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Old 26th February 2009, 01:21 PM
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Question Idiots guide to wet sanding please...?

My car has the mother of all stone (rock?) chips on the leading edge of the bonnet which has damaged the metalwork. I bought the car with the full knowledge that I would require a bonnet repair and spray, but in the meantime, and with a pint of touch up paint dolloped in the gouges, I was intending to try and sand it down flush with the body work.

Having never owned a clear-coat car, I am not sure how to go about this.

Any help appreciated.

Car is Ebony Black pearlescent.

Zip
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Old 26th February 2009, 02:18 PM
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Take a look here - not a bad article:

http://www.clean-image.co.uk/articles/wet_sanding.htm

Once sanded, you'll need to prime, paint and then apply the topcoat. It's not too hard provided you don't rush - just take a methodical approach.

I've only had to spray a couple of bits of trim on my 8, fortunately, but I've done both complete and partial panels on other cars before now
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Last edited by tersono; 26th February 2009 at 02:24 PM.
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Old 26th February 2009, 03:12 PM
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I love the footnote:

Footnote: I get an email every couple of months from somebody who has tried this, messed it up and asking how to fix it. The answer it to repaint the area which can be quite expensive. They must be gutted having to pay to have the whole side of a car repainted all for what started out as a tiny blemish. So, as it says at the top of the page, "Don't try this at home". Some things are best left to professionals.

<gulp>
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Old 26th February 2009, 03:14 PM
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By wet sanding I take it you mean recovering an existing finnish as oppose to sraying a new finnish.

I have just done my bonnet and as long as you are very gentle (2000 grade W&D maximum, 2500 recommended) you can match the surface of a chip or small scratch repair with your existing finish.

I'm at work at the moment so when I get home I will post up a guide to wet sanding to recover existing finish.
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Currently,
2000 S8, Merlin Purple, Leather Pack 1, Winter Pack 1, SPAX adjustable suspension, AP Racing 6 pot front caliper, 385mm fully floating disks, EBC Yellow Stuff Pads, Black Diamond grooved rear disks and predetor pads, D2 Doctors Brake Block.
1997 4.2 A8SQ - the Projekt. 12 years and ongoing!
1997 4.2 A8SQ - Ming Blue. Restoration sat waiting; saved from the Scrapyard
2003 C5 Allroad 4.2Q - Cobolt Blue. Towing car. Laid up awaiting manual conversion.
2005 C5 Allroad 2.5TDi FE - Grey - Workhorse.
2015 Q3QS SLine - Daytona Grey. Lots of extras! Long Haired Admirals cutter.

Previously
2003 C5 A6 1.9TDI FWD - Loaner from D2 Doctor Lifex
1997 S8 - Ming Blue. Loaned out and written off. I loved that car. My first engine swap after cambelt failure.
1996 4.2 A8SQ - Ming Blue. 178k on a cambelt! Trader's 8. Delivered to A8Parts at Lifex.
2003 2.8 A8SQ - powder blueish. Fill in for a while. Sold on.
1998 1.8T A4 Avant FWD. Ming Blue (there's a theme here), PEX for the 97 S8.
And a list of non VAG going back 40 years before I saw the light.
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  #5  
Old 26th February 2009, 03:23 PM
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Thumbs up That's what I meant

Quote:
Originally Posted by Conan_the_Librarian View Post
By wet sanding I take it you mean recovering an existing finnish as oppose to sraying a new finnish.

I have just done my bonnet and as long as you are very gentle (2000 grade W&D maximum, 2500 recommended) you can match the surface of a chip or small scratch repair with your existing finish.

I'm at work at the moment so when I get home I will post up a guide to wet sanding to recover existing finish.
I want to sand down the 'proud' touch-up blobs flush with the rest of the good paintwork to cosmetically blend as good as possible.

Zip
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Old 26th February 2009, 05:40 PM
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Here we go. Home now so here is a link to Detailing World and some videos on how to wet sand.

Detailing world is a mine of information on looking after your cars interior and exterior. Enjoy.
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Conan (the Librarian)

Watch it if you dare

Currently,
2000 S8, Merlin Purple, Leather Pack 1, Winter Pack 1, SPAX adjustable suspension, AP Racing 6 pot front caliper, 385mm fully floating disks, EBC Yellow Stuff Pads, Black Diamond grooved rear disks and predetor pads, D2 Doctors Brake Block.
1997 4.2 A8SQ - the Projekt. 12 years and ongoing!
1997 4.2 A8SQ - Ming Blue. Restoration sat waiting; saved from the Scrapyard
2003 C5 Allroad 4.2Q - Cobolt Blue. Towing car. Laid up awaiting manual conversion.
2005 C5 Allroad 2.5TDi FE - Grey - Workhorse.
2015 Q3QS SLine - Daytona Grey. Lots of extras! Long Haired Admirals cutter.

Previously
2003 C5 A6 1.9TDI FWD - Loaner from D2 Doctor Lifex
1997 S8 - Ming Blue. Loaned out and written off. I loved that car. My first engine swap after cambelt failure.
1996 4.2 A8SQ - Ming Blue. 178k on a cambelt! Trader's 8. Delivered to A8Parts at Lifex.
2003 2.8 A8SQ - powder blueish. Fill in for a while. Sold on.
1998 1.8T A4 Avant FWD. Ming Blue (there's a theme here), PEX for the 97 S8.
And a list of non VAG going back 40 years before I saw the light.

Last edited by Conan_the_Librarian; 26th February 2009 at 06:08 PM.
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  #7  
Old 26th February 2009, 06:10 PM
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And another
and another
__________________
Conan (the Librarian)

Watch it if you dare

Currently,
2000 S8, Merlin Purple, Leather Pack 1, Winter Pack 1, SPAX adjustable suspension, AP Racing 6 pot front caliper, 385mm fully floating disks, EBC Yellow Stuff Pads, Black Diamond grooved rear disks and predetor pads, D2 Doctors Brake Block.
1997 4.2 A8SQ - the Projekt. 12 years and ongoing!
1997 4.2 A8SQ - Ming Blue. Restoration sat waiting; saved from the Scrapyard
2003 C5 Allroad 4.2Q - Cobolt Blue. Towing car. Laid up awaiting manual conversion.
2005 C5 Allroad 2.5TDi FE - Grey - Workhorse.
2015 Q3QS SLine - Daytona Grey. Lots of extras! Long Haired Admirals cutter.

Previously
2003 C5 A6 1.9TDI FWD - Loaner from D2 Doctor Lifex
1997 S8 - Ming Blue. Loaned out and written off. I loved that car. My first engine swap after cambelt failure.
1996 4.2 A8SQ - Ming Blue. 178k on a cambelt! Trader's 8. Delivered to A8Parts at Lifex.
2003 2.8 A8SQ - powder blueish. Fill in for a while. Sold on.
1998 1.8T A4 Avant FWD. Ming Blue (there's a theme here), PEX for the 97 S8.
And a list of non VAG going back 40 years before I saw the light.
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  #8  
Old 26th February 2009, 10:37 PM
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It might be worth looking at this Stone Chip Repair Guide too on detailingworld. I am so amazed by the results for this. Very thorough write-up.

There are also a lot of good reviews of a US product called Dr Color Chip. Take a look at their site here

http://drcolorchip.com/

-Oli
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