When the automobile was first mass produced, it spawned several different industries, including our own auto body industry. No sooner did cars come off the assembly line, then individuals began souping them up and changing their appearance – bringing forth the custom auto body industry as well.

Rich Evans with his signature Quick Cut Sander

Color pads for Evans Quick Cut Sander

        Since that time, some very impressive and memorable hotrods have been created by some very talented builders that have stood out as truly gifted individuals such as George Barris and Gene Winfield. As they raised the bar beyond what the industry could mass produce, they have  developed techniques that are being used today.

        However, one thing that is true about everyone in this business is that we are all constantly looking for quicker, better ways to get the same results. After all, if you can reach the same end in a fraction of the time, that’s more money in your pocket and a step up on the competition.

        Okay, so our goal as painters is to get the best finish possible, but regardless of how good we are, it’s just impossible to get a perfect, smooth, glassy finish straight out of the spray gun. There are always some little nubs, debris, and orange peel that need to be dealt with. Sometimes you can get close enough to pass without a color sand and buff, such as low-level collision jobs.

        But when you’ve spent a lot of man hours on a custom finish or high-end collision project, the color sanding and buffing process is a must.

        Up until now, the tools used to complete the color sanding process involved various grits of wet sand paper and a block. This has all been done by hand for decades and is one of the most time consuming and tedious procedures in the whole industry.

        For my whole career, I’ve preferred the block sanding by hand method as I’ve described in many of my articles. But I’m just like everyone else. If you can show me a method or tool that can give me the same results in a shorter time, then I am on board.

        When I heard about the Quick Cut Sander (which can also be used for prepping), I couldn’t wait to get my hands on one. It is a wet, pneumatic DA sander that works with a pump to give a constant supply of water. No more stopping every minute for more water. I’ve got to say, I was impressed with the performance of this product and the results I’ve gotten from it.

Rich Evans' Signature Quick Cut Sander Kit

How it works

Step one is to hook the whole thing up, which is really easy to do. First, connect the filter with the accompanying hose which is then hooked up to the pump. The pump actually goes into the bucket of water and attaches to the bottom of the bucket with suction cups. Fill a five-gallon bucket with water and add a tablespoon of dishwashing detergent to make the sandpaper cut faster and last longer.

        Next, connect the DA to your air line and select the pad density – soft, medium or firm – appropriate for the area you are working on. After you have your pad selected and ready, make sure to wipe down your project with a degreaser.

        Color sanding can be a big job, particularly when working with graphics which can leave an edge, making it easier to burn or go through the clear in these spots. Thus far, in the projects my crew and I have completed, we have not had any burns!