so i got a used hood but it had overspray, its supposed to be a black hood but it looks kinda greyish because of the over spray so i attempted to use rubbing compound with a buffer and it didnt take it off, next i attempt to wet sand it with 1500 grit sand paper, and i do a little piece first, the water running from he sand paper was kinda milky (not black though) but after i dried the section i wets anded its a bunch of the micro scratches and it looks gray(like an opaque gray). i put on rubbing compound followed by wax in just that area and you can still see it not as bad but definitely noticeable, now my question is did i mess up the paint and have to get it re-sprayed or am i using the wrong grit? any help is appreciated

 

No, you just need to get a polish that cuts more. Either that or get some 2000 grit and go over the area and then polish again. 1500 could definitely damage the clear if you used too much pressure or did too much, but you'd know because the sandpaper would end up the color of the car. I'd guess you just need to close the gap between the paper and the polish.

If you can't get it, PM me and I'll hook you up.

 

well the sand paper is definitely not the color of the paint i dont really think i used too much pressure, i was thinking of just taking it to a professional and have them look at it, but i will give the 2000 grit paper a try tomorrow hopefully it helps, i just dont want to mess up the paint on it. thanks for the tips btw

 

I like to finish off with 3000 grit before I use my Compound. Also you will need a machine polisher to completely remove the scratches left over from wetsanding.

If you don't have one, I would recommend getting a flexible sanding block. If you wetsand by hand without the block it is real easy to wetsand unevenly.

 

i have a pretty flexible block, its made out of pretty flexible rubber, unless they have some that are really flexible, so for the sanding is the opaque gray kind of normal? and i should try it with a bigger grit paper? i have a random orbit polisher so i could use that afterwards, but i take it that once you finish the wet sanding the paint should look a somewhat shiny black right? i just stopped because the part where i wet sanded was an opaque gray and you could see lots of little scratches

 

just polish more...the reason the water was a little milky was because you were sanding the clear off, if you had black coming off you'd be in trouble. just go get some progressive polishes and spend some time on it. dont burn it though

 

ok so at least i know i didnt mess things up, but what has me worried is the part i did looks like there is a **** load of scratches like tiny ones and makes the paint look a gray opaque color, is that something that can be fixed with a finer grit as long as i dont get to the base coat?

 

I've removed mild overspray with rubbing alcohol before.

 

I don't see how rubbing alcohol is going to remove cured overspray.

As for the gray color after wet sanding, that's perfectly normal. That is always going to happen whenever you wet sand.

What you should do is what Juztang said, see if you can locate some 3000 wet grit. Make sure you keep the area wet with fresh water, use very light pressure and then follow up with some polishes you can apply by hand. Keep in mind it's never going to look perfect or really up to your standards until you get your hands on a machine.

 

il give the 3000 girt a try hopefully it works il post up some pics as soon as i can