Debate time: water sanding vs dry sanding for clear coat

I've been going back and forth on this for the last few months. Water sanding gives me a slicker finish but takes way longer and makes a huge mess in my garage. Dry sanding with 1500 grit is fast and easy but I feel like I'm leaving micro scratches that show up after buffing. Which method do you guys swear by for a final cut before polishing? I'm leaning toward water but it's a pain.

2 comments

2 Comments

hollyramirez1mo ago

I switched to water sanding about two years ago after ruining a fender with dry sanding on a 2004 Mustang I was restoring. What changed everything for me was using a spray bottle with a few drops of dish soap mixed in. It helps the paper glide without gumming up and I don't have to clean the surface as often. I use 2000 grit wet and it leaves almost no haze, just a smooth cloudy finish that buffs out clear in one pass. The mess is annoying but I lay down a cheap tarp and just hose it off outside when I'm done. For me the smoother finish is worth the extra cleanup time.

harperschmidt1mo ago

Wait, you ruined a whole fender? That's brutal.