Wet sanding and re clear coating

[Shoooter]

My car was painted close to 8 years ago and now it's almost ready to hit the road this summer after many bumps. I talked to my painter and he owes me a polish on the car. He said since the clear is old it will be hard to polish. He suggested that he wet sand it and reclear it. Then polish it. The paint is very very nice @Cuda Cody can confirm this  , I can read off of phones reflection in the paint. There are some light scratches and very little swirl marks.  The car is at the point now where  nothing needs to come off to be done.

From what I recall the car had 3 coats of clear put on it. It was polished when painted then right before I picked it up. If he polishes it now would I be in danger of getting low on clear in the future? The car is black so I know it will need it in the future.  Will wet sanding and re clearing it make a big difference over just polishing it? Will it make the paint hold up better? The price isnt rediculas as he is giving me a deal, I imagine because it will make his job easier as well. Is this worth it of will I only see a marginal increase in the end over just having it polished.

Thank you

[JS29]

Clear resprayed over clear is how they do show cars. It is well worth it. 

[Shane Kelley]

If the car is together and almost ready to hit the road there is no way I would re clear it.  It can still be polished after all these years. The surface will be harder than fresh paint to polish but it can be done.

[7212Mopar]

Polish and ceramic coating?

[HEMICUDA]

If the car is together and almost ready to hit the road there is no way I would re clear it.  It can still be polished after all these years. The surface will be harder than fresh paint to polish but it can be done.

I agree with Shane, spend the extra time to wet sand and buff what you have before you consider pulling off parts and bagging up the car for more clear.

[anlauto]

Polish and ceramic coating?

That's what I was thinking too....Seems to be the latest rage...I guess it depends on how bad the current imperfections are

[JS29]

He stated NOTHING would need to come off to do the re-coat. Ceramic coat is a giant pain if anybody ever has to do any touch-up.  It has to be sanded off to remove it!

[B5fourspeed]

By the time you remove trim,masked the car up,wet sand clean and spray the clear then cut and buff it will be twice the labor then just a cut and buff.Talk to different body shops and look for a seasoned pro to do the cut and buff.Just my thoughts.

[torredcuda]

Only reason to wet sand is for orange peel, dirt or other imperfections, sounds to me the paint is very nice and just a good buff will make it like new again. Buffing will take a bit longer as the paint is harder but not a big deal. If you were to re-clear to do it right the car would need to stripped down of all the trim, bumpers etc. which is a lot of work for little gain IMO.

[Shoooter]

My car has the windows in but NO stainless,  bumpers , grill , side markers or door handles are on the car yet. I'm still a few months away from driving the car plus we still have foot of snow here.  So nothing would have to come off the car. Now would be the perfect time to have it done. There is a few minor issues with the car and the paint is very. I know the painter personally and know I would be getting a decent deal. He said 1200 Canadian to wetland clear and polish once done. If the result would be even better than I have now plus would save me re clearing down the road it would be something would consider, if the results would be only minor as my paint is good then i need to re consider.

[JS29]

There is a few things to consider, how much clear was applied when it was painted. How much was removed when it was wet sanded or cut as some call it and buffed.There is a device that can measure the depth of the finish. Black shows everything and swirl marks are hard to get out. clear coating over clear flows out like glass, minimum cut and buff. if done properly de-nub and spot buff. if there is still an ad-acquit amount of clear on the car than leave well enough alone 

[Shoooter]

I'll see if I can get it measured.  I imagine that it being polished twice so far and a third time if I dont re clear it would be down a coat forsure

[JS29]

@Shoooter  If there was a significant amount of orange peel and dust/dirt removed the first go around it would be close. Three sec ions it could burn through to the base. $1200.00 is a good price, good clear and materials is half of what he is charging you.   

[Shoooter]

Thanks for the input. There is very little if any orange peel now. Indo have a few minor little imperfections that could be fixed before the reclearing that's another reason to do it. The clear along is close to $500.

Do you say old hard clear is about 50% harder to polish?  Would it be the same result as if the clear was new?

[JS29]

Older clear is much harder to cut and buff. it will be harder to get rid of the swirl marks on black. After two rounds of cut and buff there should be NO orange peel left. And yes fresh clear is much easier to work with. I have a finishing D/A sander, And they make 5'000 grit disks for the final sanding. you could hand rub it if you liked and get a mirror finish.    Shane and hemicuda (Mike) Know what they are talking about, Don't take advice from someone that dose not do bodywork.