Polishing & Waxing

[Go]

Just bought a 'new' ship. The gel-coat needs some work. Not too bad
just a little oxidation.

So, what are people using (materials and tools) to:
Remove slight oxidation.
Polish
Wax (with UV protection)
Buff-out

When talking about buffers, is a rotary buffer the best to use?

[John Sinclair]

Take a close look at the gelcoat, if it has hair-line
cracks starting to appear, then you must wet sand them
out with 600wet, then 800 wet.

Oxyidation can be buffed out. Get a rotary buffer from
your local automotive paint store and a gallon of 3M
liquid rubbing compound. Spread it on with a small
rag dipped in water. Using a wool 5 inch buffing pad,
ease into your 24' X 24' area with firm pressure on
the top edge, keep it moving from left to right. As
the compound starts to disappear, ease off the pressure,
but keep going until she shines. I'll let others tell
you which wax to use, I'm all worn out right now and
not ready to jump right into this years discussion
about which wax to use.
WUSS JJ

At 17:00 23 March 2005, Go wrote:
>Just bought a 'new' ship. The gel-coat needs some work.
>Not too bad
>just a little oxidation.
>
>So, what are people using (materials and tools) to:
>Remove slight oxidation.
>Polish
>Wax (with UV protection)
>Buff-out
>
>When talking about buffers, is a rotary buffer the
>best to use?
>
>

[Go]

Thanks JJ, er, excuse me, Mr. Wuss. :-)
The benefit of your experience is appreciated.

First, no cracks. Thankfully it is only seven years old and in good
shape.
3M liquid rubbing compound. Where do I get this? Is there any part
number or other identifier?

So, this has been debated before? I just did a search and got seventeen
pages of hits! I'lll go there thanks.

You still flyin' the 'Bat Wing'?

Get some rest,
Go
1PD

[[email protected]]

Go wrote:
> Thanks JJ, er, excuse me, Mr. Wuss. :-)
> The benefit of your experience is appreciated.
>
> First, no cracks. Thankfully it is only seven years old and in good
> shape.
> 3M liquid rubbing compound. Where do I get this? Is there any part
> number or other identifier?
>
> So, this has been debated before? I just did a search and got
seventeen
> pages of hits! I'lll go there thanks.
>
> You still flyin' the 'Bat Wing'?
>
> Get some rest,
> Go
> 1PD


It seems that the most popular compound is 3M Finesse-It II. I've use
it and it works very well. They have another product called Perfect-IT
which is even a finer compound if your finish isn't too bad. They
should be available at any auto bodt pain store. Plan on at least 5 or
6 hours.

Mike

[Orion Kingman]

3m Finnesse-II polishing compound and then Racer's Edge Aviation Polish
(It is a wax too).

DV8

[John Sinclair]

Look up 'Paint' in the phone book and find 'Automotive
paint', they will have everything you need, buffers,
wool pads, buffing compound, sandpaper, etc. Don't
have the number of 3M's stuff in front of me, they
will know. Other brands OK, also.
Stay quick on your feet using that buffer. It can catch
the corner of things like an aileron and it is possible
to do damage. Get familiar with it in the wide open
areas. If it's bad, I would buff it out twice and then
change the transition tape at the edge of the Mylar
(watch the Mylar with that buffer) then I use Simonize
paste wax. Some like WX block or pick one from the
17 pages.
Bat wings, rock...........actually they do. Hit a bump
in the runway on landing and it will start doing an
imitation of a Hobby Horse. Love the ship. Bob Salvo
came up with a fix (fairing) that fixed the climb problem,
she always did run good. I'm keeping mine,
JJ

At 18:30 23 March 2005, Go wrote:
>Thanks JJ, er, excuse me, Mr. Wuss. :-)
>The benefit of your experience is appreciated.
>
>First, no cracks. Thankfully it is only seven years
>old and in good
>shape.
>3M liquid rubbing compound. Where do I get this? Is
>there any part
>number or other identifier?
>
>So, this has been debated before? I just did a search
>and got seventeen
>pages of hits! I'lll go there thanks.
>
>You still flyin' the 'Bat Wing'?
>
>Get some rest,
>Go
>1PD
>
>

[Papa3]

Finesse-It II seems to work the best for me (tried various Marine,
Auto, and Aviation varieties). As JJ says, the local auto body store
will have it. Another good alternative is the local boat store.

The bottle I have here says:

Part No. 051131 - it's the Pint variety that I carry with me for
rubbing out stains and landing gear door grime. It comes in quarts,
gallons, and five gallons, IIRC.

I use a DeWalt variable speed polisher and 3M polishing pad with the
nifty hook and loop attachment:
Pad is Part No. 05713; I don' have the part number of the backing
plate, but the guys at the store will know.

Have fun.

P3

[Andy Blackburn]

At 18:00 23 March 2005, John Sinclair wrote:
>I'm all worn out right now and
>not ready to jump right into this years discussion
>about which wax to use.
>WUSS JJ
>

Worn out from wrestling Neanderthals?

;-)

[John Sinclair]

>Worn out from wrestling Neanderthals?

One little WUSS with 3 Neanderthals on his back, man
I'm tired. KC, you can come back, we won't talk about
you any more.
:>) JJ