Mission: Wetsanding - Many pics inside

Whitethunder46

Whitethunder46

New member
Joined
Oct 30, 2006
Messages
1,594
Reaction score
0
The Background: Some of you may remember that I was in a fender bender many months ago. I took the insurance check and did the body work myself. One of the things I needed to do, was replace my driver side front fender. I bought one from a local junk yard that was in pretty good shape overall. However, there was major water spotting everywhere.

Yellow pad with XMT3 and/or OC would not take it out, barely made an indent. I must of polished the fender over 4 times everytime I "jewel" my paint.

The mission: Wetsand the water spots out of the fender and polish back to a near flawless finish.

Process: The only sandpaper that I could get was 1500 grit, I would of like 2000 or even 3000, but I had to do with this. I let sit in warm water for about 3 hours.

I very lightly sanded the fender after squirting water onto the fender with a squirt gone. (I did a test spot first.) This only took a matter of minutes.
Following this I then polished the fender for 5min with the following:
OC on Yellow Edge pad - Started speed 5.5, and then bumped up to 6.
XMT3 on Green Edge pad (I was planning on using XMT2, but I realized I needed still needed a little more bite after OC) - Speed 6 entire time
XMT1 on light cut yellow pad (I got this from Aaron at edge. It feels just like the soft blue/white pads) - Speed 5.5
PB's Natty's Blue on White Edge - Spread on speed 3. (I've never applied wax via PC, so I wanted to try something new)

Overall, I was pretty pleased after all said and done. I would do it again, but I would get 2000 grit for sure.

PICS!!!
These are all the waterspots I was dealing with:
waterspot.jpg


waterspot2.jpg


waterspot3.jpg


waterspot4.jpg
 
After all the polishing steps. What better place to check the work than in the sun!!
After.jpg


After2.jpg


After3.jpg
 
looks good...next time you should definitely order some 3000 and 2000 grit...also i find that spraying the car down with 50/50 white vinegar and h20 helps to remove the water spots quicker...
 
orngez said:
looks good...next time you should definitely order some 3000 and 2000 grit...also i find that spraying the car down with 50/50 white vinegar and h20 helps to remove the water spots quicker...
Click to expand...

I tried everything for the waterspots, noting worked.
 
vinegar only works on very recent spots, once they start to etch (and it happens almost immediately) you are screwed.
 
i was saying to use the vinegar during the sanding process...as you dig into the layer of clear the vinegar helps the process...
 
orngez said:
i was saying to use the vinegar during the sanding process...as you dig into the layer of clear the vinegar helps the process...
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip. I'll def keep that in mind!
 
well done Whitethunder46, brave of you to try the wetsanding.

Looks really good, I like the process...oh that yellow pad that you got from Aaron...where can the rest of us get one? I haven't seen it here at AG.

Thanks for sharing buddy, job well done
 
Nica said:
well done Whitethunder46, brave of you to try the wetsanding.

Looks really good, I like the process...oh that yellow pad that you got from Aaron...where can the rest of us get one? I haven't seen it here at AG.

Thanks for sharing buddy, job well done
Click to expand...

I would just email or call Aaron and ask him about it. I got it when Aaron sent me a normal yellow replacement pad. I asked him about it, and he said it's a light cutting pad. I think he said there were quite a few of them in the back of the warehouse that they never got around to producing, or something of this nature.

I like it because I'm not to fond of the Edge orange pad. I like the cutting ability of the orange, but not the real firm foam.
 
Good Job

Good job Greg, wet standing sure does save a lot of time. I would like to have a thickness gauge. I don't detail professionally, only for my pleasure on my own vehicles, I never invested in a gauge.

Your neighbor, Kettering, Ohio
 
Whitethunder46 said:
I tried everything for the waterspots, noting worked.
Click to expand...

He is saying do that while you are sanding, as it will allow you to keep more of your clearcote.


-Ryan
 
JTS said:
Good job Greg, wet standing sure does save a lot of time. I would like to have a thickness gauge. I don't detail professionally, only for my pleasure on my own vehicles, I never invested in a gauge.

Your neighbor, Kettering, Ohio
Click to expand...

Nice to hear from you. You may be seeing some of my flyers up around town shortly. I'm trying my best to find some public places to put them. I know I'll put one up at DLM. Other than that, hopefully you'll hear about me by WOM.
 
Whitethunder46, you made me feel better about wet sanding paint. Nice work.
 
was that the first time you wet sanded anything? it did turn out real good. not you have another service to offer customers.:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:
 
detailgod said:
was that the first time you wet sanded anything? it did turn out real good. not you have another service to offer customers.:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:
Click to expand...

Yes it was.

I'm not gonna offer anything like this yet, more than likely not all year.

Hopefully if all goes as plan this year, I'm going to try and offer wetsanding and paint chip repair next year.
 
i would have been scared to be doing it for the first time on a SALEEN. damn you got balls
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top