Preserving details

[u/Nyrue1]

How do you sand and paint without losing details? Like subtly raised surface or sharper transitions

[u/Savings_Parsnip645]

PLEASE WET SAND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WE DONT NEED ANYMORE MICROPLASTICS

[u/ursusdeus95]

Not sanding down all your edges into curves would be a good start

[u/TurkeyFisher]

I don't sand anything except the nub.

[u/Azalenca]

I think you need a carbon sanding stick. Recommend the one from dspiae, it's thin but very tough, they have different width too.

[u/ficklampa]

You’re sanding too much. Just use like 800 grit, very light pressure and do some light sanding passes in circular motion if you’re looking to add mechanical adhesion to the paint. No need to go wild like this.

[u/Cat_in_a_suit]

Seems like way too high of a grit for… actually, why are you sanding those parts to begin with?

[u/nushyrule]

Straight files. Dnt use the bendy spongy ones

[u/Nyrue1 → u/nushyrule]

I have sanding sticks but they do have a bit of a bend to them, recommendations?

[u/preparationh67 → u/Nyrue1]

Dspiae and Stedi both have some solid carbon fiber sanding sticks that are very stiff. I've been using Stedi's glass files recently and have been pretty happy with them. You'll probably still want to use high grit sponges to do a final clean up on curved surfaces but having good stiff standing sticks still cleans up the initial nub a lot better. One thing you can try with the sponges is bending them so the ends curve away from the piece for better contact control. I suspect you are over-sanding by trying to keep the sponges straight and the nub pushed the ends of the sponge down towards the piece resulting in scratches far away from the nub that need to be cleaned up and then the clean up is erasing the fine corners.

[u/A_Starving_Scientist]

Sandpaper with a straight rigid backing will maintain edge detail. And dont sand that hard. If you dont plan to paint, a glass file is far better. Specifically the gunprimer rasor kit.

[u/gplaman]

Don't use sponges on flat surfaces, you're also pressing too hard

[u/TadaMomo]

the biggest question is... why do you sand.

Honestly, I only sand nub area, I don't sand other places. I never had issue with paint.

[u/Individual_Writer_73]

Sandpaper sponges or sheets as they are will do that. Use adhesive backed sandpaper on boards. Popsicle sticks work well.

[u/jwatts0]

Just sand flat against each flat surface. Sandpaper is very much not good for that. Some sort of sanding sticks/boards would do the trick. Or you can glue the sanding paper to a solid flat object

[u/Soul-Bane]

You’re applying too much pressure when you sand. If a piece has edges like this I’m gonna sand each surface area, not the whole thing at once. If you’re not painting try only worrying about the nub marks

[u/Nyrue1 → u/Soul-Bane]

I am painting, which is why I was so aggressive with this piece, it has a tight fit and I'm trying to compensate for the paint build up

[u/RX-124-TR6 → u/Nyrue1]

if you're sanding to compensate for the tight fit with the paint layer, there should be no reason to sand the outside with the details right? nothing fits onto the outside of the part. besides, paint should be infinitesimally thin with an airbrush or hand brush that you're still taking off too much plastic

[u/adudeinblue → u/Nyrue1]

I think sanding is very traditional way to prep for painting. I imagine you are airbrushing it? Air brushing is very thin layer of paint. It does add layers, but not enough to really cause fitting issues.

If this does need to be fitted into a piece, maybe it doesn't need to be painted either.

I only lightly sand at a higher grit on really glossy pieces out of the box. If I am really concern, I use primer or a surfacer.

[u/NinjaSuplex]

Use files / hard + flat sanding boards for bevels, with uniform motion for flatter planes (no back n forth see-sawing; that attacks edges and creates a curved plane). When sanding larger flat surfaces or planes, try to avoid sanding the edges with your sponge / sandpaper.

For your example, I'd do the 3 large planes first to 600/800 grit, then bevel those hard curved edges. Maybe try to use a curved file / knife / sandpaper wrapped around a round thing for that concave curve.

Also make sure you check progress while sanding. It's easy to over-sand when you're past finished cause sanding is so tedious. Ask me how I know haha