Auto Detailing and Appearance Share tips and tricks on how to make your Third Gen shine! Get opinions on products or how something tasteful looks on your Chevrolet Camaro or Pontiac Firebird.

Using sandpaper to bring paint alive again?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 19, 2001 | 12:58 PM
  #1  
TomP's Avatar
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 13,414
Likes: 6
From: Central NJ, USA
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4
Using sandpaper to bring paint alive again?

Whaddya think.. good idea, or not? I'd rather not scratch my car up using the buffer again, and I can't get an even polish on the hood when I do it by hand. I was wondering if I grabbed some 1200 grit paper, and wet sanded the paint, how it'd come out.


------------------
-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2001 | 01:08 PM
  #2  
Matt_91RSTPI's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, CA
I can tell you from experience: uneven and dull. And I used 2000 wet and then rubbing compound.

The clear coat is not that thick and when it's gone, your paint will appear much duller. You'd prabably be better off taking it to a detail shop and having your paint machine buffed. It WILL take off some of the clear coat, but much less than any wet sanding and they are professionals. If the rest of your paint and lcear are in good shape, your car may look like new.

Matt
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2001 | 04:27 PM
  #3  
85ws6TA's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 399
Likes: 0
From: Thornton, CO
Car: '92 Typhoon/ '79 Vette
Engine: Turbo 4.3L/Forged 355ci
Transmission: 4l60/th350
well he has an 86, and if the original paint it never had a clear coat. try the wet sanding in a door jam, and if you like the results, go for it.

------------------
1979 L-82 Beefed up Corvette. Bright-orange with orange pearl.
end of summer: NOS!! im thinkin 250 shot. (already have a full race engine.)
god i love this car.

1985 WS6 Trans AM T-tops
bone stock sloth of an engine on its last leg(LG4 w/ 175,000mi)
T-5 tranny. thank god, i couldnt stand an LG4 auto.
Plans for an LT1,
dual exaust,
& a pounding stereo.
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2001 | 08:54 PM
  #4  
zee28's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 581
Likes: 0
From: US
Car: 86 iroc
Engine: 305
the 86 didnt have a clearcoat?Anyway,this will not work.Are you gonna sand the paint to a shine or what?

------------------
~mike~86 IROC-Z
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2001 | 09:05 PM
  #5  
87RS402's Avatar
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,582
Likes: 0
From: Klamath Falls, Oregon
My 86 has a clear coat... You can come to my house and peel off some of GM's finest if you don't believe me.
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2001 | 11:08 PM
  #6  
zee28's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 581
Likes: 0
From: US
Car: 86 iroc
Engine: 305
...pretty sure they all did.

------------------
~mike~86 IROC-Z
Reply
Old Jun 21, 2001 | 09:57 AM
  #7  
TomP's Avatar
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 13,414
Likes: 6
From: Central NJ, USA
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4
Yep, my original paint had a clearcoat. However, with this Maaco job, I went for the "clearcoat mixed in with paint" instead of the "full clearcoat"- Dammit. And yeah, I was going to try to sand the paint to a shine... but sounds like I'll skip that idea. Maybe I'll break down and have a shop make my car shine...

Hey; what about sanding it, then using polish & wax?


------------------
-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Hotrodboba400
Firebirds for Sale
3
Dec 10, 2019 07:07 PM
Fronzizzle
Electronics
13
Feb 9, 2017 09:31 AM
rsrookie
Camaros for Sale
0
Sep 5, 2015 07:08 PM
Hotrodboba400
Firebirds for Sale
0
Sep 2, 2015 07:28 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:55 PM.