Bodyprep Kirkham - How hard is the sanding ???

[Joe@KMS]

Blu427,

Sounds pretty easy when you break it down into the 9 simple steps eh???

It is mostly just a lot of time. The first grit of sandpaper is the most important. This is where you remove all of the file marks from the body and you can not rush this step. The 120 grit is aggressive enough that you can do some damage to your car in a hurry if you are not paying attention. (Nothing ruins your day like grinding a hole in your new aluminum body) The reason it takes most guys so much time is that they do not have the experience with bodywork/aluminum finishing. They get through with the first couple of grits and think they are making headway and THEN they start to see deep scratches that should have been taken out with the 120 and they have to go back over these areas and progress up through the steps of paper again. Once you get the big scratches out, with each progressive step of paper you just have to remove the "scratches" from the previous grit of paper. The other thing to keep in mind is that you are not just removing the scratches, that would be easy. If you were just getting rid of the scratches you can tip the sander up on edge and just blend them in. You have to be very careful to "feather" the scratch out into the panel so that you do not end up with a big wavy mirror.

Is it doable by someone who is conscientious and has the time? Yes. Have we had half finished projects come back to Provo for repair and completion? Yes.

Brettco,

Yes, you could do it for less and we have had customers do it for the cost of materials and their time. I have polished and brushed several cars and after paying for materials, electricity, shop space, taxes and then paying yourself and paying more taxes, I think it would be a tough way to make a living.