First, my car is in good shape in terms of body work, no filler/bondo needed.
Currently it is ALL primered except for the stock hood (which is also in good condition body wise).

I have decided to simply scuff the car for paint. I will not be using sealer since I'm just going to take it to a maaco later for it to be painted and since there's a window in which you're supposed to paint after using sealer, it won't be able to be painted in that window frame.... unless there's something you can use that makes paint stick to it without a time frame?

What grit to use on body? (I was thinking 600 wet would be just fine).
What grit to strip the clear coat of the factory painted hood?
I will be using my hands to sand, was was wondering what the best technique; scross hatching?

Thanks.

 

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Any suggestions?I mean I can't really go wrong as long as I go slowly and carefully; but would like recommendations on which grit.

 

what kind of primer did you use? you have to make sure the primer that is being sprayed will work with the paint. some primers will still allow the sealer and/or paint to bleed into the primer. leaving ugly spots of uneven color all over your car.

to cut the clear 420 to 800 should be fine. by hand i hope you mean with a long block. if you sand it with your bare hands you are going to have little waves and grooves.

also, with clear... when sanding with 420 you don't want to press hard... just enough... that grit is course enough to cut str8 into the paint. as you go higher in grit... its more forgiving. And yes, crossing your strokes is the way you should do it.

 

I don't know what primer is on there, I didn't do it.
And when I mean by hand I mean by hand, wet sanding.
The car is an EF that's a daily I bought primered, and am going to take to a cheap paint shop, but would like to sand it for a bit better result, to better avoid paint chipping. I don't want to hear that it will probably still chip, sanding is going to be better than just throwing paint on there as is, so that's why I am asking.

I have 600 grit for the clear coat (for the painted hood), by your answer I think that'll be pretty good.
As for the rest of the body, should I go higher?

 

i'd like to know this too, the guy who primerd my hatch didnt do a good job at sanding its orinigal paint, i can see scratch marks under the primer in some places