Looking for some clearcoat wet sand/ buffing tips

[wally426ci]

I have some paint work to do on the Challenger and my truck this coming season and I need some input. I've never attempted buffing with a wheel, I did it by hand which sucks. I have a buffing machine, but I would like to know what you guys use or would use as in wheel material, compounds, sand paper incraments, etc.... maybe how many coats of clear you lay down as well.

Here is the hood of the truck after fresh paint, now it has a foot of snow on it.

  Thanks!

before and after, haven't buffed it yet. Pretty much turned out like factory orange peel so i left it for now. I have a few "bugs" in the clear so I need to reshoot a few spots once i paint other areas.

[Chlngrcrzy]

 

[Mentally Challenged]

How many coats of clear did you put on the hood? If it is not enough clear, you sand and buff through the clear. I usually go wit 3 coats of paint, and 3 coats of clear.

[wally426ci]

Well I stopped at 2 b/c of the few bugs and a little spot that I don't know what happened. As soon as I cleared over a spot I noticed a darl line about an inch long but it was too late. I planned on wet sanding, then color touch up, then a couple more coats.

Id normally do 3 coats too. 

[farmboy70]

Everyone has a different opinion on buffing and it depends on a lot of things like, how much clear,what type of products, what type of buffer ect.
But fast and easy, is DA with 2000, then 3000,(hand wet sand curves and body lines) buff with 3M Perfect-it 3 with wool pad. Then foam pad with 3M Foam Pad Polish.
You can denib with a denib file or stone for the really big stuff first. Then go to the above.
Now I'm sure others will have a different system and all may work well, it's like I said depends.
Dave

[wally426ci]

Thanks Dave, so wool pad with 3m rubbing compound? or do you use the same compund for both pads. 

[farmboy70]

The foam pad  and foam polish is to remove small compounding marks.
We use a double sided 3M buffing pad for compound.
Dave