A great repair job on a car means paying attention to details from start to finish. If you do a great job replacing body panels and fixing dents but your finish isn’t good it will seem like you didn’t do quality work. Sometimes, a great finish comes down to having the abrasives so you can get the results you want. Take a look at the kinds of abrasives you should keep on hand and the best ways to use them.
Why You Need Automotive Abrasives
When it comes to auto detailing, there are few things more essential than abrasives. They are the products that allow you to polish, sand and buff car parts to a smooth finish so they’re ready for the next step of the work. Without them, you’ll probably end up with uneven results that will leave everyone dissatisfied.
Best Times to Use Automotive Abrasives
There are different reasons to use different types of abrasives. You’ll need sandpaper, polishing pads, compound pastes and other products throughout your work in an auto shop, so it’s a good idea to keep a plentiful supply of them all on hand. You don’t want to be in the position of trying to make do with the wrong materials.
Different abrasives have different uses:
- Sandpaper: This option is used to remove paint, rust and other imperfections from a vehicle’s body. You’ll choose the grit of the sandpaper based on the job, with higher numbers indicating a finer grit. Coarse grit sandpaper (around 60 grit) is for heavy-duty sanding, while finer grits (above 200 grit) are for smoothing and polishing surfaces.
- Polishing pads: Like the name indicates, polishing pads are used to polish surfaces and buff out scratches and imperfections in a vehicle’s paint. They are typically made from foam or wool and come in different sizes depending on your needs.
- Compound pastes: Compound pastes are used to remove scratches and other imperfections from a vehicle’s paint. Similar to sandpaper, you will choose a grit that matches your needs. After applying compound paste, you will buff it out for a shiny finish.
All of these products help you achieve a professional result on your job.
Being Safe with Abrasives
When using automotive abrasives, safety should always be a top priority. When sanding or buffing, make sure to wear gloves, eye protection and a dust mask. This will help protect your skin, eyes and lungs from any dust released as you work.
It’s also critical to make sure you are in a well-ventilated area when using abrasives. The fine dust that is created as you sand down a surface needs somewhere to go, so you want to use a fan or venting system.
Storing your products, the right way will also make sure they work when you need them. Start by placing them in a cool and dry place. Moisture can mess up the grit or texture of your sandpaper or compounding paste, and heat can warp polishing pads.
Put Abrasives to Work in Your Shop
If you don’t have the abrasives you need or you have been working with subpar materials, it’s time for a change. Get all the abrasives you need from Rogo Fastener and improve the quality of your work.
