re: Color Sanding and Buffing

[William Elliott <wcelliot@concentric.net>]

A word to the wise: be very careful in the use of a buffer and/or
sandpaper if you don't know what you're doing.  It doesn't take much of
either to turn a car with faded paint into a car in need of a paint
job.  Rub down thru the clearcoat, you're in some trouble.  Rub thru the
paint, you're in a lot of trouble. Practice on somebody else's car
first. ;-)

For color sanding, I use 1000-1500 grit (at $2/sheet) with lots of soapy
water. (Coarser VERY rarely.)  Then I buff with 3M fine and mircofine
polishing compound... about $30/container.  All creases and edges done
by hand with a rag.  Buff slowly... you can burn the paint.  To
colorsand a new urethane paint job can take several evenings.  For
clearcoats (typically harder) you can use a little coarser girt.
Again.. see warnings above.  I have the right tools, the right
consumables, and a decent technique... and still screw up occasionally.

If in doubt, pay a professional.

Bill Elliott
Lake Mills, WI
Dart GT now needing a paint job (but it was pretty bad to begin with...)