Advice needed

[Luke-saxo]

I have just had my car fully resprayed and because it was a mate that was spraying it i have to flat an polish it my self which way would be best i have 3m cutting compound which was recommend
anybody with advise would be great

cheers luke

[Bedford126]

first i would flat with a 1500 grade wet and dry on the dirt nibs and heavy orange peel spots. i would then flat the whole panel with 2000 wet and dry till all flat then finally with 3000 wet and dry.

then if your using compounds i would start with a g3 working upto a g10 and finally use the finishing compound like 3m finishline.

then a really good wash to get rid of compound changing your water alot geting rid of all residue and left over paiste. then give it a wash with car shampoo with the two bucket method
then a good dry
seal the paint
a good couple of wax's
and stand back and admire your mirror finish.

[woodysVTR]

Surely its best to let the paint dry and breathe properly before you do any correction...

[Bedford126]

nope modern paint systems can be flatted polished and waxed just 24 hours after painting as most now are painted in waterborne paints and a high solid clearcoat. it was only in the selulose and early 2 pac paint systems that if you washed and waxed too soon the paint could ''bloom'' go milky or solvent popping but as next to no solvent is used in modern high solid paints its fine to wax and seal just 24 hours after painting.

[J222JRA]

I strongly disagree.

[Bedford126]

okay your opinion. just more or less every paint manufacturer says paint can be buffed polished washed waxed after 24 hours.

[piebobs71]

been watching american chopper recently and the guy nubbz that paints there stuff paints wet sands and buffs in a few days and the stuff he does looks top notch

[Bedford126]

most people do mate and you can get excellent results. its mostly old paints that need to breath as they need to expell solvents into the atmosphere or the solvents start to eat into the paint making like blisters or solvent popping.
this year at standox painter of the year awards the winning painter flatted his paint just a hour after baking with 2000 wet and dry and i have never seen such a good finish it was perfectly smooth looked just like you could go for a swim in it.

[Luke-saxo]

cheers people its been finished 2 weeks now and now its annoying me seeing bit of orange peel etc