Stripping back to gel coat questions
Discussion
I am going to tackle at least the main legwork preparing my Rochdale Olympic for paint.
I am a complete novice but have started my research, and am happy to put in as much time as it takes.
The car was previously stripped back before the last respray, so I am not dealing with layer upon layer.
My first questions are....well, the start of the process.
Having read Miles Wilkins book, how to restore fibreglass bodywork, I just wanted to check the first steps,
He wrote to strip manually, use an orbital sander to go down to the first sealer coat.
He says to then use 220/320 wet and dry by hand. Wet.
A couple of questions on that.
What grade of sanding disc to use on a random orbital sander to start?
Is it still best to move to wet and dry by hand/with rubber block, even though these types of sanders do well to avoid sanding marks?
I am surprised about the advice to use wet paper to sand the sealer coat. I thought that would be dangerous, as gel coat is porous, and it is risky getting it wet. Maybe I have got the wrong impression from the book?
I appreciate I should really post this under the 'classic fibreglass' forum, but it doesn't seem to get much traffic....
Many thanks
I am a complete novice but have started my research, and am happy to put in as much time as it takes.
The car was previously stripped back before the last respray, so I am not dealing with layer upon layer.
My first questions are....well, the start of the process.
Having read Miles Wilkins book, how to restore fibreglass bodywork, I just wanted to check the first steps,
He wrote to strip manually, use an orbital sander to go down to the first sealer coat.
He says to then use 220/320 wet and dry by hand. Wet.
A couple of questions on that.
What grade of sanding disc to use on a random orbital sander to start?
Is it still best to move to wet and dry by hand/with rubber block, even though these types of sanders do well to avoid sanding marks?
I am surprised about the advice to use wet paper to sand the sealer coat. I thought that would be dangerous, as gel coat is porous, and it is risky getting it wet. Maybe I have got the wrong impression from the book?
I appreciate I should really post this under the 'classic fibreglass' forum, but it doesn't seem to get much traffic....
Many thanks
So, I am glad I asked as wet sanding does sound like it could create all sorts of problems.
I presume dry sanding can get the required results, it wil just take a bit more patience, as the paper can clog, and I guess, will also generate dust, where wet sanding won't.
I will create a build thread I think, as I will probably need continual advice along the way.
...strangely excited although I probably have a few hundred hours of body prep ahead of me.
Thanks guys.
I presume dry sanding can get the required results, it wil just take a bit more patience, as the paper can clog, and I guess, will also generate dust, where wet sanding won't.
I will create a build thread I think, as I will probably need continual advice along the way.
...strangely excited although I probably have a few hundred hours of body prep ahead of me.
Thanks guys.
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