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[Broomies Mate]

cheers BM. When i ''lightly sand'' using the 1200 grit.... should i be ''rubbing it down'' or just a once over light job?

The lacquer should be hard as nails!  It will easily take quite a bit of abuse once dry.  The residue from sanding lacquer is white, it will turn your lubricant (the water) a milky colour.  Thats perfectly normal.... just sand the freshly sprayed area evenly.  If you get a residue which is your paint colour, you have gone too far! 

It's easier to stop sanding before you think it's perfect and then using the cutting paste, stand back and think "I'll give that another rub down" than to go too far and think "rollox, I'll get the spray gun back out" 

Interestingly, lacquer needs to be applied a lot heavier than most people think..... certainly much heavier than the base-coat.  3-4 decent coats of lacquer is perfect IMO.  Some people prefer 6-8coats of lightly applied lacquer, but I dont think that gives enough depth.  Obviously, you are more prone to getting runs in the lacquer if it is applied heavily.

[Webby the Bear]

cheers BM. When i ''lightly sand'' using the 1200 grit.... should i be ''rubbing it down'' or just a once over light job?

The lacquer should be hard as nails!  It will easily take quite a bit of abuse once dry.  The residue from sanding lacquer is white, it will turn your lubricant (the water) a milky colour.  Thats perfectly normal.... just sand the freshly sprayed area evenly.  If you get a residue which is your paint colour, you have gone too far! 

It's easier to stop sanding before you think it's perfect and then using the cutting paste, stand back and think "I'll give that another rub down" than to go too far and think "rollox, I'll get the spray gun back out" 

Interestingly, lacquer needs to be applied a lot heavier than most people think..... certainly much heavier than the base-coat.  3-4 decent coats of lacquer is perfect IMO.  Some people prefer 6-8coats of lightly applied lacquer, but I dont think that gives enough depth.  Obviously, you are more prone to getting runs in the lacquer if it is applied heavily.

thanks mate so basically its normal for the lacquer to be abrasive and frankly looking rough as houses until sanded down?  :-/

that makes sense cos it looked really good till i lacquered it!!! 

[Broomies Mate]

cheers BM. When i ''lightly sand'' using the 1200 grit.... should i be ''rubbing it down'' or just a once over light job?

The lacquer should be hard as nails!  It will easily take quite a bit of abuse once dry.  The residue from sanding lacquer is white, it will turn your lubricant (the water) a milky colour.  Thats perfectly normal.... just sand the freshly sprayed area evenly.  If you get a residue which is your paint colour, you have gone too far! 

It's easier to stop sanding before you think it's perfect and then using the cutting paste, stand back and think "I'll give that another rub down" than to go too far and think "rollox, I'll get the spray gun back out" 

Interestingly, lacquer needs to be applied a lot heavier than most people think..... certainly much heavier than the base-coat.  3-4 decent coats of lacquer is perfect IMO.  Some people prefer 6-8coats of lightly applied lacquer, but I dont think that gives enough depth.  Obviously, you are more prone to getting runs in the lacquer if it is applied heavily.

thanks mate so basically its normal for the lacquer to be abrasive and frankly looking rough as houses until sanded down?  :-/

that makes sense cos it looked really good till i lacquered it!!! 

I presume you are using Acrylic Lacquer and Base Coat?

If so, after applying the lacquer, you should have some form of shine, but the surface will not be smooth like glass.  Thats where the cutting comes in.

If the finish is flatter than a Witch's chest and duller than ditch-water, then there isnt a good enough depth of lacquer. 

[Webby the Bear]

cheers mate. im going to post some pics tomorrow cos im sure something aint tickety-boo!!!!!

cheers BM 

[Lesopc]

Hi mate,

I'm not a lover of the walnut trim on my elite and fancied something different. As mentioned above, I rubbed the plastic down, grey primer then several coats of silver and finished off with several coats of laquer.

I think it's worth doing, but each to their own. I reckon you should get a spare set of plastics for your car and give it a go, if you don't like it put the other set back 

This is mine:


HTH 

Keep in mind that this is a prefacelift, whereas mine is a year 2000 facelift with different dash.

still the same principle mate 

ive got to say that the stereo removal is easy but youll need a special tool to get your stereo out (see e bay ''vaux omega stereo remover''.

also if you replace the ashtray, gear surround and stereo surround are you still not going to be left with the fake walnut on your door trim? just wondering if this will look a bit silly?  :-/ worth thinking about!!! 

The door trims are black and in good shape (mines a GLS).

[Lesopc]

Thanks all. I think i've decided what to do now. I'll post pics when complete.

[blackviper90210]

Nice one mate, looking foward to seeing the results