AutoBody101.com

Hello Everyone,

I started shopping for some 6" sanding discs to use for cutting the orange peel on clear coat and was looking at 3M's Trizact Foam Hookit sanding discs in P1500, P3000. and P5000. The cost per disc is about $5 to $7 each. Is this what you guys use or is there a more cost effective brand to use. Also, about how many discs per grit do you think are needed to do an entire car (1968 Mustang)?

I plan use 3M's Perfect-It system just because there are plenty of how to videos showing their process which includes:
First) Cut the orange peel with 1500 on a 6" DA, then with 3000, and then with 5000.
Next) Polish with Rubbing Compound, then Machine compound, and finally Ultra Fine Polish using there recommended pads for each step.

Just looking to see if anyone makes a more cost effective 6" sanding discs in 1500, 3000, and 5000 grits, or is that about what they all cost?

the only disc i ever use is 3000, 5000

any other disc can leave pig tail scratches, therefor i hand sand with 2000 first,

i put a link to the pads i use in your other post as well

The grit choice will obviously be affected by the amount of orange peel.
A experienced pro, spraying in a high dollar booth will lay clear down with a minimal amount of OP and dust contamination. While this can be done in a homemade booth or a garage with much practice, the hobbyist or first time painter will generally have a greater degree of "issues" to address when cutting and buffing.

I have used the high dollar discs but not found them cost effective for me. Right now I am using Red Label discs http://stores.ebay.com/Red-Label-Abrasi ... 2920690017

If you want your car to look like glass and your clear has quite a bit of texture to it, I would suggest sanding by hand using 1000 grit and a hard sanding block. This will allow you to cut any urethane wave and remove the orange peel.
From there you can use the DA with an interface pad (3M 057770 and 1500 grit disc then follow with a 2000, etc. as high as you feel the need to go.

Please be advised that a DA will burn through the clear fairly quickly if it catches an edge or body line just as the buffer will.

Thanks Guys, Those Red Label disc are a LOT more affordable. I'll think I'll use them on a 3M interface pad. I also decided to pick up the Hutchins random orbital 3/16 for the sander, $125 on Ebay. That should get me going.

Thanks again to All.

Good score on the Hutchins if it is not completely wore out.

Brand new from Auto Body Tool Mart's Ebay Store

My Hutchins Air File cost me close to $300 so I assumed the orbitals would be quite a bit more than the price you paid. I will check that out.

'68 Coronet R/T wrote:My Hutchins Air File cost me close to $300 so I assumed the orbitals would be quite a bit more than the price you paid. I will check that out.

Their eBay store seems to list cheaper prices than their regular online website.

I've been looking to get a new 6" H&L DA, but they seem to have different price points.

* Anyone know what the difference is between the different Hutchins DA lines?

OldFatBald wrote:

'68 Coronet R/T wrote:...I've been looking to get a new 6" H&L DA, but they seem to have different price points.

* Anyone know what the difference is between the different Hutchins DA lines?

Anyone?