FCmaniac

The back of my 7 above the lights was dinged up and scratched to hell so I took off the emblems, filled in the holes and small dings with bondo (should I even use that?), sanded, primed, then painted with "color match" spray. It doesn't look TOO bad and matches pretty well actually but its rough as hell.



I noticed you talking of wet sanding and buffing... Can you just tell me what I need to get and do to make this section shine more now and be smooth?



thanks

Rob x-7

You didnt mention the color?

Did you spray any clear on it after?

If it wasnt mettalic and its a solid color you could try some very LIGHT wet sanding with some 2000 wet paper, then light buffing. With that soft paint you should be able to get away with polish only and no need for compounding. Just run the paper lightly across the surface, keeping it wet, a few passes is all it will really need, ideally if you have a small rubber squegee run it across the surface now and then while you are sanding and that will dry it and show you how "flat" you are getting the paint. Dont press hard with your fingers as this can leave grooves when you sand. If you happen to go thru, dont worry- just apply more paint and try it again when it dries to achieve the look you want.

If its a mettalic you MUST apply some clear over it first. They usually sell it in the same aisle where you got that paint. 3-4 coats of clear should do it depending on how rough it is.

You may want to throw a extra coat or 2 on there regardless to allow for some sanding or buffing, you could also try buffing it only, like I said, those paints are soft.

Is it rough, or is it "dry"?

Im not sure what kind of polishes are availabe to you, but any of the 3M polishes should do, they sell small containers of it in better quality auto stores, or maybe you have a detail/body supply place near you.

I can give you more info if you need it.

FCmaniac

thanks for the info



It is tornado silver (K8?) and yes, I put two coats of clear on it. So after the wet sanding, should I just polish it with a wax?

Rob x-7

If you feel you have enough clear on it, yes.

Use FINE wet sandpaper, like 2000 or finer, higher the number the finer in case you didnt know.

Use a polish, not a wax. If you dont have access to some pro products, then Mothers polish or something like it. Scratch remover or some ****, I forget what everyone calls it, I think in the mothers its called a polish though, do you have a buffing machine or are you going to try to do it by hand?

When you are done polishing it, throw a coat of wax on it by hand.

FCmaniac

If you feel you have enough clear on it, yes.

Use FINE wet sandpaper, like 2000 or finer, higher the number the finer in case you didnt know.

Use a polish, not a wax. If you dont have access to some pro products, then Mothers polish or something like it. Scratch remover or some ****, I forget what everyone calls it, I think in the mothers its called a polish though, do you have a buffing machine or are you going to try to do it by hand?

When you are done polishing it, throw a coat of wax on it by hand.[/quote]

I'm going to do everything by hand although I used a finishing sander before painting... If it turns out terrible, I'll start over from scratch.



thanks again