Sanding down fairings advice

[GSXReater]

I bought some fairings with scratches which i want to repaint.

What sandpaper should i used to take off all the paint?

I want to take it down to bare plastic (oem plastics) so what should I use?

Thanks.

[feckless]

depends on what size of area you are talkin about.
if small area just use wet n dry sandpaper and dip it in a cup of water with a tiny bit of washing up liquid in.
if a large area i would reccomend a drill type orbital attachment tool

[GSXReater]

Im talking 2 whole side panels.

If i use something like orbital sander then what coarseness shoukd the paper be?

[feckless]

start with 800 grit then use 1200 between coats of paint

[stirlinggaz]

hi,
whenever i have sanded down fairings, i've done it all by hand.
using 200 or 400 wet & dry, with a sanding block.
but i wouldnt bother attempting to remove all the old paint, just smooth it down, with 400 being as rough as i would go.
then primer.
might get away with 800, buy a pack of assorted & see what works best.
depends on how deep the scratches/gouges are.
cheers,
GAZ

[GSXReater]

I want to remove all the paint as it has 2 colours. 1 of the fairing had got some deep scratces.

[stirlinggaz]

hi,
still no need to remove ALL the old paint.
just a good rub down & use some hi-build plastic primer which covers up quite a lot, &/or filler for REALLY deep gouges.
cheers,
GAZ

[ZRX61]

Feckless, STFU.

[stirlinggaz]

[ZRX61]

[stirlinggaz]

& how the fuck is sanding down a fairing & giving it a coat of primer gonna fuck said fairing?
at worst he makes a bad job of it.
he can start again.
we are not all experts with access to proffessional eqipment.
some people have to make do with a pack of assorted wet & dry & some aerosols.
& instead of being rude & resorting to namecalling me, who only offered my advice, why not give the guy the benefit of your superior experience?

[ZRX61]

[ZRX61]

[stirlinggaz]

my apologies.
as your post came straight after mine, i presumed you were calling me feckless & telling me to stfu.
i'd forgotten there was actually someone called "feckless" lol
taken out of context, again my apologies.
i shouldnt be so touchy...
probably something to do with this engine rebuild not going the way i want it.

[carlperkins00...]

400grit wet and dry + bowl of lightly soapy water..
sand down the fairing so its kind of smooth..
then use 600grit and repeat..
maybe then 800 if you want..
spray plastic primer..
spray light coats of paint with a quick rub with 2000grit in between to take away lumps..
spray a few coats of laquer on to protect paint..

if you want a semi-pro job... after you done all that.. lightly over the finished panel with 2000grit wet&dry, then use the 2 polishing compounds mixed lightly with water to remove every last speck of excess paint, then buff..

this will leave you with a finish that its as smoothe as glass

if its your 1st time, dont bother with the polishing bit.

hope this helps. Carl

[tutton]

I personally disagree with all the posts so far on method,
if i was taking it back id use 120 or 180 on a da sander,
fill the gouges with filler, block sand with 80 to shape, smooth off filler till 240 grit, primer, rub down primer with 320 using a guidecoat, till smooth quick blast with wet and dry 800, and into the booth for shooting with some colour
____________________
Past: '05 Peugeot XPS '99 Aprillia RS125 '94 FZR600R
Current: '02 ZX636 A1P '51 CCM R30

[Frost]

Pretty much agreed with the post just above this one.

Everything needs to be done in stages going from low grit using 80 to fix areas around damage & shape fiberglass repairs, then using gradually finer grits to smooth out the damage untill you get to about 400 grit. Once you have to the damage to the 400 grit stage rub down the whole panel with it so the primer can key in.

Use 800 grit on the primer to get it ready for the colour, then 1200 on the colour to get it ready for laquer, then 1200 & 2000 on the laquer.

[feckless]

[carlperkins00...]

^^ good on ya!, i dont see why people offend or try to piss others off on BCF. shows that they are just pricks.

[stirlinggaz]

Hi,
this happens every time someone asks about painting fairings, lol
you get various reples, usually split into 2 camps :
1 : the diy/amatuer : diy methods, some of which are crap, some of which are ok & some which are half decent.
2 :the "pro's" or perfectionists or those who paint for a living.
who tell anything else will be crap, apart from doing what they suggest.
problem is, most folks dont have access to da discs,spray booths,ovens never mind compressors!
so you;ve just got to try & get a decent looking finish with whatever you have.
if its only a one off, a packet of assorted wet & dry paper, a sanding block (or block of wood) & some aerosols will give an ok finish IF the preparation is good.
i bought a cheap compressor a year or 2 ago & its been a worthwhile investment.
got myself a hvlp gun, (cheap off ebay) & now buy my paint from a car paint place.
i have to say that most paint jobs i have done, look ok.
i suppose it all comes down to: how serious an attempt at painting is it?
is it worth shelling out for all that equipment?
or would it be easier just to pay someone to do it?
the original poster asked about "sandpaper" & taking all the old paint off.
think we can all agree on the preparation.
heavier grade to shape /flatten down filler.
finer grade after that, before pimer.
then finer between coats.
extra fine then lacquer.
cheers,
GAZ

[plugger147]

[ZRX61]