I have an eg hatch thats stock teal colored.. I want to paint it myself, but I'm kinda confused on sanding... I've read that I should only use like 200 grit and wetsand to start and goto like 800 grit wetsanded than paint, and i've heard start with like 80 grit in other threads, so I'm just trying to see from some pro's perspectives what would be ideal..?? Half the car is sunfaded so there isn't any clearcoat and even on my roof the oxidation has turned into a white flaky surface... Here check it out and lemme kno how I should get started.. Thanks in advance..

 

Your best bet is goin to be wet sandin the good portions of the car with 800 wet untill down to a dull glaze..and you cant see any orange peel. For the sun faded areas you should hit it with 320 dry, a da works real good and will mke it alot faster..if you dont have access to one by hand is just as good. your gonna wann get it to an even surface...once you hav done that shoot a primer filler..followed by sandin that with 800 wet again. that should solve your problm and give you a nice even surface to shoot paint on. ps. of your tryin to save money you can shoot base coat directly over the good areas you hit with 800 wet...but i really recomend layin down a sealer over the whole car to ensure the old paint is locked in...if your goin for a show amazin glass finish shoot the whole car in an all in one primer/ filler/ sealer (napas finish one product is 70 buck a gallon includin hardner and it sands like butter) then hit the whole car again with 800 wet and shoot ur base and clear! hope this was helpfull!!

 

Thanks bro that was very helpful..!!

Anyone else care to second that..??

 

If this is your first time you're going to want to use a primer surfacer, because you wont be able to feather out the peeling correctly. When you use a primer you could chew it up with 120, it would cut right past defects like chipping paint faster. The scratches give the primer something to bite into. Then block it out like normal. Seal, base, clear...unless going single stage.

 

Any suggestions on any certain materials or name brands I could give a whirl..??

 

At my shop for a full repaint we sand the whole car 400 grit. Then clean it really good and use a scotchbrite pad on the hard to reach places. After the 400 we take the scotchbrite and wet it down with waterbased cleaner and scuff it until it's all dull, then shoot and clear. But that's on a perfect car. That clearcoat peel we would probably take a DA to it until its all smooth with no harsh edges and spray a sandable primer or sealer over it. It also might depend on the paint you use also. We use Sikkens. Lifetime warranty son.

 

What's a DA..??

 

Dual-Action Sander- It follows the contours of the surface rather than the more grinding-type action of a standard rotating sander.