How to Sand Out Car Paint Damage

If you have some scratches on your car due to a minor accident, you might want to make some repairs. You'll need to sand the damage to the car's paint to fix these scratches. There's a bit more to it than simply grabbing some sandpaper and rubbing over the spot. Here's how to sand out car paint damage.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1000- to 2000-grit wet/dry sandpaper
• Rubber or wood block
• Bucket of cold water
• Dry, clean cloth

1. Wash the damaged area with soap and water. Allow it to dry before sanding the area.

2. Use an ultrafine-grit wet/dry sandpaper wrapped around a rubber or wood block to sand over the damage. Dip the sandpaper into a bucket of cold water before starting, and frequently dampen the sandpaper to keep it wet as you work.

3. Employ short, light strokes over the damage. Work over the entire length of the damage. Use the edge of the wood or rubber block.

4. Stop sanding once you have sanded the level of the paint down to match the level of the damage. Do not sand down to the point where you have removed the entire layer of clearcoat and paint.

5. Dry the sanded area with a dry, clean cloth. You are now ready to buff the area and repaint.

Tips & Warnings

• Add a few drops of dish detergent to the bucket of cold water before dipping the sandpaper in.
• Change the water in the bucket frequently as you work. As the water gets dirty, debris may stick to the sandpaper and cause more damage as you rub it over the spot you are working on.
• A power orbital sander can be used with the same type of sandpaper, but more care must be used when employing this machine. Sanding by hand is recommended.
• To ensure that you do not sand too much, apply a thin coat of shoe polish over the scratches in the paint and then sand. Once the shoe polish is gone, you have sanded down to the appropriate level.
• Do not use a sandpaper lower than 1000-grit, as this can wind up causing more damage to your car's paint.