Wetsanded my hood this weekend

[blocke]

So after several attempts to bring my paint back from the dead over the past year, using a porter cable and ccs pads..I was unsatisfied with the results.
Even using yellow cutting pads and #4 compound didnt cut enough into the paint to bring out the color. It always looked too matte and faded.
So this weekend, I said fuck it and decided to wet sand it, then go over it with pads. HUGE difference.

Shitty cell phone pic, and there is shadows on the hood from a tree and the overhang of our garage, but you get the idea.

You can see in the pic the difference between the hood, and my fender or roof. Going to order fresh pads and compound, and a good synthetic sealer, and spend a weekend doing the entire car this way.

Also threw on my new roundel. :)

[dude8383]

What kind of grit did you use?

[blocke]

I want to say that it was 1200 grit

[Stephen]

looks alot better. Now you might want to try some compounds to get it really shiny

[blocke]

looks alot better. Now you might want to try some compounds to get it really shiny

Yeah, I did go over it with progressively finer pads and compounds after wards, but my pads at worn out, and I'm out of compounds.
I don't want to waste the time until I have a good sealer, otherwise in 1 month it will look shitty again.

Here is what I started with 1yr ago when I bought the car:

[Jparkr]

You need to hit that again with 2k grit at least(I go to 3k for show cars). Dont stop until the surface looks completely matte Then go buy a 2 red Meguiar's cut pads and some diamond cut compound.

After the cut, switch the red pads and go over it again with Meguiar's #83 dual action. This removes the last of the bigger scratches and holograms.

Now go to your Yellow polishing pad and hit it with some Griot's #1 or 2, Or some other polishing compound.

Finally finish with Griot's Best of show wax (best Idea for your red), or Meguiar's synthetic sealant. (quick and easy, and lasts a long time)

[325ix]

It looks a ton better than it did before, but keep working at it!

[blocke]

You need to hit that again with 2k grit at least(I go to 3k for show cars). Dont stop until the surface looks completely matte Then go buy a 2 red Meguiar's cut pads and some diamond cut compound.

After the cut, switch the red pads and go over it again with Meguiar's #83 dual action. This removes the last of the bigger scratches and holograms.

Now go to your Yellow polishing pad and hit it with some Griot's #1 or 2, Or some other polishing compound.

Finally finish with Griot's Best of show wax (best Idea for your red), or Meguiar's synthetic sealant. (quick and easy, and lasts a long time)

Would you recommend this process for the entire car? And how many pads should I use then? I understand the use of 1 pad per step, but is that 1 pad enough for the entire car?

[ubernasty]

do what jparkr said.

[Jparkr]

Would you recommend this process for the entire car? And how many pads should I use then? I understand the use of 1 pad per step, but is that 1 pad enough for the entire car?

Yeah one pad for each step, and yes, one pad is enough for the whole car. I wash my pads after every car and I usually get 10 cars out of them before they start to fall apart.

Also don't wet sand anywhere that you see paint or clearcoat flaking. Im not sure if its wax but in your first picture it looks like that may be clear coat flaking on the fender

[blocke]

Also don't wet sand anywhere that you see paint or clearcoat flaking. Im not sure if its wax but in your first picture it looks like that may be clear coat flaking on the fender

No that wasnt flaking, it was actually dried soapy water, and some wax that flung off when I forgot the PC was on higher speed and turned it on.

Thanks for the tips!