Wet sanded fully, but still some orange peel

[James35]

Using Mike's Wolfgang Twins tutorial, I wet sanded fully, and it's certainly much much better, but I still have some orange peel.

I spent 2 nights learning how to do this. The first night on the quarter panel of the Equinox, I was cautious, checking my work often as I went. I used 2000 grit until all of the shiny spots were completely gone. Then progressed to 2500, then 3000, then used the Wolfgang twins with a Porter Cable 7424XP. Turned out great. Reflections are awesome, but still had some orange peel.

2nd night, I did a door, and sanded a bit more aggressively. I spent about 3 hours sanding. It turned out about that same. When initially sanding with 2000, do I need to go harder/longer even though all of the shiny is gone? The reflection does look similar to the last pics in Mike's tutorial, maybe a tad worse. Am I expecting too much?

[Ted S.]

Are you sanding by hand or with a machine?

[slickooz]

Be very careful when wet sanding with 2k. If you sand with too much pressure you might pass the clear coat.

I was working on a used car at dealership and I was wet sanding a scratch out with 2k with medium pressure and the clear coat was gone.....

[RLove]

[sohail99]

I too have wetsanded my paint till absolute uniform haze, but when I compound and polish it to perfection, the reflections seem immaculate from like a distance of 2-3 feet, but from up close(really close) I can make out the texture in the reflections!!

The reflections are not as perfect as in the factory painted panels!!

Quite frustrating really

[93fox]

I have found that 2000grit dosent really remove orange peel. It seems to flatten it out and not really remove it. I have always started from 1200grit or 1000grit. I have even gone down to 800grit sometimes. Ive never wetsanded factory orange peel since the clear is really thin. Yes you can remove a small amount but you will leave very thin clear that wont protect much.

[Jhaight11]

I have found that 2000grit dosent really remove orange peel. It seems to flatten it out and not really remove it. I have always started from 1200grit or 1000grit. I have even gone down to 800grit sometimes. Ive never wetsanded factory orange peel since the clear is really thin. Yes you can remove a small amount but you will leave very thin clear that wont protect much.

just wetsand to remove scratches or other defects, not orange peel.

[Garry Dean]

Orange peel removal is dangerous. I recommend leaving it alone.

[jlb85]

There is orange peel under the clear as well, as the paint is sprayed the same way as the clear. Once you sand flat you will be as good as it will get. The E90 M3 we did had horrible orange peel under the clear

[James35]

I wonder if that is it, because my clear is flattened. It makes sense, and if that is the case, no sense in going more aggressive with the sanding.