Color sanding with a orbital sander but i got pigtails

R

racin69z

Hello folks. This is my first post. I used universal clear on the last truck I did and am very pleased. I just ordered the clear for my next 2 jobs.

I have always hand sanded when I color sand. The last job i did i decided to step out of the stone ages and use an orbital for scratch refinement after i had the peel hand cut flat. It was painted with 3 wet coats of universal clear over red single stage

I used my hitachi electric random orbital plugged into a gfci cord. I damp sanded using a spray bottle of water with a couple drops of dawn in it. I used red label abrasive wet dry paper 1500 grit with a 1/2" foam interference pad. I wound up getting a bunch of pigtails. I dont think I had a ton of trash in the job that was drug through, so I was almost thinking it was the clear balling up.

What abrasive and methods are you guys that are having success using?

Thanks
Lynn
 
Pigtails are more if the clear is soft. Letting it harden will help.
Running the sander at a slow speed helps too.
I've even noticed sometimes fresh clear sands easier if you scrub it with a dish detergent first, like Dawn.
Add a couple drops of Dawn to your spray bottle always helps to sand clear too, by hand or machine.
 
we just went through this with another member here regarding the red abrasives. im not sure exactly what you are using but you need to use finishing film not regular 1500g paper. there is a big difference. regular p1500 will give you scratches that are far harder to work and buff out than a finishing film that is meant for color sanding and finishing clear coat.
 
I looked up what I used. I think it is finishing film. But, it was an inexpensive brand. Not sure if a cheap brand would cause pigtails. My electric sander only runs WFO. Maybe that's an excuse to buy an air sander. What are you guys using?
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_20200526-202533_Samsung Internet.jpg
    Screenshot_20200526-202533_Samsung Internet.jpg
    69.4 KB · Views: 287
I just wouldn't trust a cheap brand of paper on something I just spent a small fortune and worked my a** off on. I don't think either one of those are finishing paper, and wouldn't trust it advertised as such. The final step of sanding is not the time to try and save money. The combination of junk sandpaper and WFO sander is a recipe for disaster, IMO. Lookup the wetsanding/polishing/detailing section under Forums and you will get any answer you need.
 
Last edited:
Maybe that's an excuse to buy an air sander. What are you guys using?

I have both and I prefer my electric over the air.
But keep in mind there are lots of differences in electric orbital sanders
that are designed for different applications.
Some are much more aggressive than others.
Orbit size and rotation speed both make a big difference in its behavior.
I prefer the 90 degree type over the palm type which
is what is also known and sold as a polisher by Porter Cable.
There are a lot of choices out there. Here's what I use,
it also finish sands really well.
 
I have both and I prefer my electric over the air.
But keep in mind there are lots of differences in electric orbital sanders
that are designed for different applications.
Some are much more aggressive than others.
Orbit size and rotation speed both make a big difference in its behavior.
I prefer the 90 degree type over the palm type which
is what is also known and sold as a polisher by Porter Cable.
There are a lot of choices out there. Here's what I use,
it also finish sands really well.
You use that for all of your machine sanding? I use a DeWalt palm sander. I find I can use a bit more pressure if needed.
 
You use that for all of your machine sanding?

Mostly for clear coat sanding, Sometimes for feather edging a spot,
it's good for those "finish sanding" tasks and not aggressive enough
for most of my body work sanding.
I do use a hand block a lot.
 
Are Makita sanders good? I had their tools, and I was satisfied, but I don't know about the sander. I did not even know that they were making one until I read some article about sanders online. They were really praising the one made by Makita and it looked like it has all of the important features that sanders should have. I will look around a bit more, but I am 90% sure that I am getting that sander. I have some work to do on my car and I want to do it myself. I like working on the car and every time something needs fixing I am the one who does it.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Another thing about pig tails with a RO sander.
Moving the sander back and forth fast will create pig tails.
Most instructions that come with RO sanders warn against moving it to fast.
The sander can't cancel out the swirls that way.
You can't go back and forth as fast as like when using a sanding block by hand.
Slower is better.
 
Wow, thank you, I didn't know this information. I'm a beginner in this area. Recently I bought an orbital sander from Bob Smith Tools and I did some projects and to some of them I got pigtails too. What can recommend me to do?
 
If you are dry sanding you need to keep your disc clean by wiping it with scotch brite pad, Don't try to over use a disc when it is wore out chunk it in the trash.
 
Back
Top