Sanding for that 'fraid to fly finish

[Hospital_Rocket]

Ok

How far should one go on a model rocket?

400 grit?

600 grit?

1500 grit?

.5 microm aqueous cerium oxide slurry? (only Doc would understand why I would know about this) -> this is 24x finer than 400 grit!

 

[rstaff3]

IIRC micromeister uses an automobile buffing compount for his plastic-like finishes. Maybe he can chime in about the equivalent grit level.

BTW I plan to get NOTHING useful from this thread. My idea of good finishing is the 10-ft test

 

[Hospital_Rocket]

Actually I have one (-1-) project I want to know this for. The rest I use the 10' or 400mph test.

 

[illini]

Personally, my last step before painting is to wet sand sandable primer with 600 grit (that's after two prior primer coats sanded with 220). Last launch the RSO was afraid the booster stage of my Flis Nomad might be dangerous tumbling because it appeared to him to be plastic. That's good enough for my purposes!

 

[rstaff3]

Originally posted by Hospital_Rocket
Actually I have one (-1-) project I want to know this for. The rest I use the 10' or 400mph test.

Is it that rocket you display(ed) at work?

 

[Hospital_Rocket]

Yup

 

[rstaff3]

A worthy project for a tad extra elbow grease! I'm sure when I finally get motivated to give a rocket that perfect finish, I'll screw something up

 

[midpwrguy]

On my rockets I'll sand the frist coat of primer with a 220 grit. Then on the second coat it's 320 or 400grit. And just the finish from there. On the clear coat if I want a real glass finish.
After I apply the frist coat I wait about a week and let it cure real
good. Then I'll sand it down with some 600grit. And apply one more coat of clear.