ElliottG wrote:Hi guys,
Always wondered this question.
I painted parts of a white car last week, and it is barely even noticable without buffing. I still want to do it anyway.
I use a medium pad with M105 cutting compound, does this have similar effects to wet sanding with let's say a 1500/2000 grit? If so, why even bother wet sanding?
Could get away with just using M105/205 combo and not wet sanding at all?
I painted parts of a white car last week, and it is barely even noticable without buffing. I still want to do it anyway.
I use a medium pad with M105 cutting compound, does this have similar effects to wet sanding with let's say a 1500/2000 grit? If so, why even bother wet sanding?
Could get away with just using M105/205 combo and not wet sanding at all?
Using a medium pad with M105 cutting compound can have similar effects to wet sanding with a 1500/2000 grit sandpaper, but there are some differences between the two methods.
Wet sanding with a fine-grit sandpaper helps to level the surface by removing a thin layer of clear coat or paint. The paint process is useful when you have deeper imperfections, scratches, or orange peel texture that cannot be easily corrected with just polishing. Wet sanding gradually smoothes out the surface, and the finer grits help to remove the scratches left by the coarser grits.
On the other hand, using a cutting compound like M105 with a medium pad can also remove imperfections and scratches, but it may not be as effective at leveling the surface as wet sanding. The cutting compound works by breaking down the abrasive particles and polishing the surface, but it may not remove deeper imperfections completely.
So, while you can achieve some improvement by using a cutting compound and medium pad, wet sanding provides more control over the leveling process and allows you to achieve a smoother surface. Wet sanding is particularly beneficial when you have significant imperfections or need to remove a larger amount of material.
If the imperfections on your car are minimal and you're satisfied with the results achieved using the M105 cutting compound, you may be able to skip wet sanding. However, keep in mind that wet sanding can often provide better results for achieving a truly smooth and flawless finish, especially for more noticeable imperfections. It ultimately depends on the extent of the imperfections and the level of perfection you desire for your car's appearance.