TMadlem84

WHen I bought my car (Red FD), the clear coat was badly peeling in some areas.

I was thinking about wet sanding the whole thing to try to even out the color (the spots where the clearcoat has peeled looks very bad & it's more than just a small spot where it is peeling). The paint is the original one also, so it could use some restoring anyways.

How does wet sanding work on paint with clearcoat? Do I sand off all the clear coat to get an even color & then polish & wax?

I just won't be able to pay for a new paintjob this year, (I'd rather use the $4k to pay the car off), so I'd like to salvage the existing paint as much as possible.

Long story short: I'm thinking about wet sanding the whole car to even out the paint. Am I suppose to sand off the clear coat or just smooth out the clear coat by wet sanding?

WePlayWii

it'll only work for a few weeks if you're lucky. then it'll go back to what it was before the sanding.

TMadlem84

Really? I've heard good things about wet sanding... so it wouldn't be worth the time & risk of making the clearcoat worse....

DCrosby

Save your $$ and do it right when you can....

TMadlem84

Well the $$ wouldn't be much... I'd do the work...

spoolnblue

DO NOT wet sand the clear coat off. When wet sanding, you are supposed to sand down the clear a little bit to take out the imperfections and small scratches. It sounds like ur clear coat is peeling off completely. If there is no clear coat there to sand, then u will only f-up the paint even worse than it already is. Once ur paint starts to peel. There is not helpin it, only repaint, or if ur color is still good, u "might" be able to put a second coat of clear down, but usually not. Take it to a body shop and ask them, they will usually tell u what u can do.

TMadlem84

Okay, I didn't understand the idea of wet-sanding paint w/ clear coat. I was thinking that IF you remove the clear when wet sanding, then I could remove all the clear & have an even (although duller) red. Guess not.

Thanks guys.

seven lust

iTrader: (5)

yes, do not waste your time wet sanding your paint as described... it will not help and would be a waste of time...wet sanding clear is to smooth out the clear and make it level, so there is no orange peel...then it is buffed to get a high gloss shine... clear, when sprayed on, does no go on level... even brand new from the factory, alot of clear has orange peel in it out ... as much as it would suck to drive around with it like that, I would wait until I could afford the new paint job...

NCross

iTrader: (18)

If it is isolated to certain body panels then you should just be able to get those panels repainted.

WePlayWii

^ His FD is probably going to look like quilt blanket a grama made if he does that.

TMadlem84

^^ So it will be too big, nice & warm, & made of love?