,then drop coat...

then gotta clear coat it,sand,sand.sand and buff...or possibly sand and recoat with clear..sand sand sand...story of our lives!!!

Tue Jan 03, 2012 6:44 pm

Yep. I was taught to sand til you think its perfect....then sand it 2 more times. Then after its absolutely perfect and you have it all painted and cleared....nice and shiney....you get to sand it 3-4 more times. Only this time you have to sand it without scrathcing it (what?) and if you sand too much you get to start all over.....

Why do I do this for a living again? Must be something wrong with me! Fame.....no!
Fortune....no!
A great service for mankind...no!
Chicks....no!
Noodle arms, dust in my eyes, nose, mouth, and ears, and a sore back.....YES!

Tue Jan 03, 2012 9:02 pm

buguy wrote: Yep. I was taught to sand til you think its perfect....then sand it 2 more times. Then after its absolutely perfect and you have it all painted and cleared....nice and shiney....you get to sand it 3-4 more times. Only this time you have to sand it without scrathcing it (what?) and if you sand too much you get to start all over.....

Why do I do this for a living again? Must be something wrong with me! Fame.....no!
Fortune....no!
A great service for mankind...no!
Chicks....no!
Noodle arms, dust in my eyes, nose, mouth, and ears, and a sore back.....YES!

LOL I heard that last one loud and clear!!!!!

Wed Jan 04, 2012 6:15 am

...and s--t for money.

if it were for the money i would have definatly chose a different career!!!

Wed Jan 04, 2012 7:59 am

la..la..lah.........I don't hear youuuu! :wink:
Thanks for the encouragement Schell. I'm going to need it

Wed Jan 04, 2012 9:42 am

schell '59 wrote: ...and s--t for money.

if it were for the money i would have definatly chose a different career!!!

There is money associated with painting?

Wed Jan 04, 2012 9:45 am

And aircooled....dont let it all get you down. Its an indescribable feeling to stand back and look at what you have just done when your finished. Thats where the hook is. When its done, and you look out the kitchen window and see the laser straight gleaming car you just created.....you forget about the hundreds of hours spent sanding, SO your like "I want to do another one!!!" So you tear one down and then start sanding. Thats when you remember how bad the last one really sucked ass. But by then its in pieces, and you have no choice but to finish. Again....and again...

Wed Jan 04, 2012 5:23 pm

buguy wrote: And aircooled....dont let it all get you down. Its an indescribable feeling to stand back and look at what you have just done when your finished. Thats where the hook is. When its done, and you look out the kitchen window and see the laser straight gleaming car you just created.....you forget about the hundreds of hours spent sanding, SO your like "I want to do another one!!!" So you tear one down and then start sanding. Thats when you remember how bad the last one really sucked ass. But by then its in pieces, and you have no choice but to finish. Again....and again...
That is the goal isn't it.
I'm afraid that it may come out so well that I will be afraid to drive it..daily.
Deer seem to be attracted to anything I drive unfortunately.
I remember what a sick feeling I had when I got my first rock chip on my freshly painted 63' that I paid to have done 20 yrs ago.
Prices have gone through the roof since then (except for Maaco).
That's why I'm goin solo this time. I've learned a lot in the last year.
Here are a couple of pics.

DIY Powdercoat

Pan/Package tray replacement

Wed Jan 04, 2012 5:32 pm

Thats how/why i got into it. I wasnt about to pay 7-10k for a freekin paint job. Little did I know why they got those kinds of bucks!!
Here is a pic of mine 3 days after I finished it. Went off a curb and it caught the apron and shoved it in. I got to do the front clip over. Luckily it was only a tri-coat tangerine pearl. :shock:

Wed Jan 04, 2012 9:45 pm

OUCH Buguy I could only imagine how sick to your stomach you must have been when that happened??? :oops:

Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:06 pm

Man I cant even put it into words. I was taking a summer college class, had a test that day, went in and aced it in no time, so I bailed and went to the car wash. Luckily I had glass fenders or I would have been pounding those too. No clue why the paint didnt crack on them. No flex agent in there.

Thu Jan 05, 2012 8:02 am

That sucks Buguy. Like I said, I know the feeling. That color is hot right now by the way. Was that HOK Tangerine or the Dodge variant?

Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:10 am

Its the Dodge color with a pearl intercoat. Funny that I painted it 8 years ago. I knew someday i would be cool again! Now where are those bell bottom pants I had??!!

Here is my scooter I painted with HOK kandy tangerine so you can see the difference between HOK and a stock Dodge color. This is Orion silver course metalflake base, 5 coats of kandy tangerine, 3 coats of clear. Hard to beat these kandy colors!

Thu Jan 05, 2012 8:48 pm

that car is long since gone right?...bummer looks killer in that tang'

...yeah we all have our over the top, "why did we build it" and spend sooo many hours and money...

trust me.

when it isn't fun anymore and doesnt give me any satifaction reguardless the cost or the job..I'm out.

but so far,after July 28th '10,i got a whole new look and shop in store and things are better than ever.

thats all you can ask for.

Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:43 pm

Nope I still have it. I will never get rid of it...my granny bought it new. I did, however, leave it Iowa when I moved to Florida. I live in a condo and have no garage at home, so until that changes, it will stay there under my fathers "care". I say that because about a year ago he ran into it with his truck. Swiped the rear drivers fender and scratched it pretty bad. But again, another + for the glass fenders.....no dents to pound out! The scooter however, went to Georgia.

So thats why im on the hunt to build a driver that i dont mind if it sits outside. You should see what the weather here did to my beautiful 65 Pontiac!! Yikes! I had a lock on a very original 64 that needed pans, brakes, and an interior (and paint of course). I figured I could work the old lady down from 4k to closer to 2k, but she wouldnt budge from $3500. So im still looking.