hey guys i need help with wetsanding clear coat. i wet sand it with 1500 grit but it always ends up looking cloudy, uneven, and scratched!!?!?
how do i keep the clear coat looking clear?!?
please help me,
-Luke

 

I think the wetsanding is just to make it smooth again. After getting it smooth, you need to use rubbing compound, and then polishing compound to get back the original luster.

Though I could be wrong, so someone feel free to correct me.

 

hmm ok well it says to wait a week to use any compounds sooo i guess i'll let you know in a week..till then.. i guess i don't quite understand the difference between rubbing compound and polishing compound? is one just a finer 'grit' than the other?

 

To my understanding, a rubbing compound is equivalent to using an extremely fine grit sandpaper. Polishing compound is what actually brings back the shine.

 

ok thanks.. i guess now i just gotta wait a few days for the clear to finish curing bfore i can use the compounds

 

:eh: "Wait for the clear to cure" I'm not sure who told you this or where you read this but that is wrong, the clear coat is cured before it ever leaves the paint shop. Do like Random said and go buff it with a good rubbing compound and then buff it again with the polishing compound. :yes: (and yes I have wet sanded and buffed cars so I do know what I'm talking about)

 

there is a 3m product that Autozone carries that says "will remove scratches made with 1500 or finer sandpaper" i have used it and its VERY good...just follow the directions on the bottle..

 

hybrid--it says right on the can--'wait one week before using rubbing compound'...sooo what should i do? i guess it can't really hurt if i go try it..
oc--if the rubbing compound doesn't work, i'll try the 3m stuff

 

so wait....did you repaint something?...or are you wetsanding old clear coat?


if you are repainting something... you should wait for the clear coat to cure before doing any wetsanding. after that week..wetsand and polish it up with some rubbing compound.


if you are wetsanding old clear coat....you dont need to wait for the paint to cure...b/c there is no paint to cure. just polish it up with some rubbing compound.


your end result should look like my bumper after wetsanding and polishing:



i repainted and re polished the bumper myself.

 

:closeup: Oooooh... nice... you can paint my bumper too.