What grit sandpaper to use for exterior?

well since I guess Im the first ticketed prepper/painter to post here I'll let you know that you should finish in a minimum of 600 grit wet IMO......dry will work, but wet will keep a better hold out for future appearances.

If your going to do some bodywork, then bust all the paint down apply your filler/icing, then finish it in 180 longboard.....feather it in 180/220 is the best in my opinion.....then prime it.

Primer shouldnt be filling 80 grit scratches....it will sink out later if you dont bake the primer.

Then block your primer in 320......if its super wavy and rough looking then block 180 and re-prime.

But if its straight enough then the 320 block, then step up to a 400/500 grit dry...then finish in either 600/800 wet.

800 wet will give you the best gloss and hold out. Any finer and you will have issues with your base sticking in a few years.

-Brad

look if your not doing bodywork just respraying the car get 400grit break it down with that after that run over it with 600 grit or you can go with scuffing the car down with grey scuff pads

Thanks for all the help guys. I'm thinking of getting a new car since my transmission is fucked once again. If I decide to stay with this one, I'll use your advice.

What most people don't understand is that cracked look is usualy coming from underneath not from above (factory-sealer lost it adhesion) so the clear is cracking from underneath so you need to strip it to bare metal I whould take the hood off and use a chemical stripper that away theres no mess.

Dude, before you do anything a word of advice. If you are talkin about the electric square palm sander, do not use that to sand anything on your car it will come out looking like ish. If you dont have a comprssor I think milwaulkee or porter cable makes a electic randon orbit.