Scratching the Surface with Gray Scotch-Brite Scuff Pads

3M Gray Scotch-Brite Scuff Pads are ideal for scuffing a primed surface or for scuffing a surface between coats. The automotive grade pads are great for scuffing up a painted metal panel or woodworking project between coats.  

The gray automotive Scotch-Brite scuff pads are not an alternative to sanding. Instead the pads are designed put fine scratches in the primer or paint, providing the “tooth” needed to ensure that subsequent coats adequately bond to the surface. Good intercoat adhesion prevents one layer of paint from peeling from another.

The scratches that the ultra-fine 7448 Gray Scotch-Brite pads produce are equivalent to those produced when sanding with 600-800 grit sandpaper. You can also use the pads to scuff a painted surface prior to clear coating. Unless you are clear coating a metallic paint, don’t worry that these fine scratches will be visible through the clear coat. They won’t. The tooth that the scratches give to the substrate also allows the paint or clear coat to grip the surface, preventing sagging on vertical surfaces.

The automotive grade pads are available in other colors other than gray. Each color signifies a different grit range. For example, the green 6448 light duty pads are rated at 600 grit. The 7447 general purpose maroon (red) pads are equivalent to 320-400 grit. For my purposes, the gray pads have worked for me.

You may have difficulty finding the gray pads a one of the big box stores. You probably will need to go to an automotive paint store or you can find them on line. What you want are the “automotive grade” pads not the pads that your wife uses on the pots and pans.

Because Gray Scotch-Brite pads are very flexible, they are also much easier to handle when scuffing up an irregular surface, compared to working with a stiff sheet of sandpaper. This is why I prefer using Scotch-Brite pads when working on a carving that I am painting.

Surface Preparation Prior to Painting 

When scuffing up a surface, you need to scratch up any shiny surfaces that you are painting until they are dull. On an older painted surface you should clean the substrate prior to scuffing in the same way that you would prep a surface prior to vinyl application. I have outlined this procedure in my story: 3-Step Prepfor Vehicle Graphics. Cleaning the surface prevents driving any surface contaminants into the paint. The contaminants could compromise intercoat adhesion. After cleaning, scuff the surface. I merely scratch the surface dry until it is uniformly dull. Then clean surface again to remove any residue using a lint-free rag and isopropyl alcohol. 



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Painting and Coatings Articles

Using Linseed Oil to Make a Medium
Why Paint Wrinkles
How to Clean Brushes Used for Water-Based Paints
Proper Prep Prior to Repainting Walls
Coating Woodworking Projects with Epoxy Resin
The Practicality of Repainting an Old Acrylic Sign
Acrylic Mediums & Additives
Acrylic Glazes
Finishing Tips
Blending Colors
Making Oil Paint
Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Primer
Mediums for Oil Painting
Faster, Easier Paint Clean Up
Penetrol Paint Conditioner
Shades of Black
Flesh Tone Paint Recipe
White Lead Oil Paint
Safely Working with Pigment Powders
When to Thin Paint with Naphtha
Damar Varnish Recipe
Fat Over Lean Rule
Applying a Wiping Varnish to Your Carving
Asphaltum
Essential Solvents for Sign Painters
Traditional Gesso Recipe for Encaustic Painters
Painting with Gouache
Epoxy Resins
Bondo Tips
Flattening Paste for Enamel Paint
Paint Chemistry Terminology
Scratching the Surface with Grey Scotch-Brite Scuff Pads

Caring for your Brushes

How Temperature and Humidity Affect Paint Drying

Using Gel Stains

Using SuperFrog’s Frog Juice
Miscellaneous Painting Tips

Color Trends

Why Seal Wood Before Staining

Differences Between Stains and Dyes

Paint Component Basics

Artie Schilling's Ultimate Pinstripe Cart

Faux Finishes

Painting Polycarbonate Sheet

Using Paint Mask with Etching Creams

Staining and Varnishing

Priming and Painting for Wall Graphics Application...

Painting Flames

Buying Artist’s Oil Paints

Making Dewaxed Shellac from Flakes

Reverse Painting on Glass

How to Paint MDO with Butch "Superfrog" Anton

Painting on Metal Panels

New Steve Kafka Brush Series

Toning Gilded Surfaces with Milk Paint

Vinyl Application Videos

Squeegee Technique. Nothing is more basic in vinyl application than the squeegee. But some squeegees work better than others. And there are right ways and wrong ways to use this simple tool. This video clip reviews squeegee selection, squeegee care and squeegee technique. Click to Link

Wet Applications. Dry applications are typically recommended for most vinyl applications. For those exceptions to the rule, this instructional video explains the right way to perform a wet application. Click to Link

Application of Window Graphics. Installing vinyl graphics on glass can be challenging, because the adhesive aggressively grabs onto this high energy surface. Repositioning graphics on window is generally difficult, if not impossible. This instructional video explains how to dry apply window graphics right the first time. It also describes the necessary steps required for surface preparation. Click to Link

Transferring Frosted Window Graphics Films.  Because frosted window films are highly textured, transferring cut vinyl graphics can be problematic. This video provides direction in selection of the right application tape and how to apply these films quickly, easily and without problems. Click to Link

3-Step Surface Prep. This instructional video describes how to properly clean the surface of a vehicle before applying pressure sensitive vinyl graphics to a trailer or doing a full wrap of a car or van. This three step surface prep involves detergent washing, solvent cleaning and a final wipe down with IPA. Click to Link

Vinyl Application Over Rivets. Applying vinyl graphics on vehicle surfaces with rivets is challenging for most sign makers. Vinyl failures to these surfaces are all too common. This video demonstrates some tips and procedures, used by professional decal installers, which will make these demanding applications easier and more trouble-free.  Click to Link

Vinyl Application to Corrugations. Learn how to apply vinyl graphics to corrugations in a relaxed state. Forcing films into the valleys of corrugations puts too much mechanical stress on the film. Sooner or later, the vinyl will lift or tent in valleys. Click to Link

Applying Air Egress Vinyls. Vinyl films with air egress release liners have almost eliminated bubbles and wrinkles from applied graphics. Air egress release liners with their highly textured surface structure are problematic. Not much will stick to these liners other than the vinyl film. At RTape our best premask solution for air egress liners is a special Conform® tape called 4761RLA. Click to Link

About Jim Hingst: After fourteen years as Business Development Manager at RTape, Jim Hingst retired. He was involved in many facets of the company’s business, including marketing, sales, product development and technical service.

Hingst began his career 42 years ago in the graphic arts field creating and producing advertising and promotional materials for a large test equipment manufacturer.  Working for offset printers, large format screen printers, vinyl film manufacturers, and application tape companies, his experience included estimating, production planning, purchasing and production art, as well as sales and marketing. In his capacity as a salesman, Hingst was recognized with numerous sales achievement awards.

Drawing on his experience in production and as graphics installation subcontractor, Hingst provided the industry with practical advice, publishing more than 150 articles for  publications, such as  Signs Canada, SignCraft,  Signs of the Times, Screen Printing, Sign and Digital Graphics and  Sign Builder Illustrated. He also posted more than 325 stories on his blog (hingstssignpost.blogspot.com). In 2007 Hingst’s book, Vinyl Sign Techniques, was published.  Vinyl Sign Techniques is available at sign supply distributors and at Amazon. 

Slides of Jim's Artwork

© 2016 Jim Hingst