[SS2017]

My car has pretty decent paint, but there is some orange peel of course, especially on the hood and roof and trunk lid. On my Cayman I had the whole car wet sanded, but I really don't want to get into that again, and this cars not as bad.

So, is there any other way to make the orange peel less noticeable, like can a detailer use various cutting pads and such to smooth it out at all? Or is there nothing else but wet sanding?

Thanks all.

[Glen e]

There are two pads sold by carpro , called a velvet and denim pad, used by pros, and takes a long time. Ask a detailer about this process.

[SS2017]

Originally Posted by Glen e

There are two pads sold by carpro , called a velvet and denim pad, used by pros, and takes a long time. Ask a detailer about this process.

So by your response I am guessing this would be just as costly as wet sanding?

I am thinking my anal self needs to just leave it...I mean it's not bad, I just wish it was perfect. But it isn't a $250,000 show car right?

[Glen e]

Leave it alone...

[SS2017]

Originally Posted by Glen e

Leave it alone...

I see you are very much into detailing, did you do anything about your factory orange peel or just leave it?

[pjz1082]

Just curious, why do they call it orange peel? Does that term go back to older types of paint or something?

[Glen e]

Have you ever looked closely at the skin of an orange?

[Glen e]

Originally Posted by SS2017

I see you are very much into detailing, did you do anything about your factory orange peel or just leave it?

I wet sanded my vette, but I've been painting and detailing for 20 years., it takes two different polishing machine's, 3 diff polishes, 36 hours worth of work, and you better have done it before. It's not a job for the faint of heart, most detailers won't even attempt it.

[pjz1082]

Originally Posted by Glen e

Have you ever looked closely at the skin of an orange?

Interesting. I still think that term is a stretch but ok. The peel part is what throws me. I'm thinking of the verb, not the noun

[Burly]

Was your Vette that bad that it needed it? My Camaro has orange peel look in some places but not bad enough, to me, worth fixing. Now the water spots drive me insane!

[Glen e]

The 14 c7's were terrible.....esp the vertical surfaces, and exactly why Bowling Green is putting in all new paint facility/line that comes on stream next year. This is the 14 Vet, it is on the extreme end, but many are just as bad as this. My Camaro is acceptable, no need for wet sanding.

[Burly]

Originally Posted by Glen e

The 14 c7's were terrible.....esp the vertical surfaces, and exactly why Bowling Green is putting in all new paint facility/line that comes on stream next year. This is the 14 Vet, it is on the extreme end, but many are just as bad as this. My Camaro is acceptable, no need for wet sanding.

Wow, that is bad.

[Joe M 2012 2SS]

Every car made has some orange peel, unless you buy a Rolls Royce. Unless your planning on only taking the car to shows, removing the orange peel on factory paint isn't a great idea.

Most modern cars have about 50 microns of clear coat on them. This is about the same thickness as the cellophane cigarette packs are wrapped in. It's also possible that the base coat has some orange peel as well.

Orange peel is caused by hills and valleys in the paint. So in order to remove it, all the hills have to be leveled to the valleys. This could mean removing 50% or more of the clear coat that is on your car.

Doing this brings lots of bad things possible afterwards if your car is driven.

Any bird bombs or bug etchings can go though the paint much easier now since it's so thin.

UV rays from the sun can cause premature clear coat failure due to it being thin.

Aggressive compounding can't be done if needed for a scratch if you happen to get one.

Save the money for the job and use it for a mod that you will enjoy on your car!

[timmy8784]

Originally Posted by Joe M 2012 2SS

Every car made has some orange peel, unless you buy a Rolls Royce. Unless your planning on only taking the car to shows, removing the orange peel on factory paint isn't a great idea.

Most modern cars have about 50 microns of clear coat on them. This is about the same thickness as the cellophane cigarette packs are wrapped in. It's also possible that the base coat has some orange peel as well.

Orange peel is caused by hills and valleys in the paint. So in order to remove it, all the hills have to be leveled to the valleys. This could mean removing 50% or more of the clear coat that is on your car.

Doing this brings lots of bad things possible afterwards if your car is driven.

Any bird bombs or bug etchings can go though the paint much easier now since it's so thin.

UV rays from the sun can cause premature clear coat failure due to it being thin.

Aggressive compounding can't be done if needed for a scratch if you happen to get one.

Save the money for the job and use it for a mod that you will enjoy on your car!

+1 on this. The benefits do not out weigh the cons. Once you start noticing orange peel, you will see it on EVERY car. Unfortunately something that we just kinda need to accept unless you wanna take the risks and put in a crazy amount of time.