The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Dura blocks and what grit sand paper?

I wanted to buy Durablocks, I needed to buy sand paper those long ones sticks to Dura block. I thought 180 grit to sand Bondo and body work and 800 grit for primer

Is that correct or do I need to buy different sand paper for the bodywork

I am at bare metal now!!

Ganesh

You can use 80, 180 or 320 on the long blocks. You can use 800 on the primer but deoending on how thick it is, ou may be there a while. Sand the primer with 180 to remove the previous sand scratches and then primer the part again. Then watersand the primered parts with 400 wet/dry sand paper. You will get a very smooth paintable surface without any sand scratches.

I am taking notes, I am going to sand the metal to leave 80Grit scratches and do a epoxy primer the bondo job, from there I was wondering what sandpaper so I thought 180 might be good but I am reading your notes and collect all of them. I need to have nice and smooth paint but I was lost with the sand paper.

Thanks Glennc

Ganesh

You may want to consider using 40 grit to do the initial sanding on the body filler as it will cut it down quicker, then go to 80 grit and finally 150-180 grit before primer. Start with 220 and go up to 400 on the primer. Maybe higher depending on what type of finish coat paint you intend to use. Just my 2 pennies.

Hank

if your at bere metal now you will need to metal condition the metal first then hammer and dolly all your highs and lows or metal file your dents then use an epoxy primer then what i use is a high build primer it sprays on really thick so it levels out really good but when you get you panels straight then shoot your primer surficer on because that hibuild will recoat react with your paint. Start with 80 then 180 then 220 then 320 400 500 600 never go more than 100 each time you sand. let me know if you need any thing else and let us know how it turned out

Thanks JPmanyhearts, I was wondering why we need that much of sanding, I thought if you lay the primer and if there are not low and high spots, is it not enough to sand with 180 and 800. Will that not make the surface smooth.

But lot of good information and will try to buy enough of sand papers I guess

And should all of them be wet sanding?

Ganesh

Dont wetsand the bondo itself. Use 40,80 or 180 to get the bondo correct first. Then prime it. Then wetsand with the other finer grit papers. When I paint something I never go above 400 wet sanding before I spray it. It leaves the old paint and primer very smooth and makes a real good paint job. Once you have it painted, the use 1500 to 2000 grit to color sand the paint before you high speed buff it and wax it. Good Luck.

Thanks Glennc, lot of learning!! I need to get atleast one panel done I guess.

Ganesh

I sprayed my sandblasted panels with epoxy awhile ago. I rough sanded the epoxy with 80 grit to see where my highs and lows are (shiny metal high, epoxy low). Now I'm currently applying and sanding filler on my truck. I find that 80 grit is good at knocking down the filler, then I switch to 120. I plan on going to 220 then applying anther coat of epoxy. Then I will spray a couple coats of 2k. Then start blocking with 220 or 320. A final blocking with 400. After that I am in foreign territory.

make increments of no more than 150 grit jumps - it will reduce your effort and cost you less in the long run

36/40 grit discs on DA will knock down existing paint and scuff for filler.

80 grit adhessive paper on blocks is great for shaping filler and smoothing the 36/40grit DA body sanding

(optional sanding with 120 grit will save you a bit of time and effort on shaping filler/glaze prior to smoothing - not necessarily adhessive paper - I use the red paper from home depot - it's cheaper)

180 grit adhessive sandpaper on blocks is great for smoothing filler/glaze and is also good for smoothing the 80 grit sanding on old paint

(optional sanding with 220 grit here to reduce effort especially at sand scratches near filler locations - again i use the home depot paper here)

then I jump to 320 grit adhessive sandpaper paper on everything (filler and old paint) prior to high build primer (I also use 320 grit home depot paper on small blocks to save some $)

sand high build with 320 grit followed by 400 grit prior to sealer and topcoat (follow your paint's recomendation - most these days say 400 grit)

600, 800, 1200, 2000, 3200 grits for wetsanding/colorsanding topcoat - none of these are adhissive sand papers - just fold 'em around small blocks...

Wow Mark, thanks for all the information, I will follow and attach pictures and wow incredible amount of work

Ganesh