In all the books I read, and even on the TV shows that show paint prep, the process of panel flattening is always shown to be a hand sanding process with wet paper using an idiot stick or other flat board except on curved areas.
Are DA sanders and inline air sanders not used for panel flattening? I am a bit confused. Don't these tools exist to take out some of the physical drudgery? or they only suitable for roughing in the bondo, but the final flattening must be done w/o air tool help?
Another problem I've encountered--when sanding on a large, flat hood, there is enough flex in the panel itself that I can't feather in the edges of the bondo. It seems that the flexing of the hood allows the sander to brigde over the edge of the repair area. How can I eliminate this problem?
How fine a paper do you use for final prep under a one step top coat?
Thanks
Michael
Bel Air, MD