People need to upgrade their appearance frequently, and so do cars. Car refurbishment is crucial in keeping its like-new outlook from degrading over time. By learning how to wet sand a car, you can give a reset for your vehicle.

Wet sanding is one easy-peasy method that can bring an instant change to a car. Every car owner should master this technique to enliven their cars. For that reason, keep on reading because we will turn you into a pro on how to wet sand a car.

How To Wet Sand A Car – When?

How To Wet Sand A Car - WhenWet sanding can be performed in case of:

  • Scratches Detected
    As time goes by, your car will either-way receive scratches by accidents that leave your car coat full of imperfection. This is when your vehicle requires wet sanding most. Wet sanding a car’s coat will result in flaws diminished, and scratches slowly be invisible.
  • Orange Peel Effect Detected
    The orange peel effect is presumably found after new paint jobs, which make the paint’s luster uneven and disqualified. How to bring it back to the way it was initially? Wet sanding is the answer!
  • After Dry Sanding
    Dry sanding, which is a different kind of sanding, acts as the surface flatter. Then, if your car has been dry sanding before, it is best to wet sand it as the next step.

How To Wet Sand A Car – Benefits Of Wetsanding

Benefits Of WetsandingWet sanding is the process of removing and demolishing scratches from the outer layer of material to define a glossy, mirror-smooth look.

  • Removing Scratches And Surface Paint Defects
    Wet sanding is a certified way of effectively diminishing on-top scratches or paint defects caused by poor painting. The orange-peel effect is also likely to be gotten rid of easily with wet sanding.
  • Smooth, Paint Even-out Surface
    Wet sanding is meant to even-out new paint, leaving your car a freshly refurbished look.
  • Enhancing The Glow By Natural Polishing
    Polishing will no longer be a big deal with wet sanding due to its enhancing effect. Prepare for a stunning, good-as-new car that seems like it has just been bought from the shop

However, even the skillet wet sander has lots of things to consider before wet sanding a car. That’s why you must handle this technique with extreme care and caution; otherwise the result will eventually turn out badly.

Read More: Remove Plasti Dip from Your Car

How To Wet Sand A Car? – A Full Guide

Step 1: Prep Work

Prep Work

  • Determine if your vehicle is suitable for wet sanding
    Bear in mind that wet sanding is capable of handling scratches on the top layers of paint or clear coat only. In case the scratches have profoundly touched the metal, it is best not to wet sand as you might worsen the situation.
    Take your time to carefully determine what scratches are qualified enough to be removed by wet sanding.
  • Select the right sandpaper
    Sandpaper appears in numbers of details, each of which refers to different sanding options.
    The damage you are trying to fix will decide what type of sandpaper should be put into use and how much sanding required. A light scratch or hard-to-notice scuffing can be resolved in one step, while large, significant flaws will need more than one step.
    If the scratch is not significant, feel free to use a 2000 or 3000 grit to solve the problem in a blink of an eye.
    However, on the off chance that the damage is severe, you should consider to slightly begin with a 1200 grit sandpaper and proceed onward to a higher coarseness number.
    Never go for sandpaper with a grit lower than 1200 as these might harm the vehicle’s surface instead of fixing it.
    Keep in mind, sandpapers with a higher grit number have a better grating surface. These sandpapers can be easily purchased from your neighborhood local shop.
  • Set up the lubricant
    Wet sanding differs from dry sanding as it includes liquid grease to prevent the sandpaper from indelicately burning the outer layer. Prepare a bucket and fill it with water along with automotive soap or dish soap.
    Remember to check the soap’s function of polishing or waxing and exclude it in case one of the given features is available.
  • Prep the sandpaper
    Take the sandpaper out from its package and cut them into halves along their longer lengths. You will end up with double numbers of sheets.
    The width of the cut sheets is responsible for warping around the sandpaper squeegees. To effectively absorb the water, the strips need to belong rather than wide.
    It’s time to dip the sheets into the lubricant. Make sure that the saturated parts are at least half of the sheets’ length. Let the soaking and absorbing happen for 5 minutes. Then take the leaves out of the lubricant and attach the dry part of the sheets onto your squeegees.
    After all of these preparations, you are all set to wet sand your car.

Step 2: Wet Sanding The Car

Wet Sanding The Car

  • Prep the area where you intend to place the wet sanding
    Be sure to remove any excess debris in the area you are about to work on using washing and cleaning. Wash the car as you usually do and flush it thoroughly with a hose. Again, refrain yourself from using soap that contains polish or wax.
  • Attach the sandpaper to a squeegee
    You can use a sanding squeegee or pad to warp the sandpaper around. Avoid using your bare hands as the gaps between your fingers can unintentionally create unevenness. You can choose from a variety of bendable handles according to the area where you place wet sanding on.
    To fully understand how to secure the paper to it, read the manual instructions.
  • Sand in circular motions
    With the sandpaper completely saturated with lubricant, start sanding the region with little round movements and a light measure of weight.
    On the off chance that your sanding doesn’t appear to be influencing the clear coat, apply somewhat more weight to get the desired effects. Try not to press sufficiently hard to make scratches on the paint itself.
    You may not proceed well in the few first minutes of sanding due to lack of pressure applied to the sandpaper, however, keep practicing with bolder movement as you go on.
  • Multiple directions are the key
    Try to move the sandpaper in many directions for an even approach. Clockwise or counter-clockwise, your movements frequently from different angles to make sure the entire surface is flattened evenly.
    Be mindful so as not to increase or decrease pressure when changing sanding directions. Once you sand excessively hard, you can quickly notice the change of water: it gets darker due to the paint seeped into the water.
  • Add water
    Feel free to add more water whenever you feel the friction between the paint and the sandpaper getting rougher. Once the sandpaper is in the dry condition, it will create heat which can consume the color.
    Keep the area heavily moisturized by continually adding soaping water by allowing the sandpaper to dunk in the bucket frequently. Simply eliminate sandpaper if it has all the earmarks of being infiltrating past the reasonable coat or harming the paint.
  • Stay cautious
    Be cautious about edges on your tools. As you sand, you will probably feel tired and painful in your grasp and arms. You might hurt yourself while unintentionally utilizing utensil’s edges rather than leveling them.
    It is vital to include a break during wet sanding. The handle or one of the folded edges might find one way or another pose threats to the paint once you are not in the cautious state.

Step 3: Treat the Sanded Area

Treat the sanded area

  • Rinse the sanded area
    It’s time to rinse off soap or debris left behind on your new sanded car! Use your hands to check whether there are any soap residues left.
  • Let the sanded area dry out
    The newly wet sanded area needs time to dry out completely. However, direct sunlight is not favorable in this situation. Instead, a shady area will be perfect for your car to rest and dry. A towel or a hairdryer can be put into use to fasten the process.
  • Use a buffer
    Utilize a buffer to clean the zone. We need some rubbing compound applied to a pad to start the cleaning onto the dried wet-sanded area. Make sure to buff well with medium speed and force towards the paint.
    Too much pressure goes on, and the paint is consumed. That’s why the key point is to start gently, and till you feel you need to put on more pressure, then go ahead.
  • Apply a wax for a finish
    Apply wax to the completed region. When the zone has been buffed, apply wax on the car as an extra protective layer. Waxing the vehicle will secure the paint and make an increasingly splendid sparkle.

Conclusion

And that’s how to wet sand a car like a pro! Do not hesitate to give it a try. Your car needs you and your magnificently skilled hands to upgrade its look to another level. Follow our guidelines strictly, and the matter of how to wet sand a car will no longer be a bother to you.