Bondo / Priming / Painting Question

thefader

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I just got done putting Bondo on the nicks and gouges in a nintendo cabinet i have... Now I'm ready to sand, Ive read countless threads about this, but i cant find what grain you guys use.. I have 120, and 200 Here, and 400 for hand sanding.

Do I: Bondo, sand 120, Prime, sand 120, Prime, sand 220, and then roll on 4 coats?

Also, Should I Sand the front areas that are fine, or just the cabinet sides?

Also, will spraying on black work for the inside areas / top?

Thanks for being patient and helping me guys.
 
I'm in the bondo/sand/paint process of doing my second nintendo cabinet this week. What I've been doing is: bondo, sand down with 120 then 220, repeat as necessary. When you sand the primer, you probably don't want to sand down with 120, because it will likely take off a lot of primer, and you could go right thru it in spots and have to prime again. 220 is probably fine. 300+ would be better.

The last time when I primed, I wet sanded with 400 to get it smooth before i painted and got good results.
 
I sand the bondo with 150 till it gets close to flat then use 220 to feather the edges till it is flat and smooth.
I don't use any coarser grit unless I had a big repair and used lost of bondo.
Remember the more coarse girt you use the heavier the scratches you have to remove.
I use 220 between prime coats then 320 for a final sand for painting.
I then use 400 between paint coats.
I like to wet sand the final sand because the paper clogs too fast dry.
I sand a small area and wipe dry so I can keep the water in control.
 
I FIRST used a belt sander, but learned my lesson that its to tough to keep even pressure, so I purchased a decent Orbital sander... Problem Is i can only find hook and loop sand pads in 80, 120, and 220 grit.
 
I FIRST used a belt sander, but learned my lesson that its to tough to keep even pressure, so I purchased a decent Orbital sander... Problem Is i can only find hook and loop sand pads in 80, 120, and 220 grit.

A belt sander?:eek:
As far as the orbital sander,just buy sheets of sand paper and cut pieces to fit it.
I like to use a block and wet sand the cab before paint,as long as the cab is not made out of particle board. Then it is all dry sand.
I use an orbital for the prime coats and a block for around the edges and spots that an orbital might miss.
 
I just use a hand sander block... a block of rubber that holds the sandpaper, nothing electric. It took about an hour and a half to sand both sides and the front. Also, i invested 65 cents in a spray bottle. Makes the job a lot easier.
 
DeWalt orbiatal sander connected to a shop vac. Great tool and the vac makes itr soooo much cleaner.

WTF is a wet sander???

7545_Hutchins_orbital_wet_sander_lrg.jpg
 
I just use a block and a bucket of water.
I dunk the block into the bucket to get the primer buildup off the block.
 
Really? What's the difference in quality?

I'd think the H2O would damage the cabinet...no?

I haven't had any problem wet sanding my cabs.
I initially use an orbital dry then go wet once primer is down.
Mine are all plywood and not MDF.
I would not use water if it was MDF.
I keep a towel handy to wipe up the water so it doesn't sit too long on the cab.
I hate dry sanding because pieces of residue build up into little chunks and stick to the sandpaper and create scratches.
This happens even though the primer is the sandable kind and is properly cured.
 
I haven't had any problem wet sanding my cabs.
I initially use an orbital dry then go wet once primer is down.
Mine are all plywood and not MDF.
I would not use water if it was MDF.
I keep a towel handy to wipe up the water so it doesn't sit too long on the cab.
I hate dry sanding because pieces of residue build up into little chunks and stick to the sandpaper and create scratches.
This happens even though the primer is the sandable kind and is properly cured.

Hmmmm...Is that the only benefit?
I'm totally intrigued now.
 
Hmmmm...Is that the only benefit?
I'm totally intrigued now.

I think the surface is a lot smoother and wet sanding uses less sand paper.
You have to throw away the sandpaper when it gets too clogged.
I also get tired of scraping the chunks off the paper with a putty knife when dry sanding.
 
I think the surface is a lot smoother and wet sanding uses less sand paper.
You have to throw away the sandpaper when it gets too clogged.
I also get tired of scraping the chunks off the paper with a putty knife when dry sanding.

Ok, I see.
Yeah, I don't usually have that problem with my DeWalt orbital sander because I can hook up a Shop Vac to it and it sucks up all the particles as I sand.
The only time I have the stuck particles is if I'm sanding paint that hasn't fully cured.
 
Ok, I see.
Yeah, I don't usually have that problem with my DeWalt orbital sander because I can hook up a Shop Vac to it and it sucks up all the particles as I sand.
The only time I have the stuck particles is if I'm sanding paint that hasn't fully cured.

Do what ever you are comfortable with,either will work.
I used to work at a place where we made painted furniture and the paint and primer used needed a catalyst and was put in a heated room to cure.
The sand paper still clogged.
 
Do what ever you are comfortable with,either will work.
I used to work at a place where we made painted furniture and the paint and primer used needed a catalyst and was put in a heated room to cure.
The sand paper still clogged.

Thanks,
I really appreciate the info. I love hearing about different methods.

Thanks again,
ERIC
 
Thanks,
I really appreciate the info. I love hearing about different methods.

Thanks again,
ERIC
Here is The way i do It. Yes I know what i am talking about, I Own a collision shop.
Also a wood worker by trade.
Wood, Anykind With Water IS A BIG NO NO !!
Bondo
36 grit rought it out close bondo only.
80 grit closer to the edges just a light feathering into the outer edges.
180 smooth it all out and primer her up.
DRY ONLY.
 
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