Wool pad to remove sanding marks?

[Ricka77]

Greetings. First time poster, long time lurker and lifelong Meguiars product user. I always used the basic stuff, but in the past few years I've taken more time to make my truck look better.

Long story short, I got truck bed liner overspray all over the truck. I first used regular clay, then aggressive, and there was still some grittiness I just couldn't rid of.

Next step, wetsanding. I used 800 in a few areas with moderate-deep scratches, even if not getting them out all the way, definitely reducing their appearance. However, after 800, I used 1000, 2000, then 3000....and I could still see the sanding lines. I tried re-sanding with a more uniform pattern and changing paper often. It helped, but not enough.

I'm thinking, and hoping, a wool pad with some aggressive rubbing compound is my next step. No more sanding, I don't want to sand again unless that is the absolute final way..

I tried taking a pic, but they don't seem to come out right and it looks ok... But in person, the lines are visible especially if the light hits the right way.

So my plan is a wool pad with 3M Perfect-It EX compound, followed by M105 and 205.

Do I have any hope of getting my paint clear again?

Thanks,
Ricka

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Wool pad to remove sanding marks?

Welcome to MOL, Ricka!

You are correct in thinking you need to buff out your sanding marks; there is no such thing as wet sanding paint and not having to buff it out! We're a bit concerned that you started as aggressively as 800 grit on factory paint, even with that overspray. That is very aggressive and removes a lot of paint very quickly. Skip the Perfect-It and go straight to M105 with your wool pad to remove the 3000 grit sanding marks. If you did all the sanding properly then you should only have 3000 grit marks left to buff out, and that should go pretty quickly. But be careful and take your time here - factory OEM paint is quite thin and that 800 grit initial sanding pass likely remove a large amount of the clear.

[Ricka77]

Re: Wool pad to remove sanding marks?

Hi Michael,

Thanks for the reply. I know it was a bit aggressive, but I actually started at 2000, then 3000. I only went down to 800 for one area of mt driver door that had some real deep scratches, and I was trying to get them as low as I could before touching them up. But for whatever reason, I used the 800/1000/2000/3000 grit in that order everywhere else.

I can easily return the 3M stuff, and I still have some good ol' M105 in my detail stuff tote. I've found that in a few areas, I was able to get some of the finish clear of lines, but that was after multiple passes with a red cutting pad and probably too much pressure. I think a wool pad will give me the cut I need, and paired with the M105 will work well to remove the damage.

I'll try and get pics anyway, before and after. I have a feeling I should have just went to M105 anyway, but it's good to know I was thinking along the right path.

Thanks!

[Ricka77]

Re: Wool pad to remove sanding marks?

Ok, update after finally getting time to work it. I picked up a 3" pad set that works with my cordless rotary drill, as well as a 7" wool pad. I first taped off an area and then used the 3" heavy wool pad with a circle and cross of M105, and spread over the area on a slower speed with light trigger pull. I kept the drill on low speed because on high it was too hard to control and the M105 just spun off. I worked the area in line with scratches, and then perpendicular, and a quick in line pass again. I then wiped it down with a microfiber and looked. The lines were still there. Just slightly lighter, but still there. From a distance they are visible as well when lights the right way.

I'm not sure if maybe a high grit sanding with 3000 and 5000, followed by more M105 and wool pad again would work them out, but I'm willing to try.

Does that sound like the next best step?

[Ricka77]

Re: Wool pad to remove sanding marks?

Bump...What is happening to my replies? I have tried to post an update twice and it just doesn't show....

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Wool pad to remove sanding marks?

Bump...What is happening to my replies? I have tried to post an update twice and it just doesn't show....

You've got less than 30 posts as a new user and you're linking to images outside the MOL gallery; the system puts such posts into moderation due to the huge amount of spam we used to get. We appreciate your patience with this.

As for the issue your having with removal of the sanding marks, the following gives us a bunch of insight as to why you're struggling:

Ok, update after finally getting time to work it. I picked up a 3" pad set that works with my cordless rotary drill, as well as a 7" wool pad. I first taped off an area and then used the 3" heavy wool pad with a circle and cross of M105, and spread over the area on a slower speed with light trigger pull. I kept the drill on low speed because on high it was too hard to control and the M105 just spun off.

At slow speed, a 3" pad isn't going to cut much on a rotary buffer, let alone on a cordless drill. You just don't have the torque needed to put real power down and get the job done here, and we'd be willing to bet the 7" setup on that tool isn't going to be much better. Add to that the extreme variable of these unknown pads and you're going to struggle.

If you've sanded properly and have really good quality 3000 grit sanding marks to finish, then you shouldn't need to sand any more, just buff out the 3000 grit marks. But, as mentioned, the tool you're using is a major limiting factor here. A good DA polisher like out MT300 would knock out those 3000 grit marks in a matter of minutes. If you can't step up to such a tool and are going to stick with what you've got, you're just going to have to keep buffing.

[Ricka77]

Re: Wool pad to remove sanding marks?

Thanks for the delayed posting explanation. That makes total sense, no issues waiting. Thanks for fixing it if it showed a double post.

I did a little more work today and I went ahead and broke out the big boy..lol My G110v2 buffer and my new 6" skinny pads, 3 red, yellow, and black. I worked the same area over with 3000 only, then M105 with red pad, followed by M205 with yellow pad. It looks a LOT better! I can still be picky and see a few lines here and there, but I think I've got my solution. More time with the G110v2. I was only using the 3" drill pad set to test an area first. Where I do the work isn't really convenient to run power cords and set a table up to hold pads and other stuff. But I did it today, all out and I'm happy I did. Once it's all done, everything will blend in and I'll have that razor sharp mirror finish. I should have it finished by next weekend, and I'll post some final pics as well.

So as usual, and as Vince Lombardi once said, "The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary."

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Wool pad to remove sanding marks?

Nice to hear you can start getting the results you're after once the proper tools came to the job!!! Can't wait to see the finished pix!

[Ricka77]

Re: Wool pad to remove sanding marks?

Ok, the work is finally done! I actually finished over the weekend, but had to get the pictures. Anyway, it turned out amazing!

I also added a new set of wheels and tires as well...very happy with Meguiars saving the day for me!

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Wool pad to remove sanding marks?

Ok, the work is finally done! I actually finished over the weekend, but had to get the pictures. Anyway, it turned out amazing!

I also added a new set of wheels and tires as well...very happy with Meguiars saving the day for me!

That's awesome!! Glad it worked out so well for you!!

OK, full disclosure here: I'm not really a truck guy at all............... but this is pretty dang cool!!! Nicely done!!

[Eldorado2k]

Re: Wool pad to remove sanding marks?

Wow that black truck turned out really nice!

[Ricka77]

Re: Wool pad to remove sanding marks?

Thank you both.. It's been quite a head turned around town, and I even got a nod from the old guys and their classic cars hanging out at the local coffee shop this morning..

And yet, I have more work and other ideas in mind..lol But for the paint, I have that locked in for now.

[wheckathorn]

Re: Wool pad to remove sanding marks?

Very nice work, sir. Looks great!


Enjoy the old guys at the coffee shop, they not always be there......