Dude at NAPA changed my mind about paint prep

Was grabbing supplies last Tuesday at the NAPA on 5th Street. Guy behind the counter saw I was grabbing 80 grit and just shook his head. Said I was working way too aggressive for modern clear coats and handed me some 220. He was dead on. Who else has had a parts guy save them from doing dumb work?

2 comments

2 Comments

joseph_west5922h ago

Hold on a second, 220 for modern clear coats? That seems way too fine for any real work unless you're just scuffing a perfect panel. If you're fixing chips or blending, you're going to be sanding forever and not getting any tooth.

felix4886h ago

You know, I actually used to run 400 grit on clear coats and thought I was being careful. Figured finer was better, less chance to mess up. Then I tried 220 on a repair where the old clear was really failing, and the difference was night and day. The 400 just wasn't grabbing, the new paint had nothing to bite into and started peeling after a few months. I had to go back and re-sand that whole panel, which is a pain (especially when you're already frustrated). Now I stick with 220 for any blend or chip repair, and I've never had adhesion problems since. It sounds aggressive, but the clear lays down so much better and you're not burning through time trying to get tooth where there just isn't any.