AboutWilliam Forster Expertise 22 year veteran, 2 years of vocational training. A.S.E. certified Master collision repair/refinish technician. I-CAR certified. 17 yrs. GM experience. I can answer most questions related to automotive body repairs, ranging from small scratch repairs all the way up to the most extensive collision repairs. I can expertly advise people on what to expect from their body shop experience, right down to what self repairs should, and should not, be done. Lastly, I can advise tricks and tips for classic car restoration, such as lead repairs. SORRY, I DO NOT DO ONLINE ESTIMATES OR GIVE PARTS PRICES!! BE PREPARED FOR THE CORRECT ANSWER- NOT THE ONE YOU WANT TO HEAR. I won't B.S. you, or sugar coat answers. Just plain, hard facts.
Experience 1983-85 vocational school training 1992 PPG certified refinish technician/ 1994-1996 Chevrolet certified Journeyman technician 1997-present ASE certified Master collision repair/refinish technician/estimator. 1998 I-car structural repair certification Past/Present clients Just about every major insurance company in NW Ohio
Question I have just finished painting my valiant wagon and found some very fine hair like cracks appearing along the edges of panels. Its clear over a metallic base.I at first thought they were scratches thet are so fine.Am i able to wet sand these out or is the clear damaged. I understand that the metallic can not be sanded as it will become blotchy in appearance. Just as an out there question. Can a metallic be wet sanded like a flat colour and then buffed as you would do if there was no clear on top.
cheers jason , Melb ,Aust
Answer Jason, i suspect you are seeing sand scratches from when you sanded the panels before painting. You should have used no coarser than 600 grit paper to sand the old finish or primer prior to painting. There is no repair for this. Silver metallic is very unforgiving to spray, every flaw, sand scratch, and spec of dirt shows up readily. Id it's the clear itself, and it's actually cracking, you mix-mixed the paint, or used incompatible products. You should always go start to finish with 1 company- If you use PPG primer, you need to use PPG sealer, paint, and clear with PPG hardeers and reducers. If you did all these things, about the only other thing it can be is over-application of clear. You need no more than 3 coats of clear, and don't flood the horizontal panels. Flooding usually results it solvent popping, not crazing- but I think it's a likely possibility, given your location.
