Question about wetsanding

[spikepaga]

Hello all,

Wanted to post a quick question on wetsanding and what the final results should look like:

I own a old Jaguar XJS convertible that is finished in British Racing Green. I had the car repainted a couple of years back at the best shop in town, but the paint starting peeling, so a total strip to bare metal with every single panel removed job was done, the paint was wetsanded between the last 3 coats and the last coat of clear was wet sanded as well.

To me the paint does not look original. Everyone thinks the car looks "perfect" but I just do not see it. New cars seem to look perfect from any angle, regardless of where the sun hits them.
But then again I have to say that I have never, not even at concours 100k restorations, seen a repainted car that looks as flawless as a (luxury) factory finish.

Question is, do you think a second wetsanding is in order?? At this point I am thinking I might just have to live with it..

Thoughts??

Thanks!!!!

 

[2old2change]

You need to take the car to a reputable detailer in your area for a professional opinion. The final look of the car depends on how it was painted and having it detailed correctly. With the right painter and detailer it should rival or blowaway any OEM paint job IMO.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Here's a car with green paint that has been sanded down and then buffed out by a body shop and it looked pretty good.

1970 1/2 Camaro - Show Car Finish by Pinnacle - Modeled by Amy

Then we showed the father and daughter how to machine polish and gave them a hand as well...

To get these kinds of results...

So if the paint on your Jaguar doesn't look like this or close to this that's an indicator there's room for improvement.



I list the products, pads and tools for all by projects and anyone can get these same things and then using the tips and techniques in my book and or videos get the same reults...

Past Featured Cars
1954 Ford F-100 - Extreme Makeover - Process and products used
1970 1/2 Camaro - Show Car Finish by Pinnacle - Modeled by Amy
1977 Can Am Corvette - Extreme Makeover
Sam's 1994 Turbo 3.6 Porsche
Rene's 2011 Camaro with a Mirror Finish!
1986 Buick Regal T-Type Turbo


How To Information Resources

All the tips and techniques used for detailing this custom 1954 Ford found in either the e-book or paperback version of The Art of Detailing as well as the DVD.

E-book
(Displayed on iPad - iPad not included)

Paperback



Mike Phillips' Principles of Machine Polishing



Autogeek.net
Customer Service: 1-800-869-3011

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

You need to take the car to a reputable detailer in your area for a professional opinion.

I agree. You can start by posting a request thread on our forum for a Pro Detailer in your home town, something like ths...

Pro Detailer Wanted in Resume Speed, Iowa

The final look of the car depends on how it was painted and having it detailed correctly.

Here's a quote,

It's the guy that does the wetsanding, cutting and buffing that makes or breaks the end-results


The above is the context of a new paint job... You can hire the best painter in the world and while he lays down the foundation it's the guy that does the grunt work of sanding and buffing that determines the final outcome. I have friends that are GREAT painters but after it leaves the booth it gets handed down to the "Painter's Helper".

Wetsanding and entire car and then buffing out 100% of all the sanding marks without making a whoops! and doing the finish polishing steps i a way to leave a clear, high gloss finish is an art form and requires the right tools, pads, techniques and the human elements of care and passion.

You don't get all of the above just by opening your checkbook and dropping the car off at a shop, even a stellar shop. Read what I wrote about Rotary Buffer Swirls in Post #4 of this thread,

1954 Ford F-100 - Extreme Makeover - Process and products used

One comment on the rotary buffer swirls...
This truck was painted by a custom painter and we don't blame him for the swirls. The fact is, it's not how GREAT the painter is... it's the guy that does the wetsanding, cutting and buffing that makes or breaks the end-results.

It looks like the guy that did the sanding and buffing used a rotary buffer and likely a wool finishing pad for his last machine step.

This is the norm for the kind of work done at the majority of body shops across the world. Most people getting their car painted have no idea as to what to ask for and just take what they get when they pick up their freshly painted car.

Most body shops only use a rotary buffer for all their buffing work and don't charge enough money to cover the cost for extra steps whether they be doing a final rotary buffing step using a foam finishing pad and an ultra fine cut polish or using a DA Polisher to ensure the swirls are all removed. The the swirls I documented in this custom paint job or the norm for this industry. That's okay as it give Pro detailers plenty of work undoing the damage.

With the right painter and detailer it should rival or blowaway any OEM paint job IMO.

Correct. Couldn't agree more...

 

[robert1955]

Hello all,

Wanted to post a quick question on wetsanding and what the final results should look like:

I own a old Jaguar XJS convertible that is finished in British Racing Green. I had the car repainted a couple of years back at the best shop in town, but the paint starting peeling, so a total strip to bare metal with every single panel removed job was done, the paint was wetsanded between the last 3 coats and the last coat of clear was wet sanded as well.

To me the paint does not look original. Everyone thinks the car looks "perfect" but I just do not see it. New cars seem to look perfect from any angle, regardless of where the sun hits them.
But then again I have to say that I have never, not even at concours 100k restorations, seen a repainted car that looks as flawless as a (luxury) factory finish.

Question is, do you think a second wetsanding is in order?? At this point I am thinking I might just have to live with it..

Thoughts??

Thanks!!!!

My wife hasa black on black Mercedes-Benz 300E facctory paint I noticed some no too deep scrathes in the paint on the hood . Ca you tell me if this sounds fesable I know you cannot reall judge before seeing the scratches , but they are light. my pland was to color sand carefully with 2500 or 3000 and take the Meguires new scrach sysyem with Microm fiber pads 4 inch and buff the sanding marks out and hopefully reduce the scratches. in the paint.The hole car needs to be DA going over and a good carnuaba wax or sealant before the rain hits.
Because it is not our daily driveer I can split it up and dod the car s exterior in two days. It also needded to be clayed. So I got my work laid out. I read Michael Phillips new book very impressed he taught me a lot . Hope to hear from you on my plan.
Sincerely
Bob Geco
[email protected]