25 replies to this topic

[sonikk4]

Ok why not use soapy water when you are sanding with 2000??? yes the paint will dull as you are taking a very small amount of paint off but also it helps to prevent paint balls forming on the wet and dry. This is bad as it will mark the paint.

The G3 will then start the polishing or if it was only a light sand then something like 3M Perfect III should be enough.

I'm no expert far from it but when somebody who has got 50 years of experience and know's most of the trick's of the trade who am i to argue with that.

I have seen two cars that have been prepped and polished by him, an immaculate MGA and his bosses Austin Healey both using the above method and the paint on both is baby skin smooth and gleaming. Oh and no swirl marks either.

[danie garry]

well i had some help today so we flatted the whole car...................sooooooooooooo boring!!
sprayed the doors and bonnet again because i wasnt happy with em, ready for flatting now seeing as it was such a warm day, its gonna be a long night!!
sonnik...dunno what the story is with the soap but i found the paper didnt clog near as much when i was just using water

[sonikk4]

Ray (bodyshop guru) said the biggest problem with flatting back paint for another coat is paint balls on the wet and dry as this will scratch the paint so not good. I used 1200 with plenty of water to flat any high spots then some fine scotch brite between coats and it did give a very smooth finish.

As already said i will knock back any fresh high spots with 2000 wet and dry with plenty of soapy water and then a series of different grades of cutting compound and polish until it gleams.

[JoneseyBoy]

the paper will only really block up if its not fully dry or its dirty

im only stating how ive been taught. ive also work for a few diffrent companys and done things in most ways possible and most people ive worked with has said that soapy water (expecialy washing up liquid) dolls the fresh laquor even down to washing a freshly painted car with washing up liquid could doll the paint.

[danie garry]

when i was using soap i used car wash rather than washing up liquid as i thought the car wash is designed for paint wotk so it'l not do as much damage to the paint if it was to do damage at all

[JoneseyBoy]

well how did it go today ?

[danie garry]

very very well, once i had some1 helping me it wasnt quite as bad!! i'v 1 door and the bonnet to do tomorrow, i used a softer blue sponge instead of the white 1 and its done a lot better
its getting there, hope to have the car on the road for friday

[midridge2]

they may be some confusion in this post, its standard practice in paint shops to use washing up liqued in the water when flatting old paint but to use soap when flatting new paint.
the idea being that it stops the paper from clogging and scratching the paint when flatting old paint, for new paint the soap is to make the paper glide over the paint and leave even less marks. hope this helps.

[JoneseyBoy]

they may be some confusion in this post, its standard practice in paint shops to use washing up liqued in the water when flatting old paint but to use soap when flatting new paint.
the idea being that it stops the paper from clogging and scratching the paint when flatting old paint, for new paint the soap is to make the paper glide over the paint and leave even less marks. hope this helps.

Cheers for that matey learn something new everyday I was never told the reason lol. So that mean when flitting new paint its not a must to have soap in the water ? But it can help.

[sonikk4]

I've not been using washing up liquid but a good quality car soap and it seems to work fine. What i will try though is just plain water on a front wing to see if there is any difference but still go the G3, Perfect III and Polish Rosa route after and then compare results.

I think that no matter where you go everybody has a slightly different way of doing things whether its welding , spraying, painting etc but really you need to find a method for yourself that works every time and that you are happy with. Polishing does suck though big style.

[JoneseyBoy]

I think that no matter where you go everybody has a slightly different way of doing things whether its welding , spraying, painting etc but really you need to find a method for yourself that works every time and that you are happy with. Polishing does suck though big style.

thats true mate. yes it does ive done it so much its kind of relaxing lol. i tried some of the wurth polishs the other day and was quite pleased with them.