First time wet sanding kit - #3000 & #5000 Trizact Sanding Discs

[Mike Phillips]

First time wet sanding kit - #3000 & #5000 Trizact Sanding Discs


Here, just took a few pictures to show you what you need. At this time we don't carry the #3000 Trizact in 5" only in 6" but we're bringing it in and when it's in stock I'll update this thread.


We do carry both #3000 and #5000 in 6" but you'll need a 6" backing plate to use them and I think most people that already own a Porter Cable 7424XP also already own a 5" backing plate.

So this kit is a way to machine sand using the 5" backing plate you already own.

If you own a Porter Cable 7424XP and you don't own a 5" backing plate for it then you want and need to get one anyways you you can burn and turn 5.5" pads.


In the below picture you can see,

Griot's Garage 5" Interflex pad
3M Trizact #3000 in 6" size (the box on the right)
3M Trizact #5000 in 5" size (the box on the left
6" sanding disc that I traced a 5" diameter circle onto using the 5" Griot's Interflex pad and the leftover from a 6" sanding disc after I cut out a 5" disc.
A Griot's 5" Interflex pad
A 3M Trizact 5" #5000 sanding disc.





Here's the Griot's 5" Interflex pad with the 5" #3000 disc I cut out attached.




Here's the other side,





And here I'm showing how the Griot's 5" Interflex pad fits on the 3M #5000 sanding disc.








Here's the Interflex pad with the sanding disc attached to the backing plate.






The above is a very safe way to go as well as cost effective for doing this type of work.

Then of course you attach the Interflex pad onto a 5" backing plate on your Porter Cable and you're ready to knock down orange peel. Or for better and faster orange peel removal don't use the Interflex pad.


A few drops of your favorite car wash soap in a 32 ounce spray bottle of clean water.






Just a few items plus the Porter Cable 7424XP you already own.

[Mike Phillips]

On Autogeek.com

Griot's Garage 5" Interflex pad

3M Trizact #3000 in 6" size

3M Trizact #5000 in 5" size

Porter Cable 7424XP Dual Action Polisher

Dual-Action Hook & Loop Flexible Backing Plate 5"

Pinnacle XMT Gel Shampoo & Conditioner

[Mike Phillips]

Also just to note...

Here inside the Show Car Garage all our primary electrical outlets are GFI outlets.

If you don't have a GFI or Ground Fault Interupter electrical outlet then go to your nearest home improvement store and you can usually find a portable GFI like you see below.



Safety First - Always plug-in to a GFI or Ground Fault Interrupter



I do a lot of damp sanding and teach damp sanding using dual action polishers as well as dry sanding and wet sanding by hand . The entire idea behind damp sanding is unlike WET sanding you're only using a little water. So as long as you're using common sense there shouldn't be any safety issues.

That said, if you're going to use any type of electrical tool around water you should always be plugged into a GFI or Ground Fault Interrupter equipped electrical outlet.

If you don't have access to electrical outlets with GFI built-in then you can purchase a dedicated GFI like you see in the pictures below.

I also use a GFI when I machine scrub tires or clean vinyl or non-skid surfaces in boats using electrical tool. (SEE BELOW).


For anyone reading this, use common sense and keep water away from any electrical tool and always use a GFI or Ground Fault Interrupter when using electrical tools. If your electrical outlets do not offer GFI then you can get a dedicated GFI at any hardware store.

Looks and works like this...













For the last few years I've been showing a lot of people how to take their electric dual action polishers and turn them into machine wet sanders as well as how to take their Porter Cable, Griot's Garage and Meguiar's G110v2 dual action polishers and turn them into machine scrubbers for rubber, vinyl, non-skid decks on boats, etc.
(See the follow-up post below)


Wet Test
There are no electric tools that will pass the wet test. That's where an electrical tool is tested by blasting it with water.


Common Sense
I've never been electrocuted when machine sanding or machine scrubbing tires but I also use common sense when using any tools anywhere.

[7PaintGuns]

Why the soap in the water bottle Mike? Will you stock Trizac in the 3 inch?

[Mike Phillips]

Why the soap in the water bottle Mike?

Helps lubricate the surface as you sand, slow down water evaporation and it also helps to prevent the face of the sanding disc from clogging up with paint.

Will you stock Trizact in the 3 inch?

We already do. We've carried 3M and Meguiar's 3" and 6" for year now, just not the 5" Trizact #3000.

We also have Mirka Abralon in 3" and 6".


I show using 3M Trizact and Meguiar's Unigrit sanding discs in my 3-day ACR class and Mirka Abralon discs in my boat detailing classes.

[7.3powerstroke]

Mike, do you need several discs to get you through sanding a car? How do you tell when they are worn out? Thanks

[7PaintGuns]

I just had a demo with our 3M rep. and was told one disc shout last an entire vehicle. I have been using these for a few years and was using to much water and would use two per vehicle. That is why Mike mentioned damp sanding and not wet sanding. You will know the disc has stopped cutting when a. you no longer see clear in your water b. notice it isn't cutting when you squeegee off a section you've sanded and it does not match previous sections.

Edit: The recommendations I gave on how long a sanding disc should last was for a recently painted vehicle.

[Paul A.]

Another practice i have adopted is to dedicate MF towels to wet/damp sanding removal. Even though i try to cleam them thoroughly i don't trust them again on freshly polished paint.

May just be me but to me working clean is almost surgically clean! The last thing i want to do is grab what i thought was a clean MF towel and undo what i just jewelled. My wet/damp sand MF's are kept completely seperate.

[7PaintGuns]

Another practice i have adopted is to dedicate MF towels to wet/damp sanding removal. Even though i try to cleam them thoroughly i don't trust them again on freshly polished paint.

May just be me but to me working clean is almost surgically clean! The last thing i want to do is grab what i thought was a clean MF towel and undo what i just jewelled. My wet/damp sand MF's are kept completely seperate.

Are the MF for cleaning the surface pre or post your buffing process?

[Paul A.]

Are the MF for cleaning the surface pre or post your buffing process?

Post wet sanding and revealing the clouded, sanded spot. Once i'm polishing (i.e removing the sanding marks) i use my regular clean MF product wipe off MF's. I only do spot repair wet sanding and haven't ventured into any full car wetsand efforts.