How to Scuff Paint for Respray
Scuffing the paint of a car prior to respray is relatively easy, requiring more elbow grease than any specialized tool. The most important thing to remember when scuffing is to ensure that no gloss remains from the previous coat of paint. The new coat of paint will only adhere to the scuffed surface if there is no visible trace of gloss remaining.
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Instructions
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Clean the car thoroughly with soap and water before beginning to scuff the paint. This will remove any additional dirt or dust which will contaminate the paint job when it is applied to the car and will allow the scratch pad to do its job properly.
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Use the red scratch pad on the lowest portion of the car which is to be painted. The red scratch pad is much harsher than the gray, so do not press too hard. Use it in straight lines running at 45 degrees from the floor to scuff away all the existing gloss on the bottom half of the vehicle. Do not, however, scuff the same spot too much. This could create a groove in the paint. The only goal is to remove the gloss.
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Apply the gray scratch pad to the top half of the car, including the hood, roof, trunk lid and upper body panels. Because the gray pad is much lighter than the red pad, it will take slightly longer to scuff the gloss away. This is required, however, to avoid the appearance of sand scratches in the final clear coat which you will later apply to the car.
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Tips & Warnings
Use wax and grease remover previous to painting the vehicle to eliminate any oils left behind by your hands during the scuffing process. Avoid moving in circles to scratch the surface of the vehicle. It is preferable to work in straight lines, crossing over previous lines until the scuffing is complete.
Do not press too hard with the red scuffing pad. This will create channels in the paint which will distort the finish.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
