I did a search already, but I can't find specific answers. I just finished painting my side skirts a few days ago. I sanded them down with 320 grit sandpaper before I started, but there were some cracks and deep scratches that I couldn't get out. I assumed the primer would cover it, but it didn't. I used regular sandable primer by duplicolor. Would filler primer have done the trick or should I have just covered the scratches and cracks with something else? The scratches are on the bottom, so I didn't sweat it. I let the primer dry for a day and then I sanded with 400 grit paper and then 600 grit. I layed on several coats of color after that. A little dust blew onto the paint as it was drying. Can I wet sand the color coat before I lay down the clear coat?

 

clear coat then wet sand. the wet sanding should get rid of that dust and you should of bought fillable primer for thoses cracks and scratches

 

are your side skirtd urethane or fiberglass? if they're fiberglass, you're kinda screwed, because the cracks will come back. the only way to fix them is to cut the crack out, and use fiberglass to repair the crack. if they are urethane skirts, filler would have just cracked and fell off if they flexed. the best you can do with those is primer, sand, reprimer, resand and so on. as for the paint, to not sand the color. wet sand only the clear coat, CAREFULLY, with 1500 grit wet/dry paper, nothing lower. then buff with an electric or air buffer and the proper buffing compounds.

 

you can use 1200 I work at a body shop I know. Also for fiberglass then use flexable primer

 

It's the stock side skirts I painted, so it's not fiberglass. Now about that buffer. How much do those things go for? What's the rpm supposed to be when buffing? I ask because I have a pretty powerful electric drill, and I was wondering if it would be good enough.

 

I got like a 100$ Craftsman power drill. I just bought a nice ass buff ball and it works fine. I forgot which drill it is but it has 4 settings.

 

My power drill goes up to 1400 rpm's. Is that fast enough?

 

sand with 360, use spot putty, sand with 600, primer, sand with 360, use spot putty, sand with 600, primer. sand with 360, use spot putty, sand with 600, primer,sand with 360, use spot putty, sand with 600, primer,sand with 360, use spot putty, sand with 600, primer,

 

1400 rpm is fine, maybe closer to 1000 would be ok, but 1400 will work. you just have to be gentle or you'll burn through the clear. you'll take it right through the paint & everything. use more compound than you think you need. more is better. and yes, 1200 grit is okay, but you just have to be more careful. it'll work fine if you use it.

 

The settings on mine are 600, 800, 1000, and 1200. I use 1200 to buff and tons of compund because there's never enough compound. I used some turtle wax buffing stuff.