I am planning on painting the hood of my car. I was told by someone that I needed to wet sand my hood before I paint it. Would something like this work?

http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/p-12829-15974.aspx

 

Could work okay but a spray bottle with a touch of soap for lubrication in the water works just as well.

I also like to presoak my paper in a bucket until I need it.

 

Oh forget about that, I would buy just a regular sanding block and have a bucket of regular water. The important thing is having the correct grit and type of sand paper. You are looking for 3M Wet or Dry, anything between 600-1000 grit. But typically a wet sand is post paint, such as when you are getting dirt out of the clear.

 

if you're going to repaint your hood with you base coat clear coat, then a bucket of water, soap, and a half hard/half soft sanding pad would do great. i personally use 3m wet or dry. start with 400 grit. sand down the entire hood. make sure you sand evenly. then spray your base coat and clear coat.

 

You dont necessilary have to use wet paper, a dry paper is fine. Sand the hood complete with 400-500 grit if you are going to paint the hood complete.

Profession: Autobody tecnician.

 

The only REAL body part I have painted was a door and I didnt wetsand before paint. I drysanded it, than after spraying and clearing I wetsanded it. I think thats how I did it? I followed that book, how to paint your car lol came out really good so, no complaints here.

 

I'd use a waterhose and 3M paper.It makes the job go a little faster since you don't have to keep wetting the paper.Using soap can help get any wax residue off the paint before it shows up as "fisheyes" in your
(what you thought was) finished paint job.Grit depends on how much paint you want to remove.Remember,once its gone it can't be put back on! Just starting out without much experience,I'd use nothing coarser than 400 and then you'd better be carefull around any edges.600 would be even better.Nobody has ever said they used too fine of a grit paper.Surface prep is 90% of the outcome.
Wet sanding just really makes the paper last longer without loading up with paint residue.

 

+1

I just painted my hood and no wetsanding was needed... 500 grit..Power sander..

I think it looks just about perfect...

Profession: Secretary.... Hahaha That doesnt mean I dont know anything about paint

 

wet sanding before you paint is like wiping before you poop

 

no wetsanding needed - hit with 800, no primer, adhension promote it and spray it