I know most of us avoid it like the plauge. My dad's car has some deep scraches and chips that I'd like to take out. He's thinking about just getting it resprayed, so I was thinking, what the hell, might as well try and colorsand it first if it's going to be painted anyways... right?

What are my chances of success? And how exactly do you colorsand?

See this link.

http://www.bettercarcare.com/articles.php?articleId=27

The article is written by David Bynon who is the founder of the autopia detailing site and the grand poobah of detailing.

That's an okay article if you're only trying to do one little scratch, or two. But it's pretty cheesy if you're talking about color sanding a whole car. Glue sandpaper dots to a pencil eraser? I don't think so.

Your best bet is to go to an automotive paint supply store and talk to them about what you are trying to accomplish. They should be able to tell you what is required (laborwise and supplywise) and then you can figure out whether it will be worth it. It's not hard to do, but kinda hard to just type out how. To do it properly is very time consuming, and that's just the sanding part.

You could also take it to a bodyshop and find out how much they would charge (I have no idea, since I get it done free), and whether it would even accomplish what you're after.

That's an okay article if you're only trying to do one little scratch, or two. But it's pretty cheesy if you're talking about color sanding a whole car. Glue sandpaper dots to a pencil eraser? I don't think so.

Your best bet is to go to an automotive paint supply store and talk to them about what you are trying to accomplish. They should be able to tell you what is required (laborwise and supplywise) and then you can figure out whether it will be worth it. It's not hard to do, but kinda hard to just type out how. To do it properly is very time consuming, and that's just the sanding part.

You could also take it to a bodyshop and find out how much they would charge (I have no idea, since I get it done free), and whether it would even accomplish what you're after.
Mr. Supremo,

First let's clarify and agree on something. COLOUR sanding and WET sanding have two totally different purposes.

Wet sanding is performed on small areas of the paint in order to perform touch ups on nicks and scratches.

Colour sanding is a process used on the entire surface of the car to remove orange peel, etc, DURING the painting process AT the bodyshop.

If you re-read Silverbeams post he uses the word colour sanding but he's actually asking about wet sanding. The article I directed him to IS perfect for what he wants to do.

Thanks for the link David, and sorry, yeah, I did call it the wrong thing. Shows you how much I know about the sanding to paint processes.

Well, at the couple of body shops I've worked at, wet sanding is for primer coats, color sanding is for paint. If the paint is so messed up/chipped, that you have to wet sand, it's usually beyond the novice state of 'touch up'.

Also, the difference between wet sanding and color sanding is only the grit of the sandpaper. ;)

Well, at the couple of body shops I've worked at, wet sanding is for primer coats, color sanding is for paint. If the paint is so messed up/chipped, that you have to wet sand, it's usually beyond the novice state of 'touch up'.

Also, the difference between wet sanding and color sanding is only the grit of the sandpaper. ;)
Yes, but there is a difference. And the author of the article is pretty clear about the fact he is referring to repairing small nicks and scratches, which is what silverbeam was asking about. :)

Yes, but there is a difference. And the author of the article is pretty clear about the fact he is referring to repairing small nicks and scratches, which is what silverbeam was asking about. :)

My mistake then. I thought the paint was bad enough to warrant thinking about a full paint job. Not just a 'touch up' paint job.

paint is bad enough to warrent a respray on the hood. I thought I'd give it a go first. I've always wanted to know how the process works anyways.

http://mail.roadfly.com/little740girl/E39front.jpg

this is what I'm dealing with. Also, there are some odd scratches both on the hood and the rear right door that I dont' have pictures of. Could have been a light keying incident. They aren't deep enough for me to get my nails into, but at the same time, rubbing compound doesn't faze them. The scratches are beyond me, both in how they got there, and why they won’t go away.

Can't see the picture.