Post by Volktales on Oct 18, 2014 11:00:30 GMT -8
Been meaning to do this for awhile, turned out to be not that difficult... A couple of years ago my Dad resprayed the corner of my bus after repairing a few rusty bubbles that popped up over the years. Although the colour match was very good, the smoothness was not with lots of orange peel and some dust thrown in for good measure.
Look carefully and you can see the roughness. Note the tailight was removed to avoid damage...
And here is what you need to do the job. The cutting compound is a commercial grade stuff and works far better then what you will find at CrappyTire. Mine came from Lordco, as did the 1500 grit wet and dry sandpaper.
Start by sanding the paint with the 1500 using lots of water for lubrication. This paper is damn expensive, so don't even think of using it dry as it would wear out too fast. Sand with a light touch and in different directions too.
Here is a picture showing how the paper removes the high spots of the orange peel . You keep sanding until the majority of the low spots are removed. Don't get carried away if you believe the paint is very thin.
This is what you should see after sanding is complete. A very smooth but dull surface. When sanding frequently dry off the paint with a cloth to monitor your progress. Only remove just enough of the rough paint.
Now we are moving on to polishing. Rub the compound on with circular motions than wipe off quickly and check your progress. Only do a small section at a time. This part of the job requires some effort when you rub so reward yourself when done with a nice beverage. Finish the job with a good coat of your favourite wax.
And here is the end result... It took some time but was well worth the effort... Now here are some things to consider... This bus was a solid colour without clear coat, unlike modern vehicles. You can use this procedure on a clear coat as well, just be careful and regularly check your progress. Also the cutting compound isn't cheap but that bottle will last for years...
Look carefully and you can see the roughness. Note the tailight was removed to avoid damage...
And here is what you need to do the job. The cutting compound is a commercial grade stuff and works far better then what you will find at CrappyTire. Mine came from Lordco, as did the 1500 grit wet and dry sandpaper.
Start by sanding the paint with the 1500 using lots of water for lubrication. This paper is damn expensive, so don't even think of using it dry as it would wear out too fast. Sand with a light touch and in different directions too.
Here is a picture showing how the paper removes the high spots of the orange peel . You keep sanding until the majority of the low spots are removed. Don't get carried away if you believe the paint is very thin.
This is what you should see after sanding is complete. A very smooth but dull surface. When sanding frequently dry off the paint with a cloth to monitor your progress. Only remove just enough of the rough paint.
Now we are moving on to polishing. Rub the compound on with circular motions than wipe off quickly and check your progress. Only do a small section at a time. This part of the job requires some effort when you rub so reward yourself when done with a nice beverage. Finish the job with a good coat of your favourite wax.
And here is the end result... It took some time but was well worth the effort... Now here are some things to consider... This bus was a solid colour without clear coat, unlike modern vehicles. You can use this procedure on a clear coat as well, just be careful and regularly check your progress. Also the cutting compound isn't cheap but that bottle will last for years...
