Sanding your car is a vital part of the automotive repainting process since the new paint won’t properly adhere if the body isn’t slightly abrasive. This can mean removing the current coats of sealant, color, and primer, which you can only do by sanding the area. Below we’ve highlighted several sanding tips for first-time automotive DIYers so that you can ensure your vehicle looks perfect.
Use the Right Grit
When you sand a car, you’ll want to start with lower grit sandpaper since it’s much more abrasive and will better remove those top layers of paint. Next, you’ll want to increase the grit from 40 to 60 gradually. While any grit below 40 is very course, those that are 1000 or higher are ultra-fine.
Understanding Grit and Its Purpose
It’s important to note that each grit serves a different purpose. So a highly course sandpaper works best to buff out scratches and remove rust, but ultra-fine sandpaper is better for touching up overspray areas once you finish painting the car.
Get All the Old Materials Off
Remember to inspect the area you need to sand to ensure you’ve removed all the old paint. You don’t want to leave large spots of old primer or color that could leave the car uneven. Additionally, if you need to add body filler to areas of the car, you should remember to sand this down so that the vehicle looks uniform.
Pro-Tip: Use a Sander
Many recommend using an automatic sander to remove all areas of debris altogether. Sanding your vehicle by hand would take far too long, and it’s virtually impossible to fully remove all the material. National Autobody Wholesale has auto body sanding disks for sale that work for various sanders to keep the process accessible.
Clean the Surface
After sanding your vehicle’s body, take time to remove all the loose debris so that it doesn’t get intermixed once you begin painting. Most experts recommend using a blower to do this swiftly and efficiently. Aim to do this as soon as you finish sanding the car so that you don’t forget once you add that first layer of undercoat. Many also advise going over the surface with a damp cloth to remove debris completely. You could also use a tack cloth to remove all the dust.
Buy Quality Sandpaper
Our final pro sanding tip for first-time automotive DIYers is to shop for a quality product. This is no different than any other tool or material you’ll use for vehicle repairs or aesthetic DIY work. You can buy everything you’ll need to work on your car from National Autobody Wholesalers. Invest in quality items to make the changes you’ve envisioned on your vehicle.