Hand Sanding Techniques

[Mike Phillips]

Hand Sanding Techniques

Here's a few tips for how to use a backing pad with your choice of sandpaper when hand sanding.

For this article we'll be using

#2500 Unigrit® Finishing Papers
Meguiar's E-7200 5 1/2" Sanding Backing Pad









There are two ways to fold your paper around the backing pad, which way you use is personal preference.

Wrapping an unfolded single sheet of paper around a backing pad















After wrapping your paper, sand in back & forth straight lines, don't sand in circles.

Don't hold the pad like this when sanding...



Don't hold the pad like this when you're sanding...



This is correct, hold the backing pad at about a 45% degree angle in
relationship to the direction you're moving your hand.










Wrapping a folded single sheet of paper around a backing pad.

First fold your paper in half...



Then fold it around your backing pad...




This is a little trickier to master as compared to simply wrapping an unfolded sheet around the backing pad but id does provide you with a uniform flat surface while sanding.





The other method has an edge of the paper under the sanding surface of the paper. Note that under the flat side of paper against the face of the backing pad there is the edge of the paper.

[RaskyR1]

Re: Hand Sanding Techniques

Hey Mike,

I'm not sure on the size of the Meguiars pad and paper, but with the 3M I've used you can also fold the sheet with 2 folds like a letter into an envolope (3 equal sections). This way there is no edge under the pad and it is still easy to use like the wrap method. If this doesn't work with the Meguiar's pad/paper feel free to remove my post.



Rasky

[BlueZero]

Re: Hand Sanding Techniques

You the man Mike! Thanks!

Do you sand in the same direction for all the passes? Or do some perpendicular, like all left to right or mix in some up and down.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Hand Sanding Techniques

Hey Mike,

I'm not sure on the size of the Meguiar's pad and paper, but with the 3M I've used you can also fold the sheet with 2 folds like a letter into an envelope (3 equal sections). This way there is no edge under the pad and it is still easy to use like the wrap method. If this doesn't work with the Meguiar's pad/paper feel free to remove my post.



Rasky

That's a full sheet size, half sheet would be to cut that full size piece of paper in half, then that would be a half-sheet size.

[RaskyR1]

Re: Hand Sanding Techniques

It's been a while for me.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Hand Sanding Techniques

You the man Mike! Thanks!

Do you sand in the same direction for all the passes? Or do some perpendicular, like all left to right or mix in some up and down.

There's a lot of different opinions on how to wet-sand and the directions to go, remember there's a difference between prep sanding, (before paint), and finish sanding, (after paint).

When it comes to finish sanding Meguiar's teaches to use back and forth motions usually sanding each panel from front to back as in the direction of the front of the car to the back of the car. Of course you also have to let the panel be your guide, that is if you're working on a narrow area then you sand in the direction of the length of the panel for that area.

Just as important as the direction you move your sanding pad is to do everything you can to work clean, that means clean shop, (sometimes hard to do), clean panel, clean supply of fresh water to spray on the panel, clean bucket of water to soak your papers and sanding blocks if you're also using these.

As for size of area to sand, you want to sand an area that you can insure equal material is being removed, that can be an average of about 16" to 20" square. If you have long arms you can certainly reach more area with longer strokes but the further away your hand gets from your body the less pressure you're likely to apply and thus you won't be sanding evenly and removing an equal amount of material throughout your stroke, so don't try to carve out too large of an area at one time.

Next week we'll try to take some shots showing a good pattern to follow for flat panels.

[Andy M.]

Re: Hand Sanding Techniques

I think I have seen that truck before.

Great article Mike!


Andy

[BlueZero]

Re: Hand Sanding Techniques

Thanks Mike!

[yalerd]

Re: Hand Sanding Techniques

Nice article Mike, thanks

[retrofinisher]

Re: Hand Sanding Techniques

Good photos Mike, step by step.

The areas of paper not used can be made to used for smaller jobs or detail spots.

One thing I avoid is folding both ways- it makes the corners protrude into paint surfaces and can make crevices.

Great info for all the FAQ's on wet sanding

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Hand Sanding Techniques

One thing I avoid is folding both ways- it makes the corners protrude into paint surfaces and can make crevices.

I've seen some very talented people use the paper this way and get great results, my personal preference is to wrap like this...





There is no perfect solution so it really comes down to personal preference. The important thing is to reach the goal without making a mistake...

[caseypayne69]

Re: Hand Sanding Techniques

Tomorrow is my first day to do a chip repair test on my worst black car? I purchased 1,500. Is that to aggressive?

[benhui86]

Re: Hand Sanding Techniques

how much pressure should I apply when sanding?

[Pro01]

Re: Hand Sanding Techniques

can i use the grit paper without using the sanding pad???

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Hand Sanding Techniques

can i use the grit paper without using the sanding pad???

Well, you can, but you probably shouldn't, and here's why: Without a backing pad of some sort you end up with very uneven pressure points from your fingertips. We've seen cases so severe that you could actually detect the finger marks in the sanded surface, and that's because even if you hold the sheet of sanding media flat against the length of your fingers, even with your fingers held close together, you aren't able to apply uniform pressure because of the area between your fingers. So you're putting pressure down with the length of your finger and cutting much effectively there than with the small space that still exists between the fingers. This can lead to what looks like a banding in the finish, or even a waviness that looks uneven.

If you can't find a dedicated sanding pad, find something similar that offers a bit of flex. A small block of wood is probably not the best because it wont' flex at all. A very firm sponge would be a better choice.