i thought it was smooth, until i painted

Hey, I have a small video bezel I have made out of milliput (epoxy putty) and ABS plastic (started as metra double-din frame). I thought I was done until I noticed a lot of surface imperfections after I painted it flat black. I tried sanding it with 800 then 2000 and painting it again but still not smooth enough for me. At this point I actually have 3 layers of paint...

What would you recommend for a factory-perfect smooth finish? Is there a spray-primer that has enough build and is workable to sand after a short drying time? The imperfections are only fractions of a millimeter deep. Or can I just buff the three layers I have on there now?? Most of the irregularities on the surface are actually from too much spray paint in some areas, but I can't seem to correct it - sanding sort of smudges it around etc. etc., do you know what I mean?

And for finishing, what about a better type of spray paint (flat black) that is most likely to result in a smooth finish, not goopey etc.?

Anyways, total newbie at this but really trying to get a good result, I would really appreciate good advice on it. Sorry I can't post pics at the moment. Thanks in advance.

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destination moon

You need to step down on your sand paper less aggressively. Going from 800 to 2000 will not get you very good results. I would use a high build primer but  before that, in order to get a smooth finish you have to start with a relatively smooth foundation. Using body filler to smooth out the project and then start with 240 grit then start going up in grit. Go to about a 380 grit, then 600, them 800 and finish off with a 1000 or 1200 grit. Use a primer and then paint.

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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA

Velocity Motors wrote:

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You need to step down on your sand paper less aggressively. Going from 800 to 2000 will not get you very good results. I would use a high build primer but   before that, in order to get a smooth finish you have to start with a relatively smooth foundation. Using body filler to smooth out the project and then start with 240 grit then start going up in grit. Go to about a 380 grit, then 600, them 800 and finish off with a 1000 or 1200 grit. Use a primer and then paint.

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This is a great method,but in my opinion and from what hes describes he might be able to cheat the system a bit. If it were me I would wet sand the whole thing down with 400 using a block of course!! Next put a coat or 2 of high build primer, light coats!!apply some guide coat overr that and wet sand with 600 any imperfections that are left (you should be able to see from the guide coat) fill in with painters finishing putty .Let the putty dry and sand with 600 wet then move up to 800 wet and paint ,I would also recommend using guide coat between 600-8oo grit sanding after putty is applied to ensure all imperfections are gone . then paint away!!! remember light coats ,it also sounded like you pounded the paint on in some spots.

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-A vision without a plan is just a hallucination-

Velocity Motors wrote:

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You need to step down on your sand paper less aggressively. Going from 800 to 2000 will not get you very good results. I would use a high build primer but  before that, in order to get a smooth finish you have to start with a relatively smooth foundation. Using body filler to smooth out the project and then start with 240 grit then start going up in grit. Go to about a 380 grit, then 600, them 800 and finish off with a 1000 or 1200 grit. Use a primer and then paint.

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This is a great method,but in my opinion and from what hes describes he might be able to cheat the system a bit. If it were me I would wet sand the whole thing down with 400 using a block of course!! Next put a coat or 2 of high build primer, light coats!!apply some guide coat overr that and wet sand with 600 any imperfections that are left (you should be able to see from the guide coat) fill in with painters finishing putty .Let the putty dry and sand with 600 wet then move up to 800 wet and paint ,I would also recommend using guide coat between 600-8oo grit sanding after putty is applied to ensure all imperfections are gone . then paint away!!! remember light coats ,it also sounded like you pounded the paint on in some spots.

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-A vision without a plan is just a hallucination-

Black is a very hard color to paint It show all imperfections. What type of flat black paint did you use? Enamel or laquer , acrylic

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My wife thinks bagging a truck means you kick it in the truck nuts

I have had the best luck with Duplicolor it sands well drys very fast and can be color sanded and buffed without smudging. U have to start from scratch with duplicolor. Ive tryed Krylon (slow drying and smears) as well as many other rattle bombs and Duplicolor was the best rattle bomb ive run across

sounds like you may be spraying the paint too thick.
thick coats usually do not make for the best results.
2000 is too fine for paint to adhere.
i would not suggest any grit finer than 800.
another suggestion is to sand in a perpendicular direction to each successive grit.