Taylor Imel, Mirka Technical Specialist, has sanded in thousands of collision centers and knows the process well. Taylor shared his tips and techniques with ColorSource on how to perform better, more efficiently, and with fewer re-dos.
START WITH A CLEAN SURFACE
Remove all contaminants and grease and grime. This will help to extend the life of your abrasives.
KEEP THE REPAIR AREA SMALL
Sand only 2”-3” beyond the damaged area and into good metal to ensure a good foundation for the repair.
START ON, STOP OFF
Starting the sander off the panel makes it go into a free spin mode and gouge the surface when it makes contact. Always start the sander on the panel and remove it before letting it stop.
ALWAYS USE A DRY GUIDE COAT
Use a dry guide coat at every step to highlight imperfections and avoid re-dos.
REMOVE ANY STRAIGHT LINE SCRATCHES
After blocking the repair, always run over the repair area lightly with the same grit previously used on the DA sander.
USE AN INTERFACE PAD
To get better surface contact for an even and smooth surface, use an interface pad.