When to wet sand/buff with new paint.

**720eyes** · 02-06-2013, 04:00 PM

Not car related, but going to experiment and paint some of my golf clubs. (metal woods)
I,m new to painting metal.
But My steps are as follows.
1. Strip old paint down to meetal.
2. Use etching primer.
3. Base coat of color.
4. 2 part clear coat.
During this process, when do I wet sand to avoid a orange peal finish? I going to try and get the smoothest finish I can achieve.

I do know that I will need to wait 30 days before I can use a polish on the finish.
Also if I can pull this off I will paint my trucks mirrors.

thanks

Mike Phillips · 02-06-2013, 04:09 PM

Check the spec sheets for your paint system and start by seeing what the manufacture recommends for waiting time before sanding.

If you bought the paint from a PBE store the paint mixer should know.

Other than that you usually want to wait a few day, like 3-4 to let the paint fully dry and do any initial shrinking or die back.

I have a Cutlass coming up that I'm going to help sand the fresh clear and then they're going to shoot it again. They want to block out the paint as it sits right now to remove orange peel and then shoot it again and then sand and buff again.

This is an all original, restoration.

**720eyes** · 02-06-2013, 04:17 PM

When you say "block Out" is that wet sanding?

Mike Phillips · 02-06-2013, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by 720eyes

When you say "block Out" is that wet sanding?

In the way I used it "yes".

That would be to use a firm backing pad by hand, or a non-foam backed sanding disc by machine. Just a general reference term. I'm normally very specific with words but busy behind the scenes working on another project.

**rmagnus** · 02-06-2013, 07:17 PM

Remember if you get a good couple tack coats followed by couple wet coats it will flow out and naturally minimizing orange peel. Spraying dry tends to lend itself to orange peel. With wet coats your wetsanding will be minimized. Given the small and unique shape of the surface you'll be hand sanding the clubs. Less required sanding is better. I've done this with metal panels, mail boxes, gas tanks, helmets, golf clubs even old wooden drivers. Have fun with it.