Difficulty Level

Tools/Supplies Needed:

• 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper
• 1500 grit wet/dry sandpaper
• 2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper
• water
• bucket
• soap
• polishing compound
• wax
• lint free cloths
• microfiber cloths

Procedure:

• start by washing the area you will be wet sanding to ensure there isn't any dirt on the surface which could scratch the paint
• depending on the severity of your paint finish will depend on which grit of sandpaper you start out with
• for this procedure I did start out with 1000 grit, but you can start out with 800 grit is the paint finish is quite rough
• letting the paper pre-soak in a bucket of water with some soap mixed in to allow further lubrication
• starting with the 1000 grit, ensuring that the area is wet before sanding
• apply light to medium pressure, evenly gliding across the surface
• a backing pad can be used to prevent dimpling from your fingers
• rinse away excessive sanding material when needed and keep both the sandpaper and surface well lubricated
• once you have removed most of the imperfections of the paint, you can now move onto the 1500 grit sandpaper to remove any slight imperfections
• after you've achieved a smooth surface, finish up with the 2000 grit sandpaper, always ensure the area is well lubricated with water and wash away any access material from sanding
• rinsing the area thoroughly, you can now move onto a polishing compound -apply the polishing compound to a soft cloth and rub into the freshly sanded area, apply any water if the compound does dry out which allows it to be more workable again
• after a majority of the fine scratches have been removed, you are now ready to move onto a scratch removing product
• similar to the polishing compound, you can add a light spray of water to the scratch remove if it drys out while rubbing it into the painted surface
• once you achieved an almost perfect shine, you now need to clean off any access polishing compound or scratching removing product before moving onto the wax stage
• when waxing paint, ensure that is has cured as the wax can prevent the paint from curing properly
• make sure there is no water left on the surface when applying the wax
• rub wax into the surface thoroughly and then let it sit on the surface for a minute before you wipe down the surface

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

How long should I wait for the paint to cure before it is safe to wet sand and polish?

This will depend on the thickness of your coats, along with your local climate condition. Normally I wait a week just to be safe.

Am I supposed to wet sand the base coat before clear coat?

It isn't required, but in some situations if you are aiming for a high quality paint job, you can do this.

If I am using a two stage paint, after the clear coat has dried, how long should I wait until I apply the clear coat?

Dry times will vary when the clear coat should be applied after the base coat. This will be dependant on what type of paint and manufacturers you are using, but a general specified time is a 30 minutes to one hour.

Will this method remove orange peal?

Yes it will.

Will this method work on clear coat?

Yes it will.