How to Wet Sand a Car That Has a Clear Coat Finish

Clear coat paints are common today. All late model vehicles will have a base coat urethane paint color covered with a protective clear coat. Many types of single-stage paints have been developed over the years, as well as steady improvements to give them more flexibility and resistance to cracks and chipping. However, it is next to impossible to touch up scratches or chips in single-stage paint. The whole panel must be sanded, color fade-matched and repainted. The discovery of a perfectly clear cover coat was a lifesaver. Clear coats are applied in several coats to absorb abrasions, without affecting the color coat. Clear coats have the amazing ability to be touched up, sanded, resprayed and buffed out to be made undetectable.

Things You'll Need

• Fine wet and dry sandpaper (2000- and 3000-grit)
• Water hose
• Rubbing compound
• Car wax
• Hand buffer

Instructions

1. Sand the spot very lightly with 2000-grit sandpaper, continuously keeping it wet. Sand the spot until the clear coat obtains a milky color and shows no signs of ripples or uneven surface.

2. Sand the spot with a finer grit 3000-grit sandpaper. Apply some water every few seconds to keep the surface wet. This also keeps the heat generated by the sanding process down. Sand the paint until it is absolutely smooth, with no imperfections.

3. Apply a dime-sized spot of rubbing compound to the buffer pad and buff the area until it becomes as clear as glass. Keep adding compound, as necessary, while buffing. Keep the buffer moving continuously, without pausing. The buffer will melt the paint if paused too long in one area, because it heats the paint.

4. Apply a good wax to the area and buff until a perfect match with the surrounding paint is made.