How to sanding paint

[Nitrometano]

Hello
I painted my car color black and have a clear coat on it. The paint is Dupont and have the Chroma Clear on it.I want to know if there are some tricks to sanding the paint. I would like to know what sand paper choose, what tool or instrument (if I need someone) to sanding the flat surfaces, if there is another trick to sanding the curved surfaced?

Also, there is a rubbing compund that I need to choose to get a beautiful smooth, swirl free finish? There is a trick to polish the paint?

[chris911sc]

Depending on how long the clear has cured, the texture, and thickness of the clear will determine what grade of paper you should use. Most of Du Pont's clear are high solids so you should be able to start with a 1200 or 1500 grit wet paper. I personally slide over it then with a 2000 grit paper next. I like to finish the sanding with the 3m Trizac system. The Trizac is around 3000 grit and leaves a nice finish that buffs real easy. I use the 3m Perfect III compounds and finish up with 3m Ultrifina polishing compound. Be sure to stock up on nice quality micro fiber towels to polish the finish.

[Nitrometano]

Originally Posted by chris911sc

Depending on how long the clear has cured, the texture, and thickness of the clear will determine what grade of paper you should use. Most of Du Pont's clear are high solids so you should be able to start with a 1200 or 1500 grit wet paper. I personally slide over it then with a 2000 grit paper next. I like to finish the sanding with the 3m Trizac system. The Trizac is around 3000 grit and leaves a nice finish that buffs real easy. I use the 3m Perfect III compounds and finish up with 3m Ultrifina polishing compound. Be sure to stock up on nice quality micro fiber towels to polish the finish.

I paint the clear like one year ago. I think is fully cured.

I can use the wet paper with water alone or I can use water an soap? Someone told me to use soap and water with the wet paper.

You use the 3M Trizac system only with micro fibers and hand polish or do you use at first the machine polish and finish with a hand polish?

[chris911sc]

Originally Posted by Nitrometano

I paint the clear like one year ago. I think is fully cured.

I can use the wet paper with water alone or I can use water an soap? Someone told me to use soap and water with the wet paper.

You use the 3M Trizac system only with micro fibers and hand polish or do you use at first the machine polish and finish with a hand polish?

Some prefer to put a few drops of dishwashing soap (Dawn, Palmolive etc) in their wetsand water which is perfectly acceptable. The Trizac system is the last stage of the sanding process and you do need a dual action sander with the 3m hookit backing plate to use the system. You don't start buffing until after you use the Trizac. I prefer to start out with a black foam buffing pad and use 3m 05933 compound after Trizac. I do the whole car with that ,wash the car to remove leftover compound, and then get a fresh black foam pad and start with 3m swirl mark remover. I usually wipe off all the leftover residue with a micro fiber cloth. I finish the job up with the 3m Ultrafina applied with the appropriate blue foam pad while wiping off the film with another micro fiber cloth. You will proably have to go to a automotive paint supply store to get most of these products. They should be able to further the advice I have given you on applying and using these products.

[Nitrometano]

Trizac system is one kind of brand or is a staged product system from 3M?

This a picture of my RX7 that I need to sand and polish to get the proper shine. In the night looks good, but at the sun you can see all the swirl and no-shinny spots on the surface.

[chris911sc]

Trizact is a sanding system manufactured by 3m. It basically utilizes a 3000 grit hookit(velcro) sanding pad that you use with a 6" dual action sander. The cut it produces is very fine. It buffs very easily compared to convention hand wet sanding. The system works well to restore old paint and does a great job on fresh paint also.

[Axiom]

Maybe this article will help you a little.

http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/tech/paint_body/car_care/0403ch_color_sanding_buffing_tech/index.html