Help me perfect my wetsanding steps - whats the right process?

[Jon K]

I guys. I recently had some large scratches in the hood of my BMW.



I wet sanded the scratch out which worked quite well. After sanding it of course looked terrible. I used a straight orbital (non random) polisher with 3M rubbing compound and a wool pad. After that I wiped it off and hand waxed it. It looks pretty decent but I have ever so fine swirl marks. Was the wool pad a bad move? Should I use a different pad?



Basically, what would be the right process for wetsanding a surface to finishing it?



Thanks!

 

[imported_Tileman]

You need another step before the wax.



You need to polish out the swirls with a polishing pad and polish.

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

No such thing as a "straight orbital" polisher -- it's either a random orbital or it's a rotary.

 

[Legacy]

Using a rotary with 3m compound on a wool pad is going to leave a lot of marring. You need to finish down with a polish and a foam pad (maybe a couple of steps). Take your car in full sun and then let us know if the finish is pretty decent.

I guys. I recently had some large scratches in the hood of my BMW.



I wet sanded the scratch out which worked quite well. After sanding it of course looked terrible. I used a straight orbital (non random) polisher with 3M rubbing compound and a wool pad. After that I wiped it off and hand waxed it. It looks pretty decent but I have ever so fine swirl marks. Was the wool pad a bad move? Should I use a different pad?



Basically, what would be the right process for wetsanding a surface to finishing it?



Thanks!

 

[Accumulator]

..Take your car in full sun and then let us know if the finish is pretty decent.

And wipe the area in question down with PrepSol/IPA/etc. to remove any oils or other concealing agents.



Jon K- Welcome to Autopia!



As noted, you just need to refine the finish to improve upon what the wool/compound combo did. You sometimes need something aggressive like that to remove the sanding scratches, but you *always* need much milder follow-up steps to achieve a ready-to-wax finish.

 

[David Fermani]

I guys. I recently had some large scratches in the hood of my BMW.



I wet sanded the scratch out which worked quite well. After sanding it of course looked terrible. I used a straight orbital (non random) polisher with 3M rubbing compound and a wool pad. After that I wiped it off and hand waxed it. It looks pretty decent but I have ever so fine swirl marks. Was the wool pad a bad move? Should I use a different pad?



Basically, what would be the right process for wetsanding a surface to finishing it?



Thanks!

Sounds like you're using a rotary (circular) polisher. I'm not sure what products you have access to, but this might help:



http://www.autopia.org/forum/machine-polishing/103709-3m-perfect-3000-training-class-pictures.html