Can this be sanded, polished, or buffed out?

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PostPosted: Mon Nov 29, 2021 9:00 pm
Hello all, I am new to the forum and pretty darn new to paint in general. I have a 2003 Acura RSX I've owned for quite some time. It spent most of its time out in the sun in the driveway, but I recently was able to start keeping it in the garage where it belonged. Anyway, my front, near the sunroof, looks bad. I don't know the proper term, but I would say it is sun-faded. I don't know if it is just the clear coat, and is something that can be fixed with just possibly sanding, buffing, etc, or if I would need to spray a clear coat, or primer/base and clear. I am hoping to learn something here so I can help restore and keep this car in good shape as I would like to let my 11-year-old drive this car someday and not have it look like a junker. Here are some pics of the spoiler, which I believe is ABS, which I think I read may or may not need an adhesion promoter, and the sunroof area, which is metal.

TIA. If this belongs in the paint area, please let me know.

sunroof fade.jpg
Faded Sunroof
spoiler fade.jpg
Faded Spoiler

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PostPosted: Mon Nov 29, 2021 11:32 pm
Well, yeah, no type of minor work is going fix/resurrect these areas. You need new paint.... so this should be moved out of here and over to paint.....
Metal, wood, fiberglass, we work it all... www.furniturephysicians.com We can restore the irreplaceable!



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PostPosted: Tue Nov 30, 2021 4:21 pm
DarrelK wrote:Well, yeah, no type of minor work is going fix/resurrect these areas. You need new paint.... so this should be moved out of here and over to paint.....

Yeah, that answers a big part of my question. Having done zero paint or body work on an automobile, I just needed confirmation that this isn't just surface clear coat flaking off.

Seeing as it still has primer, do I need to sand this down to just primer, or would I be able to sand it down to smooth and just spray basecoat and then clear over it? Also, since the spoiler is ABS, do I need to primer at all?

TIA.

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PostPosted: Tue Nov 30, 2021 5:01 pm
Clear coat provides protection for the base (color) coat. When the clear coat is flaking like yours is, the protection is all gone and the base coat is deteriorating. So it needs to be stripped as Darrell pointed out.

For questions on painting plastic visit the Fiberglass and Plastic forum.
viewforum.php?f=13

You can also use the Search Function within each forum for specific topics.
1968 Coronet R/T


ACTS 16:31



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PostPosted: Tue Nov 30, 2021 9:24 pm
Feather out all damage areas smooth to sounding paint apply Primer sand guid coat too 400 grit for solid colors 600 for Metal flake. spray clear coat two coats.

Keep in mind spraying requires a Big compressor! 5 hp 60-80 gal tank 17-18 cfm pump NOT a 2-3 hp 20 gal Tire filler!!!! Using too small of a compressor is the number one mistakes all newbys make. next is Not using a Water trap and dedicated air hose with Hi flow connectors. Subject has been pounded to death on the forum.
Much more to know before doing it. READ! search works well.

Also you cant save money in this by doing one car! investment is to hi for quality tools that will last, Saving money comes on 5th 6th car you do if your smart doing a lot of research and are a little lucky youll have enough left over products to pull off a cheap job.
Dennis B.
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 01, 2021 2:56 am
'68 Coronet R/T wrote:Clear coat provides protection for the base (color) coat. When the clear coat is flaking like yours is, the protection is all gone and the base coat is deteriorating. So it needs to be stripped as Darrell pointed out.

For questions on painting plastic visit the Fiberglass and Plastic forum.
viewforum.php?f=13

You can also use the Search Function within each forum for specific topics.


Thank you so much. I like to research things in-depth and I will be spending some time in that forum.



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PostPosted: Wed Dec 01, 2021 2:58 am
Doright wrote:Feather out all damage areas smooth to sounding paint apply Primer sand guid coat too 400 grit for solid colors 600 for Metal flake. spray clear coat two coats.

Keep in mind spraying requires a Big compressor! 5 hp 60-80 gal tank 17-18 cfm pump NOT a 2-3 hp 20 gal Tire filler!!!! Using too small of a compressor is the number one mistakes all newbys make. next is Not using a Water trap and dedicated air hose with Hi flow connectors. Subject has been pounded to death on the forum.
Much more to know before doing it. READ! search works well.

Also you cant save money in this by doing one car! investment is to hi for quality tools that will last, Saving money comes on 5th 6th car you do if your smart doing a lot of research and are a little lucky youll have enough left over products to pull off a cheap job.


This is some really good advice. Yes, I do want to be able to do work like this for the long haul. I even thought about going to school at a local place to learn about this and I may still. I don't have a big enough compressor then, as I have just what you described (20 gallon) but I will be looking for an upgrade in the near future. Thank for your advice, it is appreciated!

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PostPosted: Wed Dec 01, 2021 6:22 am
Don't be misled by false claims on compressor capacities and tank sizes.

My shop compressor has a 50 litre tank (13.5 US gallons) and is rated at 2400W or 3.2hp, 240V single phase. But it pumps a huge 475l/min and does it all at only 62dBa. Will run air tools and any spray gun I care to hook up to it

It's not all about size. Efficiency plays a major part. That and fair dinkum ratings.
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 01, 2021 7:18 am
Watch local web sights such as Craigslist or Offerup for used compressors every once in a while a Good deal comes along. I found mine on Craigslist.

You need Air flo not Pressure remember that! All compressors will make pressure Airflo is King and the most over rated stat on a compressor. buyer beware!

Just me but I could think of a Hundred better things to learn in school to make money than learning auto body not saying its a bad career choice but if your young and wanna go to school think about where you wanna be in 20 years. Learning to paint cars is easy and can be done right here with a little cash trial and error its not Rocket Science.

Learning Rocket science is done in colleges and university's.
Learn something that still has a Pension attached to it.
You would be amazed at choices in engineering that cover Painting.
Many here trained only in Automotive often scoff at my knowledge but My career choice in Aerospace Technologies covers painting Aircraft and Space vehicles at a Higher level.
Not to mention I can modify cars Power plants (engines) Transmissions differentials in ways many do not fully comprehend.
Plus the fact that I get paid to work on some really cool Stuff that travels at 500+mph or goes into space. I get paid to play every day!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuYIbYVLF4k

https://theaviationist.com/2017/11/21/t ... -7-flight/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p30E3LGIaM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UobfdznglU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sm_5l3kBzCA

Stay in School, learn the Hard stuff 1 thing at a time, then move on to the next.
If you take the time to learn 1 thing at a time life gets easier.
Those that learn too skim and skip through subjects without full comprehension of the basics never learn to Fly!
Dennis B.
A&P Mechanic, FCC General radio Telephone Operator
Line Maintenance A&P Mechanic and MOC Tech specialist.

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PostPosted: Wed Dec 01, 2021 10:21 am
NFT5 wrote:Don't be misled by false claims on compressor capacities and tank sizes.

My shop compressor has a 50 litre tank (13.5 US gallons) and is rated at 2400W or 3.2hp, 240V single phase. But it pumps a huge 475l/min and does it all at only 62dBa. Will run air tools and any spray gun I care to hook up to it

It's not all about size. Efficiency plays a major part. That and fair dinkum ratings.


Chris, I think things are different over here. What you are describing is called a portable compressor in the states and even in the better known brand names like Quincy, they are not putting out the CFM at 3 hp that you are getting. Most are rated at 7 CFM or less.

They did have some horizontal style 30 gallon compressors that put out high CFM but they were running in the $3,000 range.
1968 Coronet R/T


ACTS 16:31
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