Wet sand clear coat on new truck?
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 160
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From: Az./suncity
i agree about the paint
Originally posted by Riken
Ford does not wet sand every truck that leaves the assembly line, in fact they don't sand any truck that leaves the assembly line. Ford does not have the time to sand vehicles in the assembly process...time is money!
the factory paint IS the thinist paint you will find. every ounce adds up to big dollars. and they are sprayed with robots so 2 vehicles will be very similar. and there is only 1 coat of clear, ford can't afford 2 coats of clear...they're too busy paying the workers big bucks and big union dues.
small to medium orange peel can be covered with a couple coats of clear then wet sanded smooth and look smooth. heavy orange peel with a couple coats of clear will still show slight roughness.
i've colour sanded my 89 ranger hood and roof and it turned out awsome, smooth. but you have to be real careful as there is not alot of room for error, especially on the edges and corners. they are easy to burn through.
Ford does not wet sand every truck that leaves the assembly line, in fact they don't sand any truck that leaves the assembly line. Ford does not have the time to sand vehicles in the assembly process...time is money!
the factory paint IS the thinist paint you will find. every ounce adds up to big dollars. and they are sprayed with robots so 2 vehicles will be very similar. and there is only 1 coat of clear, ford can't afford 2 coats of clear...they're too busy paying the workers big bucks and big union dues.
small to medium orange peel can be covered with a couple coats of clear then wet sanded smooth and look smooth. heavy orange peel with a couple coats of clear will still show slight roughness.
i've colour sanded my 89 ranger hood and roof and it turned out awsome, smooth. but you have to be real careful as there is not alot of room for error, especially on the edges and corners. they are easy to burn through.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 160
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From: Az./suncity
wet sanding /color sanding
when sanding to get it mostly smooth remove 2mils 1200grit over several times 6x? if you sand foctory paint smooth you will have nothing to buff error on the safe side of course sand/buff stay away from edges use tape to cover for a novis /professional? more compound is not allways better and 3 things try it in small low spot 1st, and work in 2ftx2ft area do not do process in the sun.M.W.
Re: wet sand
Originally posted by 40/99/04trucks
Im a ford guy but work for the worlds largest caddi dealer (in az)im a veteran detailer/paint and body man w/20yrs. exp. enough about me.your q's how much clear 4-6mils (paper 1.5-2 mils)3 coat max of clear.wet sand i ask why not or what for ? what color are you messing with,are you going to do it your self? do you hav exp.just asking it is a lot of work !!!!!!! to do it right as a pro a min 1day poossibly 2 if its a dark color blk. I SAY PREP, MIXING,SPAYING, SAND AND BUFF ARE ALL = PARTS TO A GREAT PAINT JOB.what to use 1200 grit 1500 2000 2500it just depends. cost to have a pro do it factory paint prob.$400-900 most being $600 and color does matterjust so you know.if you have more Qs ask M.W.
Im a ford guy but work for the worlds largest caddi dealer (in az)im a veteran detailer/paint and body man w/20yrs. exp. enough about me.your q's how much clear 4-6mils (paper 1.5-2 mils)3 coat max of clear.wet sand i ask why not or what for ? what color are you messing with,are you going to do it your self? do you hav exp.just asking it is a lot of work !!!!!!! to do it right as a pro a min 1day poossibly 2 if its a dark color blk. I SAY PREP, MIXING,SPAYING, SAND AND BUFF ARE ALL = PARTS TO A GREAT PAINT JOB.what to use 1200 grit 1500 2000 2500it just depends. cost to have a pro do it factory paint prob.$400-900 most being $600 and color does matterjust so you know.if you have more Qs ask M.W.
The reason...because of the orange peel effect from the factory paint. I'd like to look across the paint and it be smooth as glass.
I'm 29 now, but when I was 18 I went to Body Shop Tech School, and wet sanded 3 or 4 vehicles while I was there. It's been a long time though. I know how to do it, I know what not to do, but the actual hands on, is limited.
I feel pretty confident I could do it, with out sanding through to the base coat, but I'm just not sure if it is worth the risk.
The truck is Dark Shadow Gray.
Thanks for your reply.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 160
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From: Az./suncity
hey,its allways worth the risk to look great.if you can do it and have some exp.do it do one panel at a time go slow you get it ,wool,foam polish dk grey it just takes longer to polish out and show no swirl marks anything else just ask M.W.