Just wondering what you use a D/A for if you have gone to bare metal and are going up from there? I have been using my inline sander a LITTLE and finishing with my hand board when I start to get close, but the 17" inline doesn't fit in the small curved areas.

This may give you some idea. Went to local paint supply store to get some longboard paper and saw that the selection was'nt as good as in the past. Owner told me that the production shops buy very little of it anymore-they use 6" DA's for all their roughing and finishing work. Cheaper and faster. Guess if your good with one,why not. I myself like the bodywork real straight,not 'close enough'.

I will stick with my in-line for a straight look any day. I have tried the D/A and then color blocked with the inline, there was a noticeable difference. For the small areas I use a cut down paint stir stick and wrap it with sandpaper.

A DA can be used for rough shaping but I always need to use a block of some sort to perfect before primer. With hand tools you always have more control-the material comes off alot slower.

Originally posted by RickM:
This may give you some idea. Went to local paint supply store to get some longboard paper and saw that the selection was'nt as good as in the past. Owner told me that the production shops buy very little of it anymore-they use 6" DA's for all their roughing and finishing work. Cheaper and faster. Guess if your good with one,why not. I myself like the bodywork real straight,not 'close enough'. I think more true to the point is that body shops just don't make large plastic filler repairs anymore. Most everything is replaced these days and the need for an air board on a large application of filler is pretty rare. I don't think I use a long board (air or hand) once every six months! Besides, the 8 inch orbital sander blows away the long board for speed and with it you can get the panel just as straight. Now, understand I am talking about an AIR long board. Using a hand long board is still going to produce the flatest panel.

Went to get some-this was 2 years ago.After I entered my post thought about not saying anything about it being faster and cheaper just to replace the panel and not much filler being used any more.Figured most folks know this by now. He may have said 8" DA,not 6". Don't pay a lot of attention to newer cars,but most seem to be more rounded and an airboard would have limited use. Using a DA makes sense. They do sell more of the PSA paper on rolls for flex hand longboards which I also use a lot. Now that you mention it,I don't use the air board much anymore. Was doing the bed floor of an EC at the time which after I made a new shoe to fit inbetween the ribs,worked great.

I use my 8" DA for just about everything. Stripping paint, roughing up the metal prior to filler , sanding filler. Just this month I finally wore out my Mac 8"da and replaced it with a snap on ps200 cus I use the hell of out it.

I also have a AIR file or board and pretty much it collects dust. I normally only use it when am up near a body line and that da wont reach or digs in.

I do all the rough work with the 8" da and air file and also rough cut the poly glze skim coat with those two items then switch to my hand long boards.

For those curved areas use something that matches the shape of the curve. I use several door moldings off cars that have a nice round shape to them. I cut them into nice usable sizes.

8" DA-- (mudhog) Hate that word. As stated by sevt_ and MARTINSR bestest & straightest will be the manual method.

My straight line air file is really dry and dusty, for years. Doesn't even have an air fitting on it.

Have at least 8 (eight) different types & size of Blocks, Boards, Tubes and Sponge pads. In certain areas even the rubber and plastic squeegees (spreaders) can work quite nicely.

You are limited, only by your imagination.
Putty knives, paint sticks, thick cardboard parts tubes, list is endless.
Use the largest, stiffest tool that is suitable for surface being addressed. In other words, don't use a paint stick to block a 1/4 panel.

Caution on wooden paint sticks. They are wood, they cup and warp. Ruined what would have been some really good body and paint prep with one once. graemlins/clonk.gif

Sanding and blocking is a skill that is acquired, there is no pill, or magic, just trial and error, and experience.

Good Luck,

Karl

Ok, theres a question for all those who have 8"da's.

Today is about the first time I got to really use that new sander. Its got way more power and torque then my old MAC sander. I use 80 grit 3M regalite paper and because of the increased power that 80 grit eats that filler for lunch smile.gif
I had the shop supplier look and see if they can get some 8" paper in 180 but no luck.
Am wondering does anyone offer 8" da paper in 180 grit? 3M, Norton, Mirka whoever in a PSA or hook it type paper???...Eric

And for hand sanders I like a sander by the name of Adjustable Flex Sander. Theres a link to a place that I found who carries them. Ive had mine for over 2 years and JUST LOVE THEM. I have a set at home and at work and sometime soon will be getting another set one for 80 grit the other for 180
http://autobodystore.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=AFSPRO&Category_Code=TFSL

I agree on the 8 inch is a big time saver on large areas. I remember buying a Viking air board many years ago, thought the thing was great till I borrowed a coworkers mudhog. The next week I handed the airboard back to the tool guy and ordered a National Detroit mudhog for myself, That was about 15 years ago and it's still going strong! I keep 36 grit on it and only use it for rough shaping when needed. My regular sized DA collection consists of two blue points, 1 dynabrade, 1 hutchins, and 1 Mirka. All of the da's have a different action or aggresiveness. The dynabrade is by far the best I've ever used-fast cutting but very smooth.

sevt-chevelle, on the 180 grit 8 inch paper, I thought I seen some available from carborundum at one time, I've never used it though-80 grit is the finest I've had on mine. Your new sander must cut smooth if you're considering the finer grit.

sevt_chevelle

8" self stick is available in 36,40,80,100,120,150,180,220,240,320,400 from a place called smart shoppers 1-800-966-8562 open
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