Best technique for wet sanding Options

[dbgriffith75]

I don't have anything in particular I'll need to wet sand soon, but I got to thinking about this today and was just wondering.

I've known some people to spray a given area with a hose, then sand.

I've known some to wipe down the area with a wet rag, then sand.

And one guy I know dips the sandpaper in water, then sands.

My personal preference is to wipe down the area with a wet rag, then sand. Just wondering how other guys do it and what could be considered the "best method."
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[charliew]

All the above. The idea is to keep the paint from building up on the paper and scratching the surface. The fresher the paint the easier it will happen. You can feel it when it happens and the scratch is a mess to get out. You can never have too much water but you can also use less if you pay attention. I never use my bare fingers on any surface that is flat. Your fingers will never make a surface flat, I only use my fingers on edges. I usually only go in the same direction about 5 strokes, I go in circular, 45, 90 and 90 to that strokes. I use a bucket for small areas and a old bath towel to wipe up to check my progress. I usually use a stikit 3m yellow foam pad that is shaped like your palm on the top. I use it either direction though. I think it's a 3m product but it's been around a long time and lasts a ling time. I also use several different size dense rubber pads. If I'm doing tight inside curves I use a curved pad. I've been wetsanding for almost 50 years and my sanding muscles never tireout but this year my shoulder has started poping but it doesn't hurt or get sore. A lot of the pros are using a dry sanding system that has as high as a 3000 grit. it costs about 300.00 just to get started with it but they say a package of pads lasts a long time. I have some pretty expensive paint tools but that won't be one I think I will need.