1,500 grit is a good starting point, though you'll need to be cautious about sanding it off too much. It's better if you have 2,000 grit, at least, as you can then move up and up to 2,500 grit, and the final 3,000 grit for an ultra-fine finishing touch.
Sanding your car is a super important first step—without it, your new paint job probably won't look silky and smooth. Set aside an afternoon and spend a few hours sanding your car for a new paint job that looks like it was done by a professional.
If the damage to the paint is light, skip the 1200 or 1500 grit sandpaper and begin with 2000 or 3000 grit paper instead. If you are wet sanding a newly painted surface, you can also jump directly to the 2000 or 3000 grit paper.
The bodywork and primer should be sanded to a minimum of 220-grit, and preferably 320-grit. You should not sand the body with anything higher than 500-grit, because the paint requires some roughness to adhere.
Lightly sand the primer, apply your basecoat, and allow it to dry. Finish with a layer of clear coat, and you're good to go! When applying multiple layers of paint, sanding between layers is only required if, after drying, you notice runs, drips, or uneven areas of your paint job.
If you sand wood past 240 grit sandpaper, the wood dust becomes so fine that it starts clogging the pores of the wood. This prevents stain and finish from soaking into the wood properly, risking a poor finish job. Alternatively, if you sand too much in one single spot, you might create a divot in the wood.
Let the primer dry completely, then sand it down before painting. Use very fine 220-grit sandpaper, and apply light pressure to prevent gouging the primer.
Wet sanding will remove orange peal, improving the clarity and imagine in the paint. It will also help remove foreign contaminants which maybe on the surface in the paint along with runs, overspray, and even paint oxidization. It can be used on both single and two stage paints.
Wet sanding is the process of removing paint scratches from your vehicle, and it helps restore the paint's sheen. In a new car, wet sanding can help remove the orange peel effect (i.e. pebbled, uneven painted surface- kind of like an orange skin).
1000 and 1200 grit abrasives are great for sanding over new paint, but it's recommended that you use a wet sand technique for this application. You can follow the 1000 or 1200 grit sand with 1500 grit to ensure the entire surface is smooth and level.
Wet sanding helps to prevent surface scratches and is used to provide a smooth, even finish after dry sanding. Wet sanding is a sanding process that uses water or another liquid as lubrication to wash away grit particles.
Typically, it will take three to four coats to completely cover the surface. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's drying time – this can vary from 20 minute to an hour.
100 – 150 gives the paint and/or stain enough to grip onto, without making the piece too smooth or too rough. When I am painting or staining a piece, I make sure not to go over 150 grit.
Very Fine: #2000, #2500, For buffing,This grade grit is mainly used for fine polishing, which can be used to polish nails, bodhi,gold, etc.
What grit sandpaper should I use before primer? When looking to sand a surface before applying primer, the best grit sandpaper to use is 320 to 400. Both these grits can effectively remove the existing primer and help you flatten the surface.
The best way to know when you're done sanding is to scribble a light pencil line across your wood before you start. Once the line is gone, move up to the next grit. Repeat up to the highest grit sandpaper, then wet your wood with mineral spirits to confirm there are no remaining marks.
800-1000 grit sandpaper is ultra fine. It's used for final sanding and polishing of thick finishes.
Although it's possible to go right ahead and sand the car (dry) and follow with the paint, it's a good idea to allow the primer to cure for several days, or even a couple of weeks if possible. The primer will shrink as it dries, so allow time for it to cure completely before painting.
It may be necessary to sand down your car again after the primer is dried. Many times applying the primer can cause mounds or dips in areas and you want to smooth these out as much as possible. Only use fine grain sandpaper for the primer as you do not want to sand off the primer.
Apply 2-3 coats allowing 5-10 minutes of dry time between coats. For optimum performance, allow final coat to dry 1 hour before scuff sanding with #600 grit sandpaper.