Sanding primer

[stephen hollier]

I use automotive primer what grit sand paper do you use? i have been using 400 grit and wet sand.

Thanks for the help

[Mark Scarborough]

lacquer or catalyzed,,
regarless, you could start with 240, go to 320 then finish with 400,, the courser paper you start with, the straighter the resultant surface will be

[Tim Wescott]

Mark, I was going to say that myself, but it's been so long I couldn't remember if it applied over open bays.

Do you really start with 240 over open bays, or do you start finer?

[Mark Scarborough]

depends, I start with what I need to use to get rid of the testure I am getting rid of,, it takes what it takes,, if your primer is nice and smooth with no orange peal, then 320 would be fine, if you have orange peal, ( or grapefruit skin)  sometimes its better to hit it a good one shot with 240 to cut the tops off,, My avenger was finish sanded with 320,, no lie,, that was my final sanding on the surfacer,, because I knew I was spraying a sealer coat over it and that would hide the 320 scratches,,
OBTW, next column,, sandpaper

[Allan Perret]

What Mark said sounds real close to what I do.  
I do it dry, wet sanding at the primer stage is too messy.  Much easier to blow or wipe off the sanding dust.
I sand the primer/surfacer to 320, then shoot a clear coat and sand that to 400~600 before going to color coat.  
I never do any wet sanding till I get to color, trim, and clear coats.

Steve, you going to Dallas contest ?

[stephen hollier]

Thanks guys it's been awhile since I finished a model.
Allan- My current plans are to attend Dallas. I will keep you informed if things change. How about you?

[Allan Perret]

Thanks guys it's been awhile since I finished a model.
Allan- My current plans are to attend Dallas. I will keep you informed if things change. How about you?

I'm a strong maybe right now.  Depends if I get someone else to come along.  Also plan to watch wind & weather forecast and cancel at last minute if I dont like what I see.

[john e. holliday]

Last Sunday must have been windy nation wide.   I want to thank those that stayed home because of the wind.  I would not have gotten first if a few would have showed up.   Jim Kraft was there, but the doctor has him on limited exercise/activity.   His lovely wife was keeping a good eye on him too. 

Now back to the subject I did a wet sanding job on one plane years ago.  Never again.  After blowing dust off plane, I use a slightly damp rag to wipe it down.  220 grit for most of my sanding,  guess that is why it takes so long.   ALso a good sanding block of appropiate size.