Sanding big curved VW fenders.

General Discussion. Make yourself at home...read, ask and answer!



Settled In
Posts: 69
Joined: Tue Jun 09, 2015 12:11 pm
Location: Cleveland/Fort Myers Beach, FL
Country:
USA
PostPosted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 11:01 pm
I was at a car show this weekend and saw several beautifully painted VW bugs from the 1960's. It got me thinking-how do you block "flat" a wildly curved surface? There isn't a straight panel on those cars. I have the longer Durablocks, and I know they are flexible, but I just don't see how the sand paper would even stay attached to the block. Obviously this applies to cars from the 30's and 40's as well. What do you guys who do this for a living do when you want top quality paint on a curvy car?

User avatar

Top Contributor
Posts: 1661
Joined: Sat Jun 09, 2007 9:06 pm
Location: Out in the garage.
Country:
USA
PostPosted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 11:20 pm
Everyone probably has their own particular technique, but I like to back
the sandpaper with a sponge when sanding curves. Harder sponges for
slighter curves, softer sponges for the more pronounced curves.
"If you can't move it, paint it." - U.S. Army



Settled In
Posts: 69
Joined: Tue Jun 09, 2015 12:11 pm
Location: Cleveland/Fort Myers Beach, FL
Country:
USA
PostPosted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 11:31 pm
NightTrain wrote:Everyone probably has their own particular technique, but I like to back
the sandpaper with a sponge when sanding curves. Harder sponges for
slighter curves, softer sponges for the more pronounced curves.
But won't the shortness of a sponge make it impossible to get a flat surface? Or, if something is really curvy, does it even really matter? Maybe your eye can't see waves in a wavy surface anyway?

User avatar

Board Moderator
Posts: 9878
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 12:40 pm
Location: ARIZONA
PostPosted: Tue Jan 17, 2017 1:01 pm
I use the Durablock round sanding block for curves.
That and their teardrop shaped block are the only ones I use.
1968 Coronet R/T


ACTS 16:31

User avatar

Board Moderator
Posts: 6672
Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2004 7:00 pm
Location: central Ohio
Country:
USA
PostPosted: Tue Jan 17, 2017 3:16 pm
I have what is called a dual density pad for that type of sanding to back up my paper. Gray side is softer foam and the black side is high density stiffer stuff. It is indeed harder for the eye to lock in on the "straightness" or flatness of a coating with no points of reference like that curvy VW surface....
Metal, wood, fiberglass, we work it all... www.furniturephysicians.com We can restore the irreplaceable!

User avatar

Board Moderator
Posts: 9878
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 12:40 pm
Location: ARIZONA
PostPosted: Tue Jan 17, 2017 3:38 pm
Dual Density Pad!
So that's what they call it? I have two or three of them but never they had such a techie and official sounding name. :wink:
1968 Coronet R/T


ACTS 16:31

User avatar

Board Moderator
Posts: 6672
Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2004 7:00 pm
Location: central Ohio
Country:
USA
PostPosted: Tue Jan 17, 2017 3:43 pm
Yep, first saw them in wood shops almost 40 years ago then noticed guys in old car books were using them on fenders. Furniture is so curvy they're perfect.
Metal, wood, fiberglass, we work it all... www.furniturephysicians.com We can restore the irreplaceable!

User avatar

Top Contributor
Posts: 1744
Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2016 6:53 pm
Location: Denver, CO
Country:
USA
PostPosted: Thu Jan 26, 2017 6:20 pm
https://www.amazon.com/FLEXIBLE-BOARD-S ... B002J0S1C8
Experienced Trained Certified

SATA Spray Equipment Germany
Axalta ChromaBase Elite Standox Imron 5000 6000
PPG Delfeet Deltron Global Matthews
Sherwin Williams Ultra 7000 Genesis
Valspar DeBeer LIC
Akzo Nobel Sikkens Lesonal

Return to Body and Paint

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 41 guests