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Can the Flex 3401 be used to wetsand?
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Super Member
Re: Can the Flex 3401 be used to wetsand?
Thanks for this article Mike.
Originally Posted by Mike.Phillips@Autogeek
Can the Flex 3401 be used to wetsand? ~ weecho
Question: Does the Flex 3401 work to machine wetsand?
Answer: Yes.
My comments...
Would I use it to sand down a car? Not as long as I had a PC type DA Polisher available or a air powered orbital sander. Just too aggressive feeling for my risk taking level.
Question:
Except for, as you say:
Originally Posted by Mike.Phillips@Autogeek
...custom applications.
Would you still not ever "wet-sand" a factory baked-on BC/CC paint system...
No matter the available "type of polisher"?
Thanks.
Bob
"Be wary of the man who urges an action in which he himself incurs no risk."
~Joaquin de Setanti
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Super Member
Re: Can the Flex 3401 be used to wetsand?
Originally Posted by FUNX725
Thanks for this article Mike.
Question:
Except for, as you say:
Would you still not ever "wet-sand" a factory baked-on BC/CC paint system...
No matter the available "type of polisher"?
Thanks.
Bob
I'm betting he would use a paint thickness gauge before he makes considerations to which tool and/or if any tool can be used for sanding on any given paint system.
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Super Member
Re: Can the Flex 3401 be used to wetsand?
Originally Posted by RLucky82
I'm betting he would use a paint thickness gauge before he makes considerations to which tool and/or if any tool can be used for sanding on any given paint system.
I'm betting that:
Irregardless of the: EPTG-readings, on any (all) given factory-paint-kitchen: applied & cured BC/CC paint-system...
Mr. Phillips will say (and I'll paraphrase):
'NO...I'll leave that wet-sanding task to someone else'!
Here's hoping Mike will chime in!
Bob
"Be wary of the man who urges an action in which he himself incurs no risk."
~Joaquin de Setanti
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Re: Can the Flex 3401 be used to wetsand?
Originally Posted by FUNX725
Thanks for this article Mike.
Question:
Except for, as you say:
Would you still not ever "wet-sand" a factory baked-on BC/CC paint system...
No matter the available "type of polisher"?
Thanks.
Bob
If I read you're question right the answer is "no".
A factory finish is too thin to use what in my opinion would be too aggressive of a sander. I'm not even comfortable sanding factory finishes with less aggressive tools. Besides the risk involved you want as much clear on your car as possible to hold up over the service life of the car.
As for custom applications... that would be like the Cutlass I sanded down last weekend where they sprayed plenty of clear to start with and then I sanded it to flatten the initial paint down in preparation for more paint. That's the custom application I was talking about.
Even still, I would prefer to use a less aggressive tool.
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Super Member
Re: Can the Flex 3401 be used to wetsand?
Interesting. I don't think I would have ever considered wet sanding with a 3401. At low speed it appeared to do a very good job. Somebody is thinking outside the box.
Thanks for the demonstration Mike.
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Super Member
Re: Can the Flex 3401 be used to wetsand?
Originally Posted by Mike.Phillips@Autogeek
If I read you're question right the answer is "no".
A factory finish is too thin to use what in my opinion would be too aggressive of a sander. I'm not even comfortable sanding factory finishes with less aggressive tools. Besides the risk involved you want as much clear on your car as possible to hold up over the service life of the car.
As for custom applications... that would be like the Cutlass I sanded down last weekend where they sprayed plenty of clear to start with and then I sanded it to flatten the initial paint down in preparation for more paint. That's the custom application I was talking about.
Even still, I would prefer to use a less aggressive tool.
Thanks, Mike, for your response...
I can honestly say that I am more than pleased
with what I have read in your above post!
Bob
"Be wary of the man who urges an action in which he himself incurs no risk."
~Joaquin de Setanti
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Re: Can the Flex 3401 be used to wetsand?
Thanks for the review Mike
I have one question though.
I have a friend having a Land Rover Challenger. He had it resprayed in December last and it's full of orange peel, dust nibs, dips and runs. He wanted to have the paint corrected on his truck.
I asked him to wait 3 - 4 months. Now i'm in school holidays for 2 weeks. I want to correct it before school resumes.
I'd like to know whether on resprayed panels, dampsanding with the Flex will be less riskier?
I've heard that here in Mauritius Abralon pads are available. if I proceed, it will be 2000, (then 3000 if needed ) and 4000 grit on speed 1.
What would be your thoughts on this?
(To add, I have Carpro denim and velvet pads in my order, just waiting for some friends who will add their products detailing-wise to save on shipping)
many thanks
Zaid
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Re: Can the Flex 3401 be used to wetsand?
Originally Posted by zckid
I'd like to know whether on resprayed panels, dampsanding with the Flex will be less riskier?
I've heard that here in Mauritius Abralon pads are available. if I proceed, it will be 2000, (then 3000 if needed ) and 4000 grit on speed 1.
What would be your thoughts on this?
many thanks
Zaid
My thoughts are the same as I posted above for Trizact or Meguiar's Unigrit discs and that is,
Will the Flex 3401 work to machine wetsand?
"yes"
Would I do it? Not if I can get my hands on any other type of DA Polisher, electric or air powered.
The forced rotation, 8mm stroke scallops the paint like I show in the pictures above. This means it's taking paint off un-evenly.
If you know for a fact that the painter is going to put on extra paint so you have PLENTY OF FILM BUILD to work with then go for it.
If I were in your shoes and I knew for a fact I had a lot of film build I'd much rather prefer to machine sand than hand sand. The #3000 and #4000 Abralon will be pretty safe for sure. It's the lower grit discs with thin paint I would be cautious with...
And keep in mind...
- Sanding, multiple times, removes paint.
- Compounding remove paint
- Polishing remove paint
What you don't want to do is encounter a whoops! at anytime time during any of the above steps...
Good luck and start a new/dedicated thread with your results and some pictures.
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Re: Can the Flex 3401 be used to wetsand?
Originally Posted by Mike.Phillips@Autogeek
My thoughts are the same as I posted above for Trizact or Meguiar's Unigrit discs and that is,
Will the Flex 3401 work to machine wetsand?
"yes"
Would I do it? Not if I can get my hands on any other type of DA Polisher, electric or air powered.
The forced rotation, 8mm stroke scallops the paint like I show in the pictures above. This means it's taking paint off un-evenly.
If you know for a fact that the painter is going to put on extra paint so you have PLENTY OF FILM BUILD to work with then go for it.
If I were in your shoes and I knew for a fact I had a lot of film build I'd much rather prefer to machine sand than hand sand. The #3000 and #4000 Abralon will be pretty safe for sure. It's the lower grit discs with thin paint I would be cautious with...
And keep in mind...
- Sanding, multiple times, removes paint.
- Compounding remove paint
- Polishing remove paint
What you don't want to do is encounter a whoops! at anytime time during any of the above steps...
Good luck and start a new/dedicated thread with your results and some pictures.
thanks a lot for your kind reply and detailed explanation Mike
I've used the Carpro denim pads, not really as Todd's mazda. Still trying to get myself comfortable with these pads (steep learning curve)
but what i did is to wetsand by hand, use the carpro pads to remove the sanding marks, ensure that no tracers are left.
will get a DA soon, God willing. and go the Abralon route
Here are a few shots:
thanks again Mike
cheers
Zaid
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