I am using an angle grinder to sand down my trailer. I am using a 40M pad. (i have no idea what that means) but it's working. Is this what you guys do? I have never sanded a trailer, especially with an angle grinder. Just want to make sure I do it correctly. What are the do's and don'ts?
Sanding/Painting a trailer
Expert Lawns
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I am using an angle grinder to sand down my trailer. I am using a 40M pad. (i have no idea what that means) but it's working. Is this what you guys do? I have never sanded a trailer, especially with an angle grinder. Just want to make sure I do it correctly. What are the do's and don'ts?
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Do you have access to a sand blaster, or a place where you could rent one?
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I guess I could rent one but that's just more money that I have to spend. What are the advantages? Does it do a better job or is it just faster?
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from my experiences, its just easier. You can get in all the little spots. Its like painting with a spray can, instead of a brush.
I have repainted and touched up my trailers several times.
I would just clean & lightly sand all the angle iron, square or round tubes, and any other larger surface areas. You really cannot sand effectively any of the expanded metal surfaces without a sand blaster but that ok, just clean the surfaces of dirt and grime(maybe a power washer but not necessary). Then I would use semi-gloss enamel spray paint cans or borrow a sprayer and have at it. Ideally you would want to sandblast that trailer for a perfect prep job before painting, but this is not a porsche with a perfect paint job and clear coat. I have done this several times and the results are very good.
Also, I assume you are taking about an open trailer.
I would just clean & lightly sand all the angle iron, square or round tubes, and any other larger surface areas. You really cannot sand effectively any of the expanded metal surfaces without a sand blaster but that ok, just clean the surfaces of dirt and grime(maybe a power washer but not necessary). Then I would use semi-gloss enamel spray paint cans or borrow a sprayer and have at it. Ideally you would want to sandblast that trailer for a perfect prep job before painting, but this is not a porsche with a perfect paint job and clear coat. I have done this several times and the results are very good.
Also, I assume you are taking about an open trailer.
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Yes it is an open trailer. I was just at my local trailer dealer buying some parts for my trailer brakes. He said that an angle grinder with a 40 or 80 pad would be fine to sand with. I just need to prime it asap, seeing how it's exposing bare metal right now. For the hard to reach areas I will just hand sand I guess. Thanks for the responses, you've been very helpful
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Here are some work-in-progess pictures. Just got done sanding. Getting ready to prime it.
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Primed and ready to paint (the front half)
I didn't wash the trailer before priming it because I didn't want to introduce any water to the exposed metal. Is it ok to lightly power wash it now that it's primed? I'd like to have it as clean as possible before painting, which may not take place for a day or two and it's sitting outside.
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I didn't wash the trailer before priming it because I didn't want to introduce any water to the exposed metal. Is it ok to lightly power wash it now that it's primed? I'd like to have it as clean as possible before painting, which may not take place for a day or two and it's sitting outside.
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thats sweet bro. Im painting the black one tommorrow. I powerwashed mine with my extremly high pressure bit. Its an 11hp engine on that sucker, and that with the high pressure bit took the paint right off. So tommarow im going to prime it twice and put like 3 coats of black paint on it. Then ill do the bearings because if yours needs em, most likely mine does too.
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Everyones snow around here is melted. It was like 50 here today, well yesterday, and sopossed to be 50 again today 
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All I have to say is.... GIT R DUN! LOL. Im finally getting tired, how do I know? because im getting slap happy. lol.tiedeman said:
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LOL. I dont know. Im still awake so maybe... lmaotiedeman said:LMAO
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Just curious, how long did it take you to sand/grind yoiur trailer completely? How many hours?
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mark and troy......get a room (or forum). Mark is right, the snow down here is gone. sun has been out for 3 days and its been in the upper 40s lower 50s. Very nice weather to knock the cobwebs off the equipment.
burnandreturn, it took me about 2 hours to sand the entire trailer. This, however, does not include the tailgate. I am waiting to get some spot welding done, then I will sand and paint it. I will be putting 3 coats of high gloss fire engine red on it. Then stripe it with some reflective tape
burnandreturn, it took me about 2 hours to sand the entire trailer. This, however, does not include the tailgate. I am waiting to get some spot welding done, then I will sand and paint it. I will be putting 3 coats of high gloss fire engine red on it. Then stripe it with some reflective tape
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and it only took about 1/2 hour to prime it
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What has worked for me is wet sand blast the trailer. I pay a guy $100 and he does it all plus pressure wash the wood floor. I take all the light off and he does it. Then spray it with a prep coat, then primer twice then use commercial truck coating for semi - trucks. It doesn't chip or scratch that easy. about every 3 years I would re do the trailer. Also you should re pack the wheel bearings every 10 to 12 thousand miles. You can also buy special bearings that have a bulls eye and it forces any grease back into the bearing as you drive they are pretty neat.
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