Do you wet sand and/or remove orange peel?

June 20, 2022
GET A QUOTE CALL MATT TODAY

Do you wet sand and/or remove orange peel?

Typically, we do not wet sand. Wet sanding is the process of use damp, ultra-fine sandpaper, to sand down imperfections in the paint that either are more efficiently removed with sandpaper or only able to be removed by sandpaper, that a typical polisher may not remove, or may not remove efficiently enough during paint correction/enhancement. 


In some cases during paint correction/paint enhancement, leading up to ceramic coating and/or clear bra, over polishing/compounding with a machine polisher is actually removing MORE clearcoat than had you just wetsanded the defect from the beginning. 


On the surface, this doesn’t seem to make much sense – you are, after all, sanding the surface (which sounds really aggressive). But as we have discussed in other articles, compounding/polishing actually removes parts of the clearcoat on your vehicle during a detail/polish. Sometimes, the amount of working over the same area with a scratch will remove more clearcoat from a larger area than had you just wet sanded in the first place. 


So, do you wet sand?

 

The answer is yes, occasionally, for certain trouble areas specifically pointed out as an issue for our clients if we feel it would be beneficial. As a general rule, we do not offer it as an optional service. In the auto detailing industry, we do find that some people use this far more often than is necessary during a paint correction/paint enhancement when a hybrid wool or microfiber cutting pad and the right polish/compound combination (we use Meguiar’s M110 Ultra Pro Speed Compound and M210 Ultra Pro Finishing Polish).


It typically takes longer, more care, and sometimes more risk (it shouldn’t be used near edges, for example, or body lines). So we don’t offer it as an additional addon that clients can purchase. 


What about removing orange peel?

From lab.bernardoecenarro.com:


During the repainting process, different problems and defects may arise in the paint finish that force the workshop professional to repeat the process from the beginning, with the consequent loss of time and materials.


One of the most common defects in car refinish is the appearance of the so-called orange peel effect.


The reasons why this defect may appear have to do with several factors:


  1. Incorrect adjustment of the application equipment.
    Correctly regulate the application equipment’s pressure, product flow and fan pattern based on the specifications in the technical sheet, in order to obtain a regular and even spray. Too low application pressure will cause a deficient spraying of the product.
  2. High application viscosity
    Another cause may be a paint mix with excessive viscosity, which will lead to a high viscosity and irregular finish.
    To solve this, you can increase the percentage of thinner in the mixture.
  3. Failure to adjust the hardener and thinner to room temperature
    Depending on the room temperature or environmental conditions, it will be convenient to adapt the choice of catalyst or solvent to be applied according to its drying speed.
  4. Previous coats insufficiently dry
    Always comply with the drying time of the base coats specified in the technical data sheets of each product.
  5. Excessive product load
    Excessive product load per coat and too much distance between the spray gun and the workpiece will result in a less even coating, favouring the orange peel effect.
  6. Incorrect preparation and sanding of the priming coats
  7. Proper preparation and sanding of priming coats, always in compliance with the drying times for each process, will help you to obtain a uniform surface optimised for refinishing..


The primary way to rectify orange peel is to wet sand. We do not offer wet sanding of entire vehicles. The cost of additional work is not typically something our clients would opt for, running easily over $3000 for the labor alone on the wet sanding of an entire vehicle with additional disassembly or protection.

If entire vehicle wet sanding is what you are after, we would typically refer you to a body shop, who is more likely set up to wet sand and do it daily for every vehcile. We are never afraid to admit if we are not the most efficient at something, and when conducting paint correction/paint enhancement/ceramic coating/clear bra, we do not do this nearly as much as other shops. Therefore, you might find that an auto body shop or paint shop is better equipped and more efficiently set up for wet sanding (we can take care of you afterward, including polishing, ceramic coating, and/or clear bra/paint protection film).

GET A QUote CALL MATT TODAY

See Us In Action

Brush Car Wash Damage: How Automatic Car Washes Ruin Your Paint, and Why Ceramic Coating Won't Fix It

October 20, 2026
Brush car washes grind down your clear coat and cause fading. Learn why ceramic coating can't fix it and a $35 hand wash alternative in Temple, TX.
what is Paintless Dent Repair

What Is Paintless Dent Repair and How Does It Work?

By Detailers Roadmap SEO • October 15, 2026
What is paintless dent repair? Plain-English look at how PDR works, what dents are good fits, and when traditional body work is still the answer.

Is My Window Tint Legal on Fort Hood? Texas Tint Law for Soldiers

By Matthew Jones • October 9, 2026
Texas tint law for Fort Hood soldiers: the 25% front window rule, what applies on post, out-of-state cars, and medical exemptions.

Window Tint Removal in Temple, TX: Why Taking Off Old Tint Costs More Than You Think

By Matthew Jones • October 8, 2026
Window tint removal in Temple, TX takes hours of careful work. See what goes into the price and how to avoid paying to redo cheap ceramic tint.

Autobahn Window Tint No-Fault Warranty Just Went Up: What It Means for Cracked Windshields

By Matthew Jones • October 4, 2026
Autobahn's window tint no-fault warranty credit is now up to $350. See what it means for a cracked windshield re-tint in Temple & Killeen, TX.
Door ding repair in Killeen TX

Door Ding Repair in Killeen, TX: What It Really Costs and Why We Quote PDR In Person

By Matthew Jones • October 4, 2026
Door ding repair in Killeen, TX often runs $150 to $200, but metal, access, and dent complexity change the price. See why PDR quotes are done in person.
how much is a tint ticket

How Much Is a Tint Ticket, and Can You Be Pulled Over for Tint?

By Detailers Roadmap SEO • October 4, 2026
How much is a tint ticket? Honest look at tint stops, primary vs secondary offenses, and how to find your state's official rules without guessing.
how much does it cost to tint car windows

How Much Does It Cost to Tint Car Windows? What Changes the Price

By Detailers Roadmap SEO • September 27, 2026
How much does it cost to tint car windows? Honest look at the factors behind every quote, so you can compare on value, not just the number.
what is Ceramic Tint

What Is Ceramic Tint and How Is It Different From Regular Tint?

By Detailers Roadmap SEO • September 20, 2026
What is ceramic tint? Plain-spoken guide to ceramic vs dyed and metal films, how it blocks heat without darkening or signal issues.
Is Hail Damage Worth Filing a Claim

Is Hail Damage Worth Filing a Claim For? When Yes, When No, and How to Decide

By Detailers Roadmap SEO • September 14, 2026
Is hail damage worth filing a claim? Honest decision framework from a Central Texas shop that benefits either way, so the advice stays neutral.