How should i go about sanding this part?

[black2000gts]

ok, i bought a HVAC cover a while back, which was already painted. I'm just researching how to sand the paint off of it so i can paint it to my liking.

It was masked off strait across the middle and two big circles on each end extending out just enough to cover the lights, thus leaving everything else painted.

My question is how should i go about sanding off the existing paint? What grit paper should i use? How do i know when to stop and switch to a finer grit paper to do the normal sanding before i paint it?


And a side question...Aside from Blitzceli's HVAC stickers, how else does everybody mask off the lights when they paint the panel? I think i remember reading a long time back about how some people use that rubber cement glue stuff to cover it. I can't think of the name of it, but it's supposed to come off easily enough after you paint it. Does anybody know what i'm talking about or am i talking about of my A$$?

[bman365]

I'd say use 600-800 grit..follow instruction on paint can..use higher grit to get rid of sanding marks of the heavier grit and keep going until it is smooth.

[black2000gts]

So, that 600-800 grit, is that for after getting the paint off it and just to smooth it out, or is that for getting the paint off?

[black2000gts]

anybody? any help on the sanding, or masking of the lights would be greatly appreciated.

[FriedChicken]

Paint stripper?

[black2000gts]

ok, that sounds like a great idea. But this looks like it was professionally done, will normal paint stripper work on professional paint? and will the paint stripper hurt the plastic under the paint?

[bman365]

Remember you are working with plastic...not sure if paint stripper will just melt it.

[black2000gts]

yeah, that's what i was worried about. I'm guessing there's different levels of strength with paint strippers, right? i can look for some of the weaker brands?

[FriedChicken]

Post some pics of it.. maybe it'll give us a better idea of telling you what route you should take..

[arokia010]

You can just cut some corners and sand it down with 220 grit till the gloss is gone and primer over it, then sand it down with 400 wet. Then paint it to whatever color your heart desires.

[black2000gts]

well, i just spent the last couple hours sanding the fvck out of it and got the bulk of it off. It's around the edges of the circles on each side that indent upwards a little that i'm having a hard time sanding down to the plastic. It's not all off, but i think i could paint over it if i wanted to now, but i'm going to try a couple more things before i quit.


also, do i remember correctly about how some people used rubber cement to cover the lights and just paint over them, then peel the glue off after it's painted, or am i thinking of something completely different?

[black2000gts]

ok, after sanding the crap out of it with a finer grit paper, i went through my basement and stumbled across a rougher grit paper that would've taken everything off in about 20 minutes...go figure..anway, it's all off and i went over it again with my really fine grit paper to take off all the scuff marks with from the rough grit paper. So, it's good to paint, but....

besides Blitzceli's HVAC stickers, what else can i do to mask off the lights when it comes time paint?

[dead_star04]

why not just good ol' masking tape?

[black2000gts]

well i'm not really good with cutting masking tape down to the shapes of just the lights. I want to paint EVERYTHING except the lights. I don't know what else to do...

[dead_star04]

you dont have to cut it, you could just follow the curves of the outer perimiter. or you could just pull the lights out alltogether

[Zero]

Someone used Vaseline to mask off the images and whatnot on the HVAC. Use s toothpick and apply it carefully. Paint and remove it once the paint has dried completely.