During wetsanding, looks like clearcoat is detached from paint.

[bdang007]

Hi,
I've been wetsanding my vehicle and during the process the clearcoat seems to have lifted from the base paint coat. That is what it looks like anyways, I'm not sure what exactly has happened but it looks like there is air underneath the clearcoat... can anything be done about this? Would I need to sand the clearcoat off and then apply a new clearcoat over it?

Thanks.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: During wetsanding, looks like clearcoat is detached from paint.

What you might be seeing is the clearcoat getting thin and "failing."

What were you attempting to do by wet sanding the vehicle?

any chance you can post pictures?

[Bounty]

Re: During wetsanding, looks like clearcoat is detached from paint.

What you might be seeing is the clearcoat getting thin and "failing."

Unfortunately for you I have to agree with Mark here....without a picture your description sounds like serious clearcoat damage.

Would I need to sand the clearcoat off and then apply a new clearcoat over it?

Uh.....no.

[bdang007]

Re: During wetsanding, looks like clearcoat is detached from paint.

Hey fellas,
I'll post some pics up tomorrow or day after if I get a chance as its dark now. But yeah, I think it could be that the clearcoat is too thin and its separated from the paint? I'm just guessing here because thats exactly what it looks like.

I was trying to sand off a scratch which was in the clearcoat, I think its in the clearcoat cause I did the finger nail check on it. So I started wet sanding it down using 1000 grit and then 1500 and then 2000, then all of a sudden the problem started occuring and it spreaded for a little while.

Can the clearcoat separate from the paint or is it just my imagination?

Thanks!

[Markus Kleis]

Re: During wetsanding, looks like clearcoat is detached from paint.

The clear is not separating from the paint, it is simply becoming too thin and it gets a milky look to it when this occurs. The approach you took is quite aggressive, and on many finishes it is too aggressive to be done safely.

How much/how long did you sand with each grit? I know some mobile airbrush repair specialists that say 16 strokes with 2,500 grit is the most one should ever do on a factory clear to be safe. Even a couple swipes with 1,000 will do more damage than that.

Of course, some paints CAN handle that and more, but clearly (excuse the pun) some can not.

Sadly, at this point your only option is to have it sprayed with more clear.

[bdang007]

Re: During wetsanding, looks like clearcoat is detached from paint.

Hi Mark,
I actaully sanded it quite a bit. Must have been atleast 30 minutes of sanding using the 2,500 grit because the scratch was not been removed.

Also it isn't milky, but its actually lumped up at the parts where I think it has separated from the paint.

So if I was to spray on more clear, would that fix the problem or do I have to sand it to hit the paint and then add the clear coat?

Thanks!

[b00g2003]

Re: During wetsanding, looks like clearcoat is detached from paint.

Hi Mark,
I actaully sanded it quite a bit. Must have been atleast 30 minutes of sanding using the 2,500 grit because the scratch was not been removed.

Also it isn't milky, but its actually lumped up at the parts where I think it has separated from the paint.

So if I was to spray on more clear, would that fix the problem or do I have to sand it to hit the paint and then add the clear coat?

Thanks!

Without pictures, I would have to say that just spraying more clear with not fix the issue. If you have sanded through the clear, then you have disrupted the base coat underneath. So if you would clear over top of this, you'll more than likely see the damaged that has been caused to the base coat... So to fix it correctly you would probably have to re-base coat the area also, you can blend this area out to match the surrounding paint... This is a common painting practice used with base/clear systems...I can explain about blending base coat, or if this sounds too in depth for you. Time to find a body shop!

Post some pictures and the rest of the guys and I can shed some more light on how to repair the damage...

[3Fitty]

Re: During wetsanding, looks like clearcoat is detached from paint.

Where/who did you get your information from regarding how to wet sand? I think wet sanding it one of those areas I would not touch because of how delicate/dangerous it can be.

You also have to be careful with regards to where/who you are getting your information from. As I see it, there are only a small handful of guys on MOL qualified to give such instruction.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: During wetsanding, looks like clearcoat is detached from paint.

I would have to say that just spraying more clear with not fix the issue. If you have sanded through the clear, then you have disrupted the base coat underneath.

I agree.

Once you sanded through the clear your sanding paper has also sanded the color coat and what you have now is a mess.

Trying to somehow spray new clear paint over this is only going to lead to more problems. At this point it's time to let a pro repaint the affected panel or the entire car.

What caused you to start sanding in the first place and is this a factory finish?

[bdang007]

Re: During wetsanding, looks like clearcoat is detached from paint.

Hi guys,
Thanks for your efforts. I am at work so I won't be able to get a photo until tomorrow. I wouldn't say that I have sanded through the clear because I haven't reached the base coat as yet, although I'm quite sure I'm very close to it.

A mate of mine suggested I wet sand it and it sounded like a reasonable idea at the time, sand the area to blend the scratch in then polish it and wax.

Mike, yes it is a factory finish on a 1998 honda legend aka acura RL. What caused me to sand it? mmm the scratch was quite deep and I was told by a few people I would have to get the whole panel repainted so I figured I can try and fix it first and worst comes to worst I can just get a shop to fix my mess hehehe but I really wanted to learn how to fix it for myself. I bought all the equipment and read articles upon articles and watch videos for the past week.... looks like it didn't help enough.

Thanks fellas.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: During wetsanding, looks like clearcoat is detached from paint.

looks like it didn't help enough.

There are multiple problems when it comes to sanding and buffing a factory paint job

• Factory paint is thin.
• Factory paint tends to be more on the hard side and not the soft side but you never know till you do some testing.

Keep in mind the sanding process removes paint as does the compounding process and together when performed to a factory finish you put yourself at risk at removing too much clear and exposing the basecoat or color coat of the paint system.

I know some Pros will take on sanding down a factory finish to remove orange peel usually to please a disappointed customer of a new car, but for most people including myself it's more risk than it's worth taking unless you're going to re-paint the panel or car anyways then what you did is taking advantage of a bad situation and turning it into a learning experience for you and now everyone that will read this thread into the future.

[bdang007]

Re: During wetsanding, looks like clearcoat is detached from paint.

Hi guys,
Ok so here is my little problem in all its glory. Hope you can see it because it didn't turn out very clear on the camera. This is picture is of a smaller scratch which I wet sanded earlier, it had a fairly good result - with the exception of that bubble thing. I can feel there is a bit of a lump on the part that is discoloured. Any ideas what this is and if it can be fixed or not? Thank you all for your efforts and helping me on this steep learning curve.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: During wetsanding, looks like clearcoat is detached from paint.

This is what it looks like when you go through, or burn-through the clear layer of paint.

It starts out as a very small spot, usually an ovalish pattern and the more you buff the area with something abrasive like a compound, (by hand or machine), the larger the spot or patch grows because you're removing all the clear paint down to the basecoat also called color coat.

The color differences is caused by removing the clear layer over the basecoat layer of paint thereby exposing the color coat. In a basecoat/clearcoat paint system the color coat is usually flat or dull looking as it gets clarity and gloss from the clear layer. Remove the clear layer and you change the way the paint looks.


At least that's my guess based on your description of what you did, the picture and experience.

[bdang007]

Re: During wetsanding, looks like clearcoat is detached from paint.

Hi Mike,
That sounds like the problem, I may have even went through a layer or 2 of the base coat haha can I just apply a base coat and then a clear coat to this then perhaps polish it? from your experience, would this have any chance of getting rid of that mark?