[cdown16]

So I'm a complete noob with wet sanding. I took on way too much of my car today. On the good note, most every chip I touched up and wet sanded turned out great. The biggest one unfortunately went the opposite.

So for context, I messed up by putting clear on my touched up spots after wet sanding. I then had to sand the clear off because it wouldn't polish out properly. I now don't know why I did this but it is what it is.

Here is what I'm left with on my hood. What am I looking at? It's not dull looking, yet it appears to be through the clear coat. Any help is greatly appreciated here. It's metallic mineral gray paint.

[John in VA]

Looks to me that you took all the color & clear off around the chip, leaving the raw black hood. A pro might be able to airbrush & blend that for you - check with a high-end dealer that sells pre-owned cars & see who they use for touch-ups.

[Billfitz]

I can't tell from the picture what it shows. Is there a dent there?

[John in VA]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

I can't tell from the picture what it shows. Is there a dent there?

I, too, thought the rock impact that caused the chip might have dented the area, resulting in the paint staying on the depressed area.

[kikcaffine]

Yeah time to invest in an air brush and some touch up paint. What grit sand paper were you using?

[cdown16]

Originally Posted by kikcaffine

Yeah time to invest in an air brush and some touch up paint. What grit sand paper were you using?

So no dent, it's flat. Was the very center was a rock chip I filled with paint. The rest around it seems like damage. I can't imagine I reached bare hood. I was using 2k grit while wet sanding.

Hoping airbrush may be the answer, way better than repainting the entire thing.

[Billfitz]

I can't see how you'd wear a round hole through the paint.

[kikcaffine]

Next time use 3500 grit, 2k is for sanding through clear (ie orange peel)

[Billfitz]

It's not the grit, it's the technique. I usually start with 800, go to 1200, 2000 and then 3000 before rubbing out. The trick, one only acquired with experience, is not to overdo it.

[kikcaffine]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

It's not the grit, it's the technique. I usually start with 800, go to 1200, 2000 and then 3000 before rubbing out. The trick, one only acquired with experience, is not to overdo it.

Man your brave to cut into a factory paint job with 800 grit.

[Billfitz]

Not brave, experienced. With a typical chip or scratch fill I might give it six to eight swipes with 800. With finer than 800 it takes so much sanding to take down the new paint that you can end up doing more removal of the existing finish than with the heavier grit.

[peopleschoice1]

Originally Posted by cdown16

So I'm a complete noob with wet sanding. I took on way too much of my car today. On the good note, most every chip I touched up and wet sanded turned out great. The biggest one unfortunately went the opposite.

So for context, I messed up by putting clear on my touched up spots after wet sanding. I then had to sand the clear off because it wouldn't polish out properly. I now don't know why I did this but it is what it is.

Here is what I'm left with on my hood. What am I looking at? It's not dull looking, yet it appears to be through the clear coat. Any help is greatly appreciated here. It's metallic mineral gray paint.

did you get it fixed?

[cdown16]

Originally Posted by peopleschoice1

did you get it fixed?

Not yet, got quoted $400 for the whole hood. I still need to check out a shop that airbrushes to see what they say.