PC users...got a tricky one for you all!

B

breakneckvtec

New member
Ok, so heres the car: 2002 VW Jetta



Those familiar know it has a black plastic skirt in the rear right below the painted bumper. This skirt has a very light texture on it. My intention is to paint this to flow with my new side skirts.



Some info, it has a slight contour in it, not flat throughout. Is there a flexible backing plate I can purchase to sand this down smooth with my PC? What grit should I start with and work down through if you all know?



Thanks for any help on this tricky one. I was not quite sure where to ask this question.
 
Well, the "regular flex plate" that some of us use for polishing/waxing won't work; it doesn't flex enough.



I'd talk with a paint supply place and see if there's some alternative to doing it by hand. I seem to vaguely recall a very flexible rubber plate that I used for this back in the day, but we're talking a *very* long time ago.
 
When people paint their VW valances I believe that they don't normally sand them first. From the painted ones I've seen you can't notice the texture visually after they've been painted.



If you haven't looked there yet, check out www.vwvortex.com - plenty of people can probably verify what I'm saying.



However, if you do go ahead with this I think you can do a much better job by hand rather than using the PC. No matter how flexible the backing plate I don't think it will be able to match the contours.
 
Check out the Mirka ABRALON abrasive and pads. They make abrasives in the 180, 360, 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 range (I have the latter 2). The Abralon itself is a mesh with abrasive attached and is on a VERY soft foam backer between the abrasive and the velcro. Then there are the pads, with are about 1/2" thich and recommended for the abrasive while in use. The softness and flexability of the two will wrap around mild contours..... Works on PC or air powered 6 " backing plate.



I bought mine in Houston a AJ Foyd Paint and Supplies on Bellaire, about $60 for 20 sanding disk in a box - 2000 or 4000. Pads were about $3 each.



Read Mirka Abralon here:



http://www.mirkausa.com/homepage/homepage.htm



Finding it is another problem since you don't list your location, but if there are quality automotive paint & supply dealers in your area, it should be a big deal (I hope). Forget their Bulldog pneumatic sander and go with a wet/dry Dynabrade if you want to go the pneumatic route.
 
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