When does sanding come into play?

[billabong7329]

I just started priming my mugg and I'm realizing it has a very gritty feeling to the paint. I'm just about to start my third and final coat and I'm wondering if I should just leave it as it is and start painting on the details afterward, or is it necessary to sand down the figure after priming? Or should I just wait and sand the whole thing when I'm done?

What type of sand paper works best?

Sorry if this isn't the use for the sandpaper, after reading around on the forums a bit I've noticed some people talking about it, I just wasn't sure when it was necessary to do so.

Thanks =)

[JTMuggs]

ive never used primer. i just use a coat or 2 of white paint. for me, it gives the color enough to stick to. but i would say that if you want to sand your mugg smooth, do it before ant final coat. but dont take my word for it. experiment with the medium. find what works for you. its the best part of muggn':)

[billabong7329]

Well, technically I'm not priming either I guess. I'm actually just putting down a few coats of dark gray to start out.

[JTMuggs]

oh, youre useing paint... then the problem with the gritty texture may be simple. dont forget to add a little water to you r paint to thin it out and get a smoother finish.

[chris.o.saur]

i believe he means he's using a spray paint, not a spray primer....correct? most people use krylon fusion satin white/grey/black. i like it because it lays down really flat and smooth and thin and doesn't bubble because of heat. some people use other things but i believe the majority, myself included, use the krylon fusion. i personally sand whatever blemeshes i have down before my final coat.

[billabong7329]

I'm actually just painting on the gray coat with a brush and acrylics. I don't really have anywhere to spray paint anything, so unfortunately that really isn't an option :( .

I'll try thinning it out with water next time.

I don't have any sand paper at the moment, so I took a hand towel that I use to dry my brush off with and used it to rub the mug and it is smoother now =)

[Green Eggs and Death]

Get a really fine grit sanding "block." Much easier to use than sheets of sandpaper. Just sand the final coat of "primer" a little with the fine (or superfine) paper and you'll be good to go. :D