Smoothing paint

[Pascal]

Hi,

I've just bought a 1970 moggy which has been recently resprayed with 2-pack polyurethane paint. The paintwork looks good however in some areas the surface is a bit like orange skin. Can this be improved using rubbing compound or is there a risk of making the paint dull? What grade of rubbing compound should I use?

Regards,
Pascal

[chickenjohn]

Not a good idea, unless you know how many layers they put on. If its orange peely, then its likely to be a cheap 2-pack blow over job before sale and just one or two coats and using G3 or simmilar may go through to the primer coat.

besides, to remove orange peel, you really need to start with fine wet and dry paper used wet.

One has to ask why was the car re-sprayed cheaply before sale?? to hide rust?

[Willie]

You can use 1200 grade wet and dry paper with plenty of water and taking great care near any edges but you need to be confident that there is a decent thickness of paint in the first place. Polyurethane??? never heard of that on a car before. The wet and dry MUST be used on a sanding block, not just your hands. After using the wet and dry you use T-cut or Rubbing Compound followed by a good quality polish.

[chickenjohn]

Thats the full name for 2-pack paint, I believe. Two part polyurethane.

After the wet and dry, you can remove the sanding marks with Farecla G3 paste, then polish up to a shine with t-Cut as Willie says, then use a wax polish.

However, unless you're sure they applied at least 4 coats of paint, I would not bother as you're likely to go through to the primer coat or worse to bare metal.

[Pascal]

Ok thanks for the advice. It's just one spot and not that bad so it will be safer to live with it...