wet sanding

This process takes time and is not to be rushed, each stage is as important as the last, these are the skills that allow us to transform paintwork that you'd  scarcely believe possible.  

Paintwork etching has many causes and the easiest way to explain is simply that if you have something sitting on the surface of the lacquer for a long time or an incredibly strong chemical the results create an unlevel imprint therefore leaving a poor finish to the paintwork like in this image.

After various stages of wet sanding via the palm DA sander helping to create a nice consistent finish making the perfect base to then machine polish back safely. The wet sanding stages (when carried out knowledgably) actually lower the risk of further damaging the lacquer.  

With the wet sanding stages removing the effected layers, creating that perfect base to then machine polish back it reveals simply stunning and very crisp results, restoring that original paint!

Spending the time no matter how long it takes to create the best possible results that the paint allows us, sometimes it really isn't possible but in cases like this Audi S8 the original paint gave enough to work with creating the most satisfying results, one happy detailer and one very happy owner!

Pro detailer magazine wanted to cover this detail to show what's really possible and that resprays aren't always the need or answer. It was an absolute pleasure to be asked to be interviewed and to feature in the magazine! Once the magazine has launched and the interview has gone live I shall update this page! 

Our own BMW getting the love it needed prior to being sign written, after asking if the body shop can just "put the paint on" we definitely enjoyed finishing off paintwork by carrying out the wet sanding stages ourselves. 

With painting its unavoidable to get an absolutely perfect finish straight out the gun, dust nibs are bits of dust that need to be wet sanded flat and the orange peel texture to be reduced, all then create that perfect OEM finish. 

If these stages are not correctly done all the hard work can be for nothing, no matter what it's to resolve it's the same process with wet sanding, taking care within each stage to help the stages prior. If you think we could help you with your recent respray don't hesitate to get in contact.

A perfect example of how wet sanding can help where machine polishing alone just wont cut it. High contact points like this back bumper has suffered resulting in deep scratches being left behind.

Using various stages of wet sanding grades from medium grade to a fine grade, each stage perfecting the other. A uniform and level action ensuring to not create more damage and achieve a finish benefiting from wet sanding. 

Finished with a multistage machine polish starting with a heavy cut to remove the wet sanding marks,  ultimately restoring that clear coat from the imperfections and scratches producing that stunning paintwork and avoid a respray!

A poor paintwork repair here has left a nasty finish and messy, not so subtle "blend line" attempted to be hidden in the prominent bodywork line. If you look at where the lights hit the paintwork they start to look wobbly towards the middle of the panel..

After various paint depth readings around this one panel and surrounding panels to check the consistency in depth we could then start to wet sand, here you can see on the right hand side that worm like effect, this is what needed levelling via the wet sanding, and the various "dust nibs" removed.

That wobbly worm like effect would be from repair work that's unfortunately "sunk back" and settled in that unpleasant way, by wet sanding it allows the clear coat to be levelled again creating that nice crisp finish with nothing spoiling that reflection which is what gives it away in the first place!