" JimH" jimh_osudad@yahooDOT comREMOVETHIS wrote in message
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"RCE" wrote in message
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" JimH" jimh_osudad@yahooDOT comREMOVETHIS wrote in message
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"JIMinFL" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Reginald P. Smithers" wrote in message
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JIMinFL wrote:
"Reginald P. Smithers" wrote in message
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RCE wrote:
"jds" wrote in message
news:enk7g.2393$AB3.285@fed1read02...
sorry, but an orbital polisher will not restore the dull gelcoat.
they are just what they say they are, polishers, not buffers. get
a good variable speed buffer, makita, dewalt, or equivalant.

a job like this requires several steps and you can do them all
with a buffer, you just change the pads. depending on just how
oxidized it is , you may get by with a polishing pad, usually
yellow in color, and some fine compound. if not yo need some
coarser compound and a cutting pad. once the oxidation is gone,
just switch to a foam polishing pad and a good wax. apply the wax
by hand and hit it with the foam pad. if you really want to get
sexy, put a good glaze on top of the wax and put your sunglasses
on, you'll need em.

i just did a friends 20 foot boat last weekend, and as jim so
rightly says, there aint no easy way to do it unless you pay
someone else. took us both all day and 2 12 pax of pepsi, but it
is purdy. best regards, j.d.

A word of caution. An aggressive buffer combined with compound -
even fine - can easily burn right through the gelcoat if you are
not careful. The gelcoat is thin on most boats, like the thickness
of a dime or less. Any thicker and it would be prone to excessive
cracking.

RCE
Buffing a car/boat is not for the average person. It is best left
to the experts.

--
Reggie

That's my story and I am sticking to it.

Interesting comment Reginald. Would you care to share your definition
of an "average person"?

FlaJim,

Feel free to call me Reggie.

By "average person", I mean someone who has not been shown how to
correctly use a buffer, the different buffer pads and the different
compounds. It is very easy to burn through the clear coat or the gel
coat or just have a car that is full of obvious swirl marks.

A buffer used incorrectly can cause more problems then it solves.


http://www.automotivedetailing.com/a...ed_buffers.htm


--
Reggie

That's my story and I am sticking to it.

Now I get it. When you say average, you really mean inexperienced.


Telling folks that they are not capable of polishing or buffing their
boat or car is doing them a disservice IMO.

All you have to do is buy the PC 7424 random-orbit polisher/buffer
talked about in this thread and read the directions. Even the
inexperienced can use it safely.



JimH --

Do you bother to *read* a post before you respond to it or do you just
type off a response based on what you *think* it said?

RCE


Oh, I read it OK Richard.

Did you happen to miss this statement?

"Buffing a car/boat is not for the average person. It is best left to the
experts."

*That* is what I was responding to. Got it?

Good.


That being said, I now have a question for you Richard: Do you bother to
*read* a post before you respond to it or do you just type off a response
based on what you *think* it said?