Mopar Dodge Plymouth And Chrysler Paint - Color Sanding 101

We'll say it again, use a lot of water. Keep your sprayer working full time, but don't skimp on the sandpaper either. When the paper feels like it has lost its "bite," turn it over and use a fresh surface. MCR likes to use four levels of grit. The 1,000 grit really does all the work of removing the orange peel or "resin pooling" effect. After that, the 1,200-, 2,000-, and, finally, 3,000-grit papers minimize any sanding scratches and prepare the surface for buffing. It's good idea to wash off the paper occasionally, especially if you think you feel any debris under the paper.

Good lighting is essential in order to see when you've removed just enough material to get rid of the orange peel, and later to see that you've evenly sanded the surfaces. Fluorescent shop lights work well for this. You will also be guided by the way the surface feels under the paper. This is hard to describe, but you will know when it's time to change grits. When you are done with the 3,000 grit, thoroughly wash the panel again.

Now you can give your arms a rest and let your buffer do most of the work. MCR prefers 3M PERFECT-IT 3000 rubbing compound on a PERFECT-IT pad. A variable speed buffer should run at about half its possible speed with the pad at a slight angle to the work surface. Do not let the pad get up on the edge of itself, and don't push down on the buffer. Let the weight of the buffer do the work. Again, patience is more important than skill. Don't be in a hurry. As with the sandpaper, do a small section at a time and wipe off the area with a 100-percent-cotton wiping cloth. Work with this compound and pad until all of the sanding scratches are gone.

Since a buffing pad will conform to a lot of different surface shapes, go ahead and use it wherever it comfortably fits, but don't think it can't burn through an edge if you're not careful.

Some spots, like the inside corners of this scoop, are just going to have to be done by hand. It's also probably best to avoid any sharp edges with the buffer and just do them by hand as well. We used the PERFECT-IT compound on a piece of cheesecloth until the sanding scratches are gone. Again, use straight-line motions and not circles.

The next step uses the same compound, but this time we used a Wizards Foam Polish pad. Follow the same instructions as before. Use light pressure, a low angle, and tread lightly on the corners and edges.

Our last step uses 3M PERFECT-IT III machine glaze on a PERFECT-IT Plus round-edge foam pad. just go around the block one more time until you are satisfied with the mirror-like finish.

Here are the main ingredients to our perfect mirror-like finish: Meguiars Unigrit sandpaper, 3M PERFECT-IT rubbing compound, PERFECT-IT III machine glaze, a PERFECT-IT pad, a PERFECT-IT Plus foam pad, and a Wizard Foam Polish Pad. Just add water, a buffer, some elbow grease, and you're on your way to a head-turning finish.