Scuffing paint on pre-primed door

[Dan]

I just installed a steel pre-hung exterior door. The finishing instructions suggest "scuffing" the factory primer before apply a finish coat. I understand the purpose of this, and this will probably sound like a pretty dumb question, but what is best for this? Sand paper (what grit/type?) or steel wool (what coarseness?).

TIA

Dan

[Norminn]

I would be very careful not to scuff through the primer and expose the steel, for fear of rusting. Fine steel wool would be my choice...a primer should have no gloss, so that is an odd instruction. If a flat finish primer, then all that would seem necessary would be to remove any chalking and/or dirt. If using steel wool, vacuum off when finished so you don't leave any tiny particles of steel wool, as they will rust.

[Dan]

Thanks for the reply. All the things you mention are what I was concerned about. I think I may just wipe it down with mineral spirits & paint it w/o the abrasion. The primer is flat, and no doubt quite thin. I'm imagining that sanding through to the bare metal and subsequent rust is more of a threat to the final finish than the need for adding more "tooth" to the already flat primer.

Dan

[curmudgeon]

Use a 3M fiber pad....NOT steel wool or sandpaper

U