Compare and contrast the differences between sanding and scuffing.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Sanding in the refinish department is the most common task performed; some technicians believe that it is the most important step in surface preparation. Properly done, sanding will level, smooth, help make the transition from repaired area to OEM finish, promote adhesion, and generally make the repair undetectable. Sanding can be done by hand, or aided by power equipment. Many tools have been developed to help technicians become faster and better while making the job easier to perform. Scuffing is done to provide a mechanical adhesion for the next coating that will be applied over it. It is not intended to level any imperfections in the surface or to feather out scratches or chips. It will only take the shine off, or “deglaze” the surface of the old finish. This deglazing breaks the surface of the old finish; it causes small scratches, promoting a larger surface area for the next finish to adhere to. It also helps clean off the old oxidized surface contaminants, and provides a freshly abraded substrate for the new finish. Scuffing is generally done with a plastic abrasive pad. These pads come in different grit equivalents, though they do not use a numbering system. Depending on the manufacturer, there may be three different abrasive qualities. They are generally color coded relative to their aggressiveness.