How to blend paint stripe?

browneye253

I've just finished painting my cart and I did a two tone black and orange with a silver stripe separating the two. It looks good but when you rub your fingers from the orange to the black you can feel a ridge where the orange and black are higher than the silver.

What is my best option to fix that? I'm thinking very light wet sanding?

Also whats the best way to touch up the edges of the stripe where the colors bled under the tape? My thought on this was to grab a small paint brush.

Thanks for the help.

BGW

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master66

So one quick question. How many coats of clear did you apply?

browneye253

When this question was posted I had not applied any clear. I have since applied 3 coats of clear and plan to do my sanding on the clear instead of the base coat. Someone else mentioned I'd probably just mess up the base and end up repainting anyways.

After applying the clear the ridge on the stripe isn't as bad. I'm planning to do some wet sanding this evening to try and correct some orange peel issues. After I do that I'll see how it looks and if I'm feeling adventurous I might apply a few more coats to just the stripe to get it raised up some.

The paint looked pretty nice before I did the clear so I'm crossing my fingers a wet sand and buff will get it back to a decent shine.

master66

Well with that said it is a good thing you didn't try to sand the base coat because if you are using a base clear system you would have sanded your color right off and ruined everything you have done. You are correct on wet sanding the clear to remove the ridge between the 3 color coats. With 3 coats of clear you should be able to remove the ridge without having to re clear. If you wet sand it correctly you also should be able to remove your orange peel without having to re apply more clear "depending on how bad the orange peel is and how raised the ridge between the stripes are. Just make sure you don't sand through the clear or you have created a whole different issue.

browneye253

That makes me feel even better! I'm going to start with some 1500 for the wet sanding does that seem like the right starting point? I was going to do 1500 then finish with some 2000 or maybe stop with 1500 depending on how it looks.

master66

That is perfect.

master66

so the finer the grit you sand with in the end the easier the buffing. Take your pick, more sanding or more buffing. And remember don't sand anywhere you cannot safely get your buffer in to. Like inside corners you could easily burn through if you hit the paint with the edge of the buffer. Just food for thought.

duramax

I would also use a flat rubber block to wrap the sand paper around DONT sand with your fingers. when it looks all dull & no sheen stop then buff. use lots of water when sanding if you hear a squeak its dirt under the sand paper stop & wash off it will put a deep scratch in the paint you wont be able to buff out.

duramax

OMG I just noticed all the rattle cans in the back ground. did you use a spray gun or all those cans? clear coat in a can is much thinner I would start with 2000 & don't sand much if you used rattle cans

master66

Wow good catch Duramax I didn't even see that. He is correct that rattle can clear is much thinner so be very careful. I was under the assumption you used a paint gun with a base coat clear coat system. Again good eye Duramax.