5 MAXIMUMPC MARCH 2005
When your primer coat is dry, it’s on to the wet-sanding to get
that paint flat and silky smooth. Prepare your work area for a
messy job by covering your work surface with a canvas or plastic
drop cloth. Have plenty of paper towels on hand for cleanup as
you work. I keep a spray bottle filled with fresh water handy so
I can clean up the “mud” that wet-sanding leaves behind and
inspect my progress. Put a few drops of dishwashing liquid in a
bowl or container and fill it with warm water. The soap helps the
paper glide over the work by reducing the surface tension of the
water. Load your sanding block with 400- or 500-grit paper and
let it sit in the soapy water for about a minute until the paper is
soaked and properly conditioned.1
Begin sanding the panel in an up and down direction and
with light pressure until you’ve reached the opposite side.
Now turn your panel clockwise so the left side becomes the
top; begin sanding again, this time crossing over the grain of the
previous pass.2
Going in a diagonal direction also helps to get an evenly
sanded surface. A circular motion is not recommended for
wet-sanding because this can cause the corners and edges
of your sanding block to dig into the paint and cause problems.
Dip your sanding block in the water several times to rinse off
the paint after each pass. If you find the sanding block sticking
to the surface, you might have too much water on the panel,
which can create a suction effect. In this case, remove some of
the water from the surface with a paper towel. After a few passes
with the 500-grit to get the heavy particles from the surface, load
your sanding block with either 600-grit or 1,000-grit and higher
depending on your progress. For trouble spots like the side panel
handles, you should avoid using the sanding block and get these
tight areas by hand, using a small piece of sandpaper.Step Five: Wet-Sanding the Primer Coat
3
If you sand down to the previous layer of paint or even
the bare metal, don’t get discouraged; it’s your panel’s
way of saying, “I have a high spot that needs sanding!”
As you can see here, that’s exactly what happened to me. If
this happens, you just have to sand down that high spot and
then give it a few more coats of primer after a good fresh water
cleanup of the panel. Your final wet-sanding should leave your
panel with a buttery soft satin finish that is even and free from
heavy scratches.paintyourcase