Paint prep with an SOS steel wool pad?

soul_sword34 · Post by **soul_sword34** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 6:17 pm

I ran out of 600 grit to prep before using primer on my new urethane parts. Can a commercial SOS pad work to give the primer something to bite into? Need help fast or wife will kill me.

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 7:51 pm

Well yes it could, but it depends on the grade of steel wool. An SOS pad is far too coarse and you'll see scratches through the paint that you put on. Go out and buy more paper.

Fuzzyneon · Post by **Fuzzyneon** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 8:37 pm

More paper!

soul_sword34 · Post by **soul_sword34** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 9:01 pm

Its just a standard SOS pad that you find in the grocery store with the blue soap.

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 8:43 pm

Its too coarse. Buy paper.

jake_tim · Post by **jake_tim** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 10:36 pm

......or if you like deep scratches, use the SOS pad.

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 8:40 am

SOS pad...the "textured" look.

kornholio788 · Post by **kornholio788** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:01 am

Just go buy some more paper. The sos pad will do the shittiest job you could think of.

But hey maby you like doing things twice. I dunno.

ZeroChad · Post by **ZeroChad** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 12:03 pm

The first time we did my bumper with paper before the primer, it flaked off and pealed like no other.

We switched over to scuff pads like the one below and the bumper has yet to flake from stone chips. (same paint and clear).

kornholio788 · Post by **kornholio788** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 12:36 pm

Are you honestly going to try and tell me that paper isn't as good as 7447s? Yes the 7447s work nice. But paper is actually better. Just because your work didn't last doesn't mean it was the papers fault. Was that first bumper bare plastic? New bumper? What was the second bumper? Was a sealer layed down? Adhesion promoter? Flex agent? What grits did you use? What grit was your final grit? Wet or dry? Are you sure you know you got all the spots? What type of paint are you using? I do bumpers all the time and never have had a problem. In your case it is a user error.

If you are really going to try and prove me wrong that scuffies are better than paper you better have a good argument here buddy.

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 3:04 pm

Also, how well was the part cleaned/prepped after sanding?

Don't get me wrong, I like 7440 pads because they work better in curved areas for the novice body man (like me

), but paper is the way to go for most jobs.

soul_sword34 · Post by **soul_sword34** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 5:36 pm

Well I was impatient and used the SOS pad with great results. Very smooth adhesion primer coat, base coat and finally Upol #1 clear. I'll have pics up later after polishing. As far as the SOS pad goes I didn't get scratches deeper than 1000 grit would have done. If it chips off later, which I doubt, I can always paint again. Only problem is the tempurature around here is dipping into the 40's.

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 8:56 pm

You didn't get scratches deeper than 1000 grit? Then you must not have pushed down on the pad, since an SOS would give you scratches more like a 320 grit scratch.

And I agree scuff pads are great for some things, horrid for others but there is no substitute for wetsanding with a block (soft/hard).

ZeroChad · Post by **ZeroChad** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 2:52 pm

I do bumpers all the time and never have had a problem. In your case it is a user error.

...

I was just relating a similar experience that I had. And possibly a quick solution to buying more paper if he had one around. My dad repairs salvaged cars for a living. He usually does use paper to prep the bumper. He does a damn good job and they never peal or flake like with what happened to mine.

Both bumpers were exactly the same. Ordered from Sherman's Auto Parts. We preped and painted it the same way he's always done. I don't remember the exact details of it. All I'm saying is that in this instance we had better results using the scuff pad.

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 1:46 am

LilSparkPlug wrote: but there is no substitute for wetsanding with a block (soft/hard).

...that's what she said?

well, I'm interested to see how it turns out. Honestly paper > sos any day... easy answer.. But still, I wanna see the results