Removing clearcoat ridges...wetsand or PC?

[JCarter]

Hello everyone, I have a question. I recently removed the side moldings off of my 2005 Dodge Magnum RT. On one of the doors it seems as if someone sprayed clearcoat over the molding and it created what looks like a ridge going down the door in the shape of the molding that was there. Im sorry I dont have a pic to show you at this time, hopefully tonight I can snap one...however Im curious if using a cutting compound like M-105 along with my PC 7424 would possibly be able to remove these ridges or if it will be necessary to wetsand along them. They look to come out maybe 1/32 of an inch, not anything huge...but enough to see and feel with a pass of the finger. Thanks in advance for any advice you're able to give me.

Justin

[jmakado]

Re: Removing clearcoat ridges...wetsand or PC?

You will need to wetsand.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Removing clearcoat ridges...wetsand or PC?

For something like a thin, ridge of paint sitting on top of paint you'll likely have to wet-sand the ridge off until it's flat.

The DA Polisher won't have enough power to remove this, instead it will just polish it up to a high gloss. A rotary buffer would remove paint from a large area, not just the ridge, so it would be best to sand the ridge off and then remove your sanding marks by hand or machine.

Picture might change the above answer so we'll look for a picture to show the problem better...

[tguil]

Re: Removing clearcoat ridges...wetsand or PC?

I think you need to be darn careful and maybe be ready to put the moldings back on. I'll bet that there has been some repainting done to the door and the painter simply masked off the molding and painted to it. There is a good reason that painters clear whole panels rather than try to blend them. In reality you are blending clearcoat in reverse.

After messin' with these types of "flaws" for over 50 years, I have finally learned that perfection is not necessarily something to strive for, especially on a daily driver.

Tom

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Removing clearcoat ridges...wetsand or PC?

Good insight Tom...

[JCarter]

Re: Removing clearcoat ridges...wetsand or PC?

Sorry it took me all night to get a pic...the girlfriend had a flat tire and well, you know how that goes...so I had to go help her out and between plugging it and getting it back on for her it was too dark to get a pic last night. I snapped one this morning with my cell phone, its not the greatest...but it gives you an idea. Once I find my memory card for my digi cam Ill take another one...hopefully tonight. I had a feeling it was going to have to wetsand...and if I mess up its ok, Ill just repaint the door...but Id rather not have to if ya know what I mean. Either way, thanks for all of the advice. This thing doesnt have to be perfect...but its gotta be good enough to make me happy which is damn close.

[JCarter]

Re: Removing clearcoat ridges...wetsand or PC?

Thanks for the advice guys! I tried to post a pic linked from photobucket, but for some reason it didnt go through. Any ideas?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Removing clearcoat ridges...wetsand or PC?

Thanks for the advice guys! I tried to post a pic linked from photobucket, but for some reason it didnt go through. Any ideas?

Since you have not passed the post count number to be excluded from our Spam Software your post with a photo was placed into Moderation. I just approved it. After you pass a certain number of posts then your photos will go live instantly.

The spam software protects the entire community from seeing things they might not want to see...

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Removing clearcoat ridges...wetsand or PC?

I had a feeling it was going to have to wetsand...and if I mess up its ok,

With our new SMAT products you can remove sanding marks by hand fairly easily as long as you have a good arm.

Place some painters tape along the edges of where you want to sand so you don't put unnecessary sanding scratches into the surrounding paint.

Next use some #2000 grit wet/dry paper to level the ridge to your comfort level.

Now get a high quality terry cloth towel and cut it up so you have some small pieces about 4 to 6 inches square, fold a piece of terry cloth over to give you a wad of terry cloth and use this with one of our SMAT compounds to rub out your sanding marks.

When you get most/all of the sanding marks out of the paint then remove the painters tape and re-compound the entire area using a clean, soft foam applicator pad. This will even out the finish. Then do some final polishing and waxing and you should be good to go.

[JCarter]

Re: Removing clearcoat ridges...wetsand or PC?

Thanks Mike! That rule makes sense, I didnt know about it so I appreciate the info. I promise Im no SPAM bot! lol

[JCarter]

Re: Removing clearcoat ridges...wetsand or PC?

With our new SMAT products you can remove sanding marks by hand fairly easily as long as you have a good arm.

Place some painters tape along the edges of where you want to sand so you don't put unnecessary sanding scratches into the surrounding paint.

Next use some #2000 grit wet/dry paper to level the ridge to your comfort level.

Now get a high quality terry cloth towel and cut it up so you have some small pieces about 4 to 6 inches square, fold a piece of terry cloth over to give you a wad of terry cloth and use this with one of our SMAT compounds to rub out your sanding marks.

When you get most/all of the sanding marks out of the paint then remove the painters tape and re-compound the entire area using a clean, soft foam applicator pad. This will even out the finish. Then do some final polishing and waxing and you should be good to go.

Thanks for the advice on how to fix this! I actually just placed an order for some new pads for my Porter Cable and while I was at it picked up some M-105 and M-205 polishes. I believe these are both SMAT products, correct? I also ordered some 2000 grit and 2500 grit Meguiar's sandpaper while I was at it so I think I should be all set to try and tackle this once it gets to my doorstep.

One thing, I do plan on giving the entire car a polish job with the PC. would I be able to skip the polishing of the wetsanded area by hand and just hit it up with the PC as I do the rest of the car? Or should I focus on that alone by hand and then polish the rest of the car by machine?

*EDIT* Nevermind, I just re-read what you posted and answered my own question.

Thanks again, your advice is very much appreciated!

Justin

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Removing clearcoat ridges...wetsand or PC?

while I was at it picked up some M-105 and M-205 polishes. I believe these are both SMAT products, correct?

Yes.




One thing, I do plan on giving the entire car a polish job with the PC. would I be able to skip the polishing of the wet-sanded area by hand and just hit it up with the PC as I do the rest of the car?

Or should I focus on that alone by hand and then polish the rest of the car by machine?

*EDIT* Nevermind, I just re-read what you posted and answered my own question.

Thanks again, your advice is very much appreciated!

Justin[/QUOTE]

When it comes to removing your sanding marks it's going to be more effective to remove them by hand or with a rotary buffer than to try to use a Porter Cable, at least with our foam pads due to their size.

With your hand you can exert a lot of force, enough to easily remove #2000 grit and higher sanding marks.

Click the link below and then read through some of the threads it lists as in them we've discussed this idea of exerting more pressure with your hand than you can with a PC multiple times as it seems to be a hard concept for some people to understand.

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/tags.php?tag=exert



With the PC you will try to push down hard on the head of the unit and then you'll see the pad stop rotating and thus no paint will be removed.

You can use the PC to polish over the entire vehicle and the sanded areas after the sanded areas have been compounded to your expectations.

[JCarter]

Re: Removing clearcoat ridges...wetsand or PC?

Gotcha. Thanks again for the advice. Ill post pics of my progress when I get my supplies!