Help with blending

[uhhair]

So before we continue on stripping our car I thought I would practice my blending skills on my home fridge. I bought the proper blending pads and went to town on it (it did have some small rust marks from magnets and a few scratches so I thought I would kill two birds with one stone.) Well, now I'm seriously worried as my fridge did not come out looking like I thought it would. I tried to be as straight as possible but the fridge does not look good. Is this how my car panels are going to come out? Is there a difference in grain between our cars and other stainless steel (like a fridge?) I really don't want our car to come out looking like my fridge, and my initial thought is I must be doing something wrong as I know lots of people have to blend their cars from time to time. Someone please help me out before I lose my mind!

[Soundkillr]

Usually there is a difference in blend patterns on stainless appliances. My ss fridge has a very fine brushed look that is short stroke. The delorean has a more course brush that is long stroke. Ill bet your fridge is bending light like crazy with long strokes. It will show all kinds of brush strokes that overlaped. The delorean looks best with somewhere around a 180 grit. Fridges and other ss appliances usually use about a 600 grit. Dont worry, your car will look fine. Remeber to go in long even strokes. Start at one end of the panel and make a full pass to the other end.

[uhhair]

So then I guess i need to go over my fridge with 600 grit to fix it?

[Soundkillr]

Problem is, it is about a 600 grit but it is short strokes. Im not sure how you would do it by hand without a brush wheel.
However, i do think you can use 600 grit by hand and make it alot better than it currently is. It may come out great. Grab some 600 or maybe even 800 and see if it looks more like you think it should. I have blended out scratches on my ovens with 600 and it is spot on. I imagine if you take your time it would come out looking good. Let me know how the 600+ grit works out for you.

[opethmike]

The delorean looks best with somewhere around a 180 grit. Fridges and other ss appliances usually use about a 600 grit.

I've been told by and read from numerous sources that the DeLorean's grain is from 60-80 grit.

[Soundkillr]

I've been told by and read from numerous sources that the DeLorean's grain is from 60-80 grit.

Interesting, ill look into that. I did mine with 180 grit and it matched my grain very well. Mine had not been redone before.

[jmettee]

Interesting, ill look into that. I did mine with 180 grit and it matched my grain very well. Mine had not been redone before.

I also recall hearing 80 grit from Dave Swingle unless my mind is failing me already.

[Soundkillr]

I also recall hearing 80 grit from Dave Swingle unless my mind is failing me already.

Nope, im reading general rule for complete regrain is 80 grit. I used 180 on mine and it came out great. I have several pics in my album showing my grain after 180 grit.

If you are coming out of paint i would think you would want an agressive grit and 80 certainly fits the bill. Looks like that is the more suggested grit for the delorean. Interesting though because mine really does seem to match with 180. Maybe ill try 80 grit on a lower panel section.

[uhhair]

Do you think sandpaper is necessary? I bought the stainless bending pads thinking those would do the trick. Since the grain appears to be great underneath the paint i am more concerned about just removing the spots of primer that are left and cleaning off the general haze the paint remover leaves.

[Soundkillr]

Blend pads may do the trick, the sand paper is for doing scratch removal, and regraining. Dont let the sanding scare you, its not bad. Once done go over with your blending pad.

[David T]

To take out scratches and straighten the grain you use 80# or 120#. 120 will take longer and leave finer scratches. After using the sandpaper go over it with the blending pad aka Scotch-Brite. The Delorean has what is known as a #2 finish. It is a rougher finish than what is on most kitchen appliances. In the beginning till you get good at it use a line of masking tape to stay straight. Beginners tend to move in an arc making the grain turn at the ends of the stroke. Use 2 hands and maintain even pressure. Cover the side mouldings, mirrors, trim, and the facias with tape to prevent damage. Use as light a pressure as you can on the hood to avoid the dreaded X pattern.
David Teitelbaum

[uhhair]

Well now I feel better about all this, too bad I didn't know those damn blending pads aren't for appliances. Now I have to regrain my fridge!