Sanding is generally to provide a 'key' so that further coats will adhere properly. Vacuum the dust off and clean the surface with a tack cloth. You do need to sand the cabinets…that’s how the paint adheres (in the same way that you need to sand the floors for the stain to properly penetrate). Finally: It's painting time! Repeat the sanding, vacuuming, and tack cloth between coats. I recommend three thin coats of paint, but it all depends on the color and consistency. After the final coat of flat paint, sand lightly with super fine sandpaper. Sand with fine sandpaper between coats after they dry. Paint it! You may be in danger of putting several coats of this stuff on with no sanding in between the stuff will easily be knocked off and won't provide a protective coat as it should. Paint the second coat of paint on the piece the same as the first. Allow six to eight hours in between coats. Sand with non-clogging 180- or 220-grit sandpaper or sanding sponges (look for 'non-clogging' or 'stearated' on the label). Sanding between coats of primer will just extend how long it takes to complete the phase, while sanding at the end of the primer step yields the same results. No sanding to be done between step 1 and step 5. 1 prep body (sand old paint / new primer) 2 spray seal coat 3 Spray base coat 4 spray clear coat 5 wet sand and buff. Your project should be smooth and even. 320 to 400 Grit Sandpaper: Very fine grit sandpaper is used for light sanding between coats of finish and to sand metal and other hard surfaces. Sanding between coats of paint would compromise that coverage. Use a mini foam roller to apply three thin coats of semi-gloss latex paint. This is not Lacquer, not even close. Once primer is dry, you should sand the primer before moving on to the basecoat color. – Light sanding between coats of paint on wood or drywall: 320 to 600: Very fine – Wood finishing or polishing – Light sanding between coats of finish – Sand metal and other hard surfaces lightly: 1200 to 2000: Ultra-fine – Final wood sanding – Polishing the thick finishes – Making the surface smooth and clear Any sanding of base coat will ruin your new paint job. Level 5 type work always gets sanded aggressively between coats so does anything high and visible over Level 4. Make sure you remove sanding residue before applying additional coats. Use the same sanding block and a … Sometimes we sand between coats to knock down the previous light roller texture despite it being clean. Scuff and wipe clean before applying the second coat of paint using sandpaper on imperfections. The answers in this comment will be based on using acrylic latex paint, what you would find at big box retailers, Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore etc. Some cheap flat heavy paints are best to sand between coats because they tend to build heavier nap textures. And, you do need multiple coats of paint (at least 2 coats, but usually 3….and yes, I know people that have done it and some of them even needed 3-5 coats). All Hardeners For Body Filler Are The Same. For the smoothest possible topcoat, hand-sand the entire door after the primer and between coats of paint. It's important that you sand in between coats if you have any drips or residue on the piece. Paint a third coat, then fourth coat if needed. Remember, unless there’s significant orange peel, roughness, or severe flaws that require repair before further basecoat and clearcoat, there’s no need to sand your basecoat. Tips for painting a second coat include waiting for the first coat to dry completely before adding more paint. 180 to 220 Grit Sandpaper: Finer grit sandpaper is great for removing the scratches left by coarser grits on unfinished wood and for lightly sanding between coats of paint. 4. Reduce streaks with sanding technique and by adding conditioner to the paint. 5. This is one of those questions where if you ask 20 people you will get 20 different answers. After the first coat is dry, lightly sand the entire surface with an ultra fine grit sanding block. It may seem like a lot of work, but it shouldn't take more than five minutes when the door is flat on the sawhorses. Actually, sanding between coats of primer is pointless.