How to Cut & Buff Car Paint
Car paint fades over time and may look dull or chalky after a few years of being parked in the sun on a regular basis. Instead of paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for a new paint job, you can cut and buff car paint to make it look almost new again. Professionals cut and buff car paint using basic materials that you can find at an auto supply store. You can complete the entire project in under a few hours to make your car's paint look glossy and new.
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Things You'll Need
- 600-grit sandpaper
- 800-grit sandpaper
- 1000-grit sandpaper
- Water
- High-speed buffer
- Rubbing compound
Instructions
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1
Fold a sheet of 600-grit sandpaper in half and press it flat on the car between your hand and the car's surface. Sand the entire car with the 600-grit sandpaper while you hold a running water hose over the sandpaper with your other hand. Keep the sandpaper wet the entire time as it touches the surface of the car. Flip the sandpaper over or get a new piece when the piece you are using becomes smooth.
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2
Sand the car's surface with 800-grit sandpaper and a water hose. Use the same sanding techniques as you did with the 600-grit sandpaper.
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3
Go over the painted surface of the car again. Use the 1200-grit sandpaper and water. Rinse the car and let it dry completely. Look for any glossy areas and sand them until they are dull. Rinse the car and let it dry.
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4
Pour a quarter sized amount of rubbing compound onto the pad of the high-speed buffer. Place the buffer on the car and turn it on. Move the buffer around in small circular motions while it rotates on the car's surface.
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Buff the car from front to back until the car shines. The compound disappears and turns the dull paint glossy as you work it into the paint. Add more rubbing compound, as needed.
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Tips & Warnings
Park the car in the shade before buffing it, so that the paint doesn't become too soft from the sun's heat.
Don't let the buffer sit in one spot for more than three seconds, or it may burn through the paint.
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Comments
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never wet sand a car with 600 grit unless you have put copious amounts of clear coat on during the painting process. 1000 grit is more than ample to start with unless you have major runs or drips in your clear coat. starting the wet sanding process with 2000 grit and finishing with 3000 grit will cut out a majority of time needed to complete the job, but if you expect to wet sand and buff an entire vehicle in under a few hours you will be sorely disappointed by the end result. In order to finish this process correctly expect anywhere from 10-50+ hrs as there are many other necessary steps not detailed in this oversimplified explanation. unless you have extensive experience buffing I would not pratice this on your own vehicle unless you don't really care about its appearance.
