Wet Sanding

When you have a single panel that needs repainting, it can be expensive to take the job to a paint shop. To do it right, they will need to blend the paint across multiple panels which adds costs and is time consuming. If the car is a driver, it may not be worth it. So with this 1997 targa, we took a different approach. 

This Targa has undergone several repaints, leaving only the engine cover and the trim around the windshield as original paint. One side of the car has a stone chip protection film (shark fin) that has been cleared over, while the other side had petrified and cracked original film. Upon removal, we discovered that the damage extended to the primer, necessitating a repainting of the fender.

However, due to budget constraints, we couldn’t paint the entire car. Instead, we plan to paint this fender, reapply the protection film, and assess how closely it matches the other side. If it’s indistinguishable from 10 feet away, it’s considered a success.

Our paint guy works outdoors, so we’re responsible for cleaning up the dust nibs afterward. To prevent burning through the clear coat, he applied the final wet coat extra thick, ensuring ample material for us work. The first step is to mask off the area to be worked to avoid sanding marks on the good paint. After using the clay bar to remove any overspray residue, we thoroughly cleaned the surface. Next, we proceeded with wet sanding, starting with 1500 grit, then 2000 grit, and finally 3000 grit. Afterward, we used the DA to cut and polish the surface. While it is not hard work, it always takes longer than anticipated.

When working on an old car, it’s crucial to sand the entire panel evenly and strive to match the texture of the panels on either side. We left a little of the sanding marks to replicate the scratches on the other side. Avoid creating a perfectly flat surface on an imperfect car, as it screams “I’ve just been repainted. You should ask me why.” Instead, aim for an appropriate patina. 

The rest of the car was ceramic coated a few weeks ago, so we’ll let this car cure for a couple of weeks before reapplying the rock chip protection film and ceramic coating the panel.