Paint & Body Work - Wet Sanding the entire car!!! GRRR

I painted the car with a buddy of mine. We did some research and decided to give it a shot. We've both painted small projects but an all over was interesting to try. I'm a fan of DIY stuff and ownership of the project/play toy. It feels good to be able to say that i did it myself-even if I screwed it up a bit...

Only issue was doing it in GA humidity and heat and our limited knowledge, we used a fast activator. The base and first 2 coats of clear went on smooth. The 3rd coat started to orange peel. Heat, fast activator and tacky coats below, I guess anyway, and the 3rd coat dried before it could smooth out. It got a fourth coat since I knew I was now going to wet sand the whole car.

Didn't know enough about it I guess. But it was fun trying and I guess the worst thing I have to do is sand the whole car again. Live and learn...
Pre-paint:
http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx94/woody8357/DSC_0002.jpg

Painted
http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx94/woody8357/DSC_00013.jpg

Painted
http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx94/woody8357/DSC_0057.jpg

Looks pretty good in the pictures :thumb:

did you do any color sanding?

Did you paint the car with all the body parts on it or did you take the spoiler, bumper, etc off and paint separately? It looks pretty good in your pics.

I haven't finished color sanding it. I'm in the middle of it now. Started at the driver's quarter panel and working my way around bits at a time. Above the trim mold first. 2000 Grit, followed by some sharpie marks in places in need to hit again with 3000 grit. The places I've finished and buffed, look good by me.

I did take everything off. I didn't post pictures of all of that but everything came off. Window moldings, bumpers, mirrors, spoiler, wheels & tires, lights and the rear panel that says camaro.

The pictures don't look bad and the car doesn't look bad at all from 30 feet away, but get close to it and it's annoying.

Orange peel in tye clear should be able to be wet sanded out with 1000 and 1500. Then buffed. Can i see some close up pics of the worst areas?

And taping that scoop to my liking was a beast! None of it is perfect but it's mine. I didn't pay anyone (except buying materials) and turned every single nut or bolt myself or my buddy.

I hate that it didn't turn out better than it did. But I learned a lesson and I'm fixing it myself too.

It makes it all worth it. Even the headaches and scratching my head at stuff I'm trying to figure out...just feels good to work on your own stuff...

I hear ya if i ever get it repainted i will do it my self the truck i painted cam out great put i also had borrowed a climate controled paint booth. It came out perfect but i think its all in the booth and prep.

Its hard to see in the camera.
I threw in a couple of the places I've just started sanding so you can see it better.
http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx94/woody8357/DSC_00462.jpg
http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx94/woody8357/DSC_00452.jpg
http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx94/woody8357/DSC_00442.jpg
http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx94/woody8357/DSC_00422.jpg

I hear ya if i ever get it repainted i will do it my self the truck i painted cam out great put i also had borrowed a climate controled paint booth. It came out perfect but i think its all in the booth and prep.

Agreed. Our booth worked great for keeping out the trash but was absolutely not climate controlled...I think that killed us combined with inexperience and using that dog gone fast activator.

Whoops...I see a run in there too...lol...oh sigh.

I tried to get it to flow a little too much right there once I saw it orange peeling...oh well...wasn't sweating it much at that point. I'd already realized that wet sanding was in my future. Can't help but laugh. Maybe some jobs are better left for the pros...but I'm having fun

I had a blast redoing the 77 c100. Even chopped the top wanted to do something different. Also did candy apple red mettalic for the body all emblems removed the did flat black on bumper and grill. Hardest part was chopping the top. Took for every to get it smooth all filled in with metal no body filler. Also completely took everything off frame sand blasted it and 1 stage paint and clear. The car know has no rust and i was very proud i did the work. The guy that i did it for even let me sign under the hood and on the tail gate it says i painted it.

Whoops...I see a run in there too...lol...oh sigh.

I tried to get it to flow a little too much right there once I saw it orange peeling...oh well...wasn't sweating it much at that point. I'd already realized that wet sanding was in my future. Can't help but laugh. Maybe some jobs are better left for the pros...but I'm having fun

I am right there with you on the wet sanding. Fucking soggy shoes and sore shoulders. Take one panel at a time and make sure it is flat with no peal or runs before moving on. Lots and lots of work but the end result is worth it.

Yours looks really nice from the pic.

Good luck.

doesnt look bad at all for a first timer, couple words of advice, i wouldnt use a fast activator especially in a garage, that wouldve helped out with less orange peel, and when you "cut" (wet sand) and buff just do about a 1 ft x 1ft area (wet sand, buff/polish that area then move on), i know it seems really time consuming doing it that way, but you will thank me later rather than doing large areas

I think my red car is so bad, even with the orange peel your outcome is lot better than my stock paint.

Hey man at least you had the guts to try something for yourself and your having fun doing it. You would have never known unless you tried it..

I changed the valve springs on my engine this weekend, took my time and actually had fun doing it. Everything went pretty smooth from reading all the tips on here ahead of time. Got to clean up my valve covers, coils, brackets...it was work, but like you said, it was fun....that's what it is all about..

Don

Don

Not bad at all. What brand of tpaint did you use?

I don't remember the brand. It was Keystone purchased...medium quality base coat and PPG clear. I honestly just don't remember. My buddy that helped me knows a couple guys that paint. They recommended some stuff. So we went with it. I had $320 (Gave me the wholesale price) bucks in base, clear, reducer, activator and some other odds and ends. Wax and grease remover, tack rags, etc.

I'm not displeased with it. I wish it had come out smoother but...I've got 96 days to a wedding that I'm saying for now that I'm driving the car to our honeymoon. I start college at night after work again next week, so I'm trying to get it straight while I've got a few hours in the evenings.

Every time I start sanding/buffing, about 5 minutes into it I really am thinking how I hate it. But about 5 minutes more, music is going and I'm totally focused and loving it.

Once I get moved into my new house, I've got a 2 car garage that my truck won't fit in, so I'll have all kinds of room to start my long over due H/C/I swap. Maybe I'll do torque converter and gear first. Just haven't made my mind up. TC swap and gear are both weekend jobs. I can have the car on the road again and driving it pretty quickly. I've got a feeling the H/C/I won't be as quick.

But I'm working on it slowly. I'll get this orange peel out of it, take it on one more road trip for the honey moon and hopefully it's going to turn into my Friday drive to work and weekend date night ride.

Good luck with everything.

Great for your first time. And wet sanding the whole car sucks but really brings the shine out.

Is the orange peel in the clear or the paint it self?

That looks pretty bad, going to be hard to get it sanded flat and still have enough clear on it. I would recommend sanding the entire car with 500 or 600 grit and reclearing. If you happen to break through the clear to the red, you can just rebase that are and clear over it. I know it seems like a lot of work, but it will be a better result I promise.

If your clearcoat is reasonably thick, you should be able to correct it. You're actually better off sanding it down in stages , especially in the drip areas. this slower method will allow better gasing off of the paint & result in a more stable surface.
All the best paintjobs get a little color sanding, so try to find a happy place for your mind & get it done. It will be worth it in the long run,also to say you did it yourself. You might want to try meguiars diamond cut for compound with foam pads. It starts out course & breaks down into a glazing compound, which gives you a little quicker effect for your time.
My front fenders, hood & fascia were a near midnight spray job under an open carport last march. colorsanding & buffing were also done inpoor lighted conditions after long work days. A few minor rub threws, but to be expected working in bad conditions.You can see a little rubthrough above the vent, but the fender is as shiny as the higher quality 13 year old paint next to it. Just trying to give you a little inspiration.
http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i450/jlcustomz1/DSC00426.jpg
http://s1094.photobucket.com/profile/jlcustomz1/uploads

when your cutting and buffing you dont want to use a foam pad to buff, you will clogg up the pad like crazy, your better off using a wool pad to buff then the black foam pad to polish

A good tip is wet sand with lots of water and use lite pressure mostly where a edge is.

Thanks for all the info. Sorry for my delays in response, I visited a wounder warrior retreat this weekend to spend some time with a buddy of mine. So I neglected the car this weekend.

The orange peel is all in the clear. It's pretty thick. I went 2 coats extra after I started seeing it orange peeling because I knew I was going to be sanding it. I'm making my way around the car slowly and it's coming out pretty good. I'm happy so far. I'm using lots of water. I took one of my son's water bottles with the little snap in and out nozzle. I tried using a spray bottle but my hand was killing me after a few days. So I fill the bottle with water, open the nozzle about half way and just let it pour over the paint as I sand it. I'm using 1000 grit first and coming behind myself with 1500 grit to clean up any nagging spots without cutting away too much clear too quickly.

The only area I'm fighting is the valleys on the hood right above the headlights. They are hard to buff. I'm afraid to turn the buffer too much sideways and burn the paint from the heat built up. Without turning it a little though, the surface of the pad just doesn't get into the valley.

Slowly but surely we're getting there though. I'm moving this week so the car is just going to sleep for a while. Once I get settled, I'll go back at it.

You might have to buff that hood part by hand.

Thanks for all the info. Sorry for my delays in response, I visited a wounder warrior retreat this weekend to spend some time with a buddy of mine. So I neglected the car this weekend.

The orange peel is all in the clear. It's pretty thick. I went 2 coats extra after I started seeing it orange peeling because I knew I was going to be sanding it. I'm making my way around the car slowly and it's coming out pretty good. I'm happy so far. I'm using lots of water. I took one of my son's water bottles with the little snap in and out nozzle. I tried using a spray bottle but my hand was killing me after a few days. So I fill the bottle with water, open the nozzle about half way and just let it pour over the paint as I sand it. I'm using 1000 grit first and coming behind myself with 1500 grit to clean up any nagging spots without cutting away too much clear too quickly.

The only area I'm fighting is the valleys on the hood right above the headlights. They are hard to buff. I'm afraid to turn the buffer too much sideways and burn the paint from the heat built up. Without turning it a little though, the surface of the pad just doesn't get into the valley.

Slowly but surely we're getting there though. I'm moving this week so the car is just going to sleep for a while. Once I get settled, I'll go back at it.

Try using a clean sponge for water. Saturate the sponge in a clean bucket of water then put it above where you are working. Let it drip down on your work or give it a little squeeze once in a while. It's also nice to wipe down your work,

D.I.Y. Automotive School RULES..!!!!

ANYONE TRY'N TO DO THIS AS A 1st TIMER.. JUST LIKE ME... SHOULD..

Follow these video steps 1-5 and listen to Pete..!!

I did this and WoW..!! It Really turned out AMAZING..!!

I will post pics after the final steps of polishing and washing all of the wax off.

I took it all the way up to 3000grit
Didnt have a D/A sander for 2000 and 4000grit


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hzQyaRof4k