Auto body repair & detailing: Scuffing the paint, sand paper, definitions

Question
Hello, Gary!

 My truck has been scratched and dented, so I need some new paint. I took an auto body class at a community college, but unfortunately it really covered more of aligning doors and bumpers, and only some about paint. I think the only thing we learned about dent repair was taking a dented fender and repairing it from the back side with a hammer and dolly. Back to the point! The bed of the truck has been sanded down with 180 grit to repair scratches on the truck. The rest of it basically has some dents and dings that I'd like to get rid of. What is the best way to scuff the paint so I can reprimer and get new paint on it? I don't think there are any other dents that break through the bondo. Thanks much!



Andrew

Answer
Hi Andrew,

I would recommend 180 or 220 grit before priming with a primer surfacer. This will give you an adequate scratch for the primer to adhere and will be a good base for subsequent sealer, base-coat, or single stage finish.

Something else I would recommend that you do to continue your education is get some knowledge on the lingo used in the industry. The lingo can change depending on the area of the country you are in or even the person you may be talking to. I would recommend getting some of the basics down. To help situations such as yours I compiled an article called "Automotive Refinish Paint Terms and Definitions Glossary" last year. This glossary isn't exhaustive but it does cover a large majority of terms and definitions. You can check it out at the following link:

http://www.repaintsupply.com/glossary_of_automotive_paint_t.cfm