Need a Power Tool to Polish/Wax the Gelcoat
 

"Reginald P. Smithers" wrote in message
...
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"?

Need a Power Tool to Polish/Wax the Gelcoat
 

When I got my old beater, A 2-spd buffer was recommended by the marina
where I got it ... very chalky ... or there were detailing people that
would do the work for about $1200. The thing is, all the fittings/rails
need to be removed, as well as the old vinyl striping and so on. I
thought what the heck, I'll just use one of those handy dandy
polishers. Well, I didn't get more than maybe a few feet down the hull
before that polisher burnt out. My experience ... for that first
rubbing compond work, remove all the fittings etc, if you're lucky the
striping will be old and dry and can be gently scraped off, and get
yourself a 2-spd buffer ... they're usually on sale 1/2 price
somewhere. Sure, I only got a one time use out of the buffer. Oh yeah,
if you have any aluminum like I do associated with the rub rails (?), I
suggest rub the area close to that by hand else the buffer picks up the
oxidation from the aluminum ... result ... grey rubbing compound :-(

Need a Power Tool to Polish/Wax the Gelcoat
 

JIMinFL wrote:
"Reginald P. Smithers" wrote in message
...
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.

Need a Power Tool to Polish/Wax the Gelcoat
 

"Reginald P. Smithers" wrote in message
...
JIMinFL wrote:
"Reginald P. Smithers" wrote in message
...
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.

Need a Power Tool to Polish/Wax the Gelcoat
 

"JIMinFL" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Reginald P. Smithers" wrote in message
...
JIMinFL wrote:
"Reginald P. Smithers" wrote in message
...
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.

Need a Power Tool to Polish/Wax the Gelcoat
 

JimH wrote:
"JIMinFL" wrote in message
ink.net...
"Reginald P. Smithers" wrote in message
...
JIMinFL wrote:
"Reginald P. Smithers" wrote in message
...
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,
If you read the thread you would see JiminFla was not talking about a
random orbit polisher/buffer. He was discussing a high speed circular
buffer. There is a big difference between the two.
If you also read the thread, you would see that no one was "Telling
folks that they are not capable of polishing or buffing their boat".
The average person can make the same mistake you did and can not tell
the difference between a high speed buffer, and a relatively slow speed
random orbit buffer. I appreciate you highlighting this.

Two people did recommend that anyone using a circular high speed buffer
should be extremely careful or they can destroy a car or boat finish.



--
Reggie

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

Need a Power Tool to Polish/Wax the Gelcoat
 

JIMinFL wrote:
"Reginald P. Smithers" wrote in message
...
JIMinFL wrote:
"Reginald P. Smithers" wrote in message
...
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.


FlaJim,
If you read JimH's response, you can see an example of someone who can
not tell the difference between a high speed buffer and a random orbit
buffer. Unfortunately, some people are not able to read directions or
follow a thread discussion high speed buffing.

--
Reggie

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

Need a Power Tool to Polish/Wax the Gelcoat
 

jeez guys, you're removing oxidation, not 3 coats of gelcoat. tell ya what.
go to an automotive paint store, get a yellow polishing pad. a bottle of 3m
finesse-2. very low abrasive and try it. hell your not going to learn any
younger. start on a nice flat surface and see how it works. it aint rocket
science, just pay attention to what you see. if you can see lightning and
hear thunder, you can polish a boat. just pay attention

Need a Power Tool to Polish/Wax the Gelcoat
 

" JimH" jimh_osudad@yahooDOT comREMOVETHIS wrote in message
...

"JIMinFL" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Reginald P. Smithers" wrote in message
...
JIMinFL wrote:
"Reginald P. Smithers" wrote in message
...
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

Need a Power Tool to Polish/Wax the Gelcoat
 

"RCE" wrote in message
...

" JimH" jimh_osudad@yahooDOT comREMOVETHIS wrote in message
...

"JIMinFL" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Reginald P. Smithers" wrote in message
...
JIMinFL wrote:
"Reginald P. Smithers" wrote in message
...
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.