ROUGHED UP

NEW MATERIALS AND EVER-INCREASING DURABILITY REQUIRE STELLAR ABRASIVES

If automotive technology is known for one thing, it is that as one area of focus advances, the others are obliged to follow suit, or risk the formation of a gap in which some repairs can be done, but others cannot.

As the paints and coatings we apply to vehicles become increasingly more durable and chemically complex, we must continue to innovate in the field of abrasives so that no matter how nice that paint job ends up being, it can still be sanded down and refinished again one day.

Materials like aluminum, high-strength steel and carbon fibre come with unique challenges to a refinisher and quality products are crucial to ensuring proper work is done, right from the very first step. The world of abrasives has undergone significant change over the years in order to keep in step with automotive coatings, and that progress can still be observed in the advancement of new types of sandpaper and material smoothing technologies. A quick glance under a microscope would show even the completely uninitiated a The world of abrasives has undergone significant change over the years to keep in step with automotive coatings, and that progress can still be observed in the advancement of new types of sandpaper and material smoothing technologies.

world of difference between the capabilities of the common sandpaper of the past, to the carbon-based, precision-engineered paint-stripping tools that the techs of today keep on-hand every day.

Much has changed since we were gluing sand to a strip of paper and calling it a day. With what was formerly cutting-edge paint technology now starting to come of age, especially when we consider the ongoing Honda Civic paint peeling debacle, the abrasives industry will have its work cut out for it in the coming years as many drivers attempt to return the shine to their shabby paint jobs.

The pages to follow will feature just about every product a repairer would need to bring a vehicle down to its bare bones, so that it can be brought back up as something even better.