Keep buffing or sand again

[A.Gramz]

I painted it myself.  I have wet sanded 800,1000,1200,1500 and finally 2000.   I have compound that is supposed to remove 1500 scratches.  I have started to buff it out but still have scratches you can see when close to the paint.  Do I stop buffing and move to sand again and if so what grit do I stop at?  Or do I keep buffing and they'll come out?   I don't want to mess the paint up. 

[jimynick]

IMO those scratches won't buff out. I read that you'd sanded it with extremely fine paper and so suspect what's happening is the scratches are the result of the base/clear or primer solvents causing sinking into the bridged scratches. Sometimes if the initial primer is too thick it'll cover over the base scratches, but leave their bottoms not filled. Then you sand the tops nice and smooth only to have the base or clear re-melt the primer causing it to sink into those scratches and making them show. You can try in a small not so noticeable area to colour sand and buff to remove them, but if it's what it looks like, you're into removing the paints and likely the primer to start all over again. Back in my days in the shop the old adage was to mix the primer "thin as piss". It takes more coats, but you fill those F'n scratches. I hope I'm wrong and good luck.   

[tparker]

I'm no body guy but from my understanding, each grit increase takes out the sanding marks from the previous grit. So going finer isn't going to take those out without a LOT of work. Those scratches look relatively deep. My thought is to go back down in grit size and do it over again. Hopefully its all in the clear. But if it's too much, you might have to re clear it. Ugh. Good luck, Maybe someone else will have a better answer.

[torredcuda]

It`s tough to tell but it looks like it`s in the clear. I don`t even own any sand paper finer than 1000 grit, guess I`m old school and spend too much time buffing.    Two options - get a more aggressive compound or go back to 1000 grit and go finer from there. If it would me I would just keep buffing.

[A.Gramz]

Thank you for the input.   I got discouraged today and had to walk away.  I'll try going through the grits 1000 up in an area and see if that works.   

[Cuda Cody]

It's hard to see what size the scratches are without something to compare it in size.  Put a dime or quarter in the photo.  And how many layers of clear did you use?

[Cudajason]

IMO those scratches won't buff out. I read that you'd sanded it with extremely fine paper and so suspect what's happening is the scratches are the result of the base/clear or primer solvents causing sinking into the bridged scratches. Sometimes if the initial primer is too thick it'll cover over the base scratches, but leave their bottoms not filled. Then you sand the tops nice and smooth only to have the base or clear re-melt the primer causing it to sink into those scratches and making them show. You can try in a small not so noticeable area to colour sand and buff to remove them, but if it's what it looks like, you're into removing the paints and likely the primer to start all over again. Back in my days in the shop the old adage was to mix the primer "thin as piss". It takes more coats, but you fill those F'n scratches. I hope I'm wrong and good luck.   

do not discount the comments above...I know they are hard to hear but the old-timer knows his stuff!

I don't think sanding and buffing again is going to solve your issues unfortunately.  Of course you have nothing to lose by trying.

[A.Gramz]

quote author=Cudajason link=msg=337024 date=1741622794]


do not discount the comments above...I know they are hard to hear but the old-timer knows his stuff!

I don't think sanding and buffing again is going to solve your issues unfortunately.  Of course you have nothing to lose by trying.

I'm definitely not overlooking any suggestions.  I'm going to try a small section wet sand again.  I figure at this point what do I have to lose.  And if it doesn't work I know I'm back to square one there's no saving it. 


A dime for reference

[70_440-6Cuda]

 

[jimynick]

It's not as if you poorly prepped the base for the clear. Think about it, you certainly didn't put scratches like that in your clear sanding with 2000, did you? The clear sank into scratches beneath it. The only other thing might be to re-mask the car, scuff it with 600 and pound on more clear with the hope that you can sand that down sufficiently to remove the scratches, but you'll likely still see some as they are in the colour base. As mentioned, I hope I'm wrong, but I doubt it.   

[torredcuda]

Again, it`s very tough to tell with a pic online but the base looks smooth without shrinking and metallic is uniform so the marks look to be in the clear, but without seeing it in person I  cannot be 100% sure.

[340sport]

Think about what it takes to remove a scratch or scratches. You will need to sand more to get them out. Worse case is a red scotch-brite scuff or 800 paper and re-clear. Also, think about this. It appears that you are in your garage under some lighting that is helping you find these scratches. You know they are there, but will anyone else notice? Especially in the sun? I just went through this, so I know it's agonizing. Take a minute to breathe and work it out. Ask more questions, recruit some assistance, whatever it takes.

[Mopar5]

Those look like heavy  grit scratches from the body work . Did you use a 2k sandable primer and guide coat to remove all the imperfections sanding at least to 400 grit on the surfacer before you put on base?

[Rich G.]

Take a sharpie and mark lines over the scratches you're talking about and then sand until the sharpie marks you put on are gone . If you still see the scratches, it's under the clear and in the body work. Don't sand through the clear or you'll have to put on another coat of color and more clear.

[Cudajason]

Take a sharpie and mark lines over the scratches you're talking about and then sand until the sharpie marks you put on are gone . If you still see the scratches, it's under the clear and in the body work. Don't sand through the clear or you'll have to put on another coat of color and more clear.

hell that is a pretty good idea!