Ok I painted my car outside, so naturally I got some trash in the paint, and some of it is rather large. I painted it with single stage. What grit should I start sanding with, and how long should I wait untill I start sanding and buffing. Also there are a few runs, should I try to sand them out, or should I just live with them. There is a good bit of paint on the car, so I should be ok to sand.
maybe let us know what kind of paint you used (acrylic enamel, urethane, with hardener or without, brand, etc)
I just had mine shot with PPG DAR 9000 single stage acrylic enamel w/hardner of course. We used to color sand and buff right away, now I'm told to wait a month so it won't need to be done again later. Two first cl*** painters have told me this. later, Ron
Omni stay soft awhile. Probably best to wait about three days on buffing it. I colorsand with 800, then 1500, then 3000. We use a DA for this, with a foam pad. On the runs I take them out with a razor blade dragged backwards over just the run. Not for the faint of heart. If done when it's soft it will pull the paint from the body.
I think your advisor is right, you'll find that dragging a razor works, if you have good light, to produce a flat painted surface. You might experiment in an area that doesn't show, to determine when the paint is hard enough to shave and sand. (Try dragging it "backwards", I suspect that is the prefered method.)
I try to go with the direction of the run, and it's the best way to get rid of it, you might have to do a little and let the run dry a couple more days and then do a little more. Flatten it out completely before you wet sand with a soft block, follow Public Enemy advise I think he's laid down a few curtains in his life like most of us. Good Luck remember the best time to screw it up is now when you still have a good window to blend in the screw-up, go man you can do it!
I hope it is a solid color not metallic if it is metallic you will cut all the metallic particles off and they will look like silver specks in your paint and the color will get lighter. If it is solid you will be ok sanding and buffing after a few days in summer heat. Don't sand it outside in the sun it will water spot and you will never get it buffed out. Don't start with too co**** a paper 1000 is about as co**** as I will use on a real bad job. Talk to your local paint rep that sold you the paint and see what he says. Good luck that is alot of work but done right it is worth it. RED
Maybe you could go to a body shop and ask someone to demonstrate the razor pull, if you try to sand the runs, you'll take off the surrounding paint long before the run. Or you may be able to pick up a run file at your local paint supplier. You can also try going to www.paintucation.com there might be a demo on run removal on that web site. Good luck.
On the runs, go to a body shop supply, and ask for a clear file. It's about 1" square and looks like a body file. It's mounted on a small piece of wood for grip. Works great on clear runs, never have tried on a color though. Use a little water with a few drops of dish wash soap mixed in for lubrication.
The paint does have metallic in it, and it is Sherwinn Williams brand. The metallic is not that noticeable, except in direct sunlight. I would rather loose the run though and risk a non metallic area.
sjdiscounttools.com has a run razor shaving tool for removing runs for $5.56. Do an internet search for "run shaving tool" and you'll find several sources besides sj.
I would sand it all down with 600-800 grit wet, wash it down, re-mask and have another go at it! Using what you have learned and apply them the second time! I dont think you can have your cake and eat it too! I mean... spraying outside with cheap products, runs in it, and then want a good looking finished product... not gonna happen!! Metallic=Trouble
If your doing the work outside be carefull if its in direct sunlight it might still be soft. It sounds like your okay that is not 100% perfect try the razor but make sure you know how to use it. You can ruin the whole area with one slip. If its a lone piece of dust here or there try 800 grit or 1000 grit paper wet it and knock the high spot off and buff it and see what you can do. Maybe find a place not right on the roof down on the bottom somewhere and try that first. My F1 is going to be a driver and its getting painted a little at a time outside because I cant get it to my friends shop right now. It doesnt run and I have a baby that kills my time working on it during regular hours. Unless its just covered in trash you can make a shade tree job look pretty good. I have painted black base coat clear coat small jobs outside and some have come out like diamonds and others were ****. Good luck man!
The front clip was the worst. Had to sand on it cause the cover on the wheel blew up and trashed the job on the fender. The trash sands out pretty easy. I am goinf to repaint the front clip, but the runs are in the rear quarter. I will take my time with the razor, learn as I go. Yeah Sherwin williams was the cheapest brand, but I have 2 1/4 gal on the car now, and just couldn't swing the cost of other brands....
When I mentioned "dragging" I mean the blade part faces away from the run as you pull it across the run. You watch the sides not to dig into the paint on either side of the run. Think of it as dragging a straight razor over your skin. If it's turned toward you it will cut the **** outta you. If it's turned away you don't get hurt but you get a shave. After the run is gone a little 1000 or 1200 on a block to take out the razor marks and buff. Works very well. If it's to wet it WILL pull the paint up so try it some place safe first. Hope this helps. ****, If I had a camera it would make a *****in tech post. Good luck.
You don't need a camera, here ya go: /___.___ The slash is the blade, the period is the run and the line is the car. Pull the blade left to right in this case. I can draw a *****in stick figure too.
Sherwin Williams has made auto paint for a very long time ... ive used it and I will say i like it better that the big two.................... Drag the blade down the run..... or you can wrap a small piece of 1000 grit wet around a piece of a flat stir stick and wet sand it out slowly
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