I have a 1970 f100. The paint is original and is very dull and faded. Looking to wet sand it to bring back the shine. Looking for suggestions. I did a portion on the truck using 400 grit to 600 grit to 1500 grit then rubbed a compound in with a clean towel by hand. came out okay. looking to see whats the best method.

The first picture is before i started i took some soap and water and cleaned the upper portion of the bed. the part near the cab is the driest part thats what the whole bed looks like when dry. Second picture i was just doing different sections. The third is the close up of the paint dry after wet sanding. Then the last pictures is after compounding majority then wiping off with clean towel. the last picture is of the truck a year ago

 

You'll need to go beyond 1500...


I suggest a low-speed mechanical buffer (like a Makita), foam bonnets, and use of Meguiar's Diamond Cut, then Glaze, and my personal preference, hand-applied Mother's pure carnauba wax.

 

So instead of hand sanding, go with your method? If I were to keeping going beyond 1500 what would you suggest

 

400 grit is going to take a lot of paint off really fast. You are also putting really deep scratches in the paint surface that is going to take a ton of work to get back out.

Have you thought of just hitting the stock paint with a good compound polish and wax? I have had extremely good results doing this, especially on old single stage paint.

The thing you need to be extra careful of with old paint is there is not a ton of it in spots on the truck and you can go through it really fast with wetsanding.

In your photos I can see a ton of scratches from the wet sanding you did. Not knocking you, just letting you know what I am seeing.

Sean

 

No i am looking for suggestions , I have never wetsanded before. My uncle has and he suggested that. We are not professionals. I want to bring that paint back just don't know where to start so please any suggestions would be much appreciated!

 

Heck yeah.... Using a rotary buffer is the only way to make the scratches finer and finer... wetsanding only goes so far. Basically, the scratches need to be so fine that that they are filled by wax or that they are eliminated completely. That is what "cutting and buffing" is all about.

 

Subscribing as I been wanting to know the best way to bring back the original paint also.

 

SKIP THE SANDING
use a wool pad to cut old faded paint off , then switch to a foam with a polish to get shine back .
be careful as you are taking layers of paint off with each step (reason to skip sanding) Color sanding is normally just to remove imperfections/ runs/ dirt in paint

 

Skip the sanding, you are removing paint and not just oxidation. I would use a wool pad ,but if you don't have experience I would suggest foam. Use a random orbital sander like the porter cable or flex. Use a cutting agent like megs diamond cut and a heavy cut pad. Move up towards polish. Fyi your wet sand techniques are adding more scratches. I suggest using either products from adams polish or the chemical guys.

 

I did this to my truck recently with pretty good results.

Here is what I learned:
1) Do the least you can to get good results. If it just needs a little polishing compound to bring the shine back there's no need to remove paint with wet sanding.
2) Start with no rougher than 600 grit, anything coarser will take too much paint away. Work your way to 2000 grit then polish. I used Turtle Wax heavy duty rubbing compound then TW light polishing compound.
3) not all areas of the truck need the same treatment. My hood needed 600 to 2000 grit wet sand and polish while the doors and bed needed only 2000 grit wet sand and polish.
4) Buy the appropriate sandpaper and plenty of it. Tear it down to appropriate sizes when needed. Keep a spray bottle handy to re-wet your work area as needed.
4) Sand up to ridges and high spots first and hit the ridges and high spots last and lightly as these will tend to wear through to primer fast. Ask me how I know that.
5) A buffing machine, even a rather cheap one, will save you some sore muscles.

Hope this helps. Post pics of your progress.

 

3M Perfect-it is pricey but it does a great job of removing oxidation and scratches finer than P1200. Use a soft cloth or buffer, the finish you get is amazing.

 

if you can find the 3M perfect it in three pack compound,micro finish and polish it's normally a better deal .

 

I'd think I would have first tried using Clay Bar by Mothers, Dang never want to sand old paint to bring back a shine, It just needs a good cleaning by removing the oxidation. As oxidation is the only thing that has turn the paint dull. Just HD rubbing compound would have broth back the shine then hit it polish & buff it out good put a coat od wax on it.
Orich .

 

I've used this in the past with success.

 

I've used tranny fluid in a pinch, sure makes it smell good too!