Originally Posted by waterboy222 (Post 3717910)

I'm trying to get my new (to me) Formula buffed out so the hullsides match the deck. The deck was buffed recently before I purchased it and it looks fantastic. But the hullsides are in pretty poor shape.

Im using Leverage's Oxidation Remover and I'm having trouble with either the product or my technique.

First off, the boat has a white hull with black and red stripes in the gelcoat. The colors are running and staining which is creating even MORE work. The black and red polish up to a mirror finish just with the wool pad and LOR. But when the pad hits the white, it rubs the red off the pad and into the gel leaving a stain. Should I be cleaning the pad between colors or using separate pads?

It also seems like my pad is gunking up and burning the gel. There's a few places that I had to use the OR and a scotchbrite pad to get the brown marks out of the gel. I'm using a Harbor Freight cheapy rotary buffer with a 7" wool pad set to about 4 out of 6 on the speed.

I've tried finding some youtube videos for techniques and its all going so much smoother on the videos than what I'm experiencing. It seems like the pad gets gunked up and then it grabs the gel and tries to pull the buffer out of my hand and usually leaves a burnt mark on the gel. I've tried slowing the buffer down, using more, using less, doing it by hand, and seem to be getting poor results all around.

Am I just putting too much product on? Should I be cleaning the pad every few feet? I worked about an hour and only got a 2x2 section done and it didn't even come out that great.. I didn't think it was "that" oxidized because it doesn't feel chalky. Should I be using a less or more aggressive product?

Originally Posted by glassdave (Post 3718032)

If your stripes are factory they are Imron.

The FOY Totally Buff is a self cleaning compound. Its the weirdest thing, it kind of spins itself through the pad as you work it and if you look at the pad between working the compound you can see just a little bit of it balled in the fibers on its way out. I did a 38 Baja Special a few weeks ago that had sat outside for the last five years. Used a QT and never spurred the pad one time. You basically work the product off the surface as you go and it kinda flys off the pad in this sort of a fine clumpy stuff that blows off. Occasionally if i am careful enough i will go straight to wax without even washing the surface. For wax i really like Hulas big Kahuna.


again not trying to knock another product just relaying my experience.

Originally Posted by low_psi (Post 3718262)

I have change to FOY for all my polishing needs. I have found the totally buff to be the best compound I have ever used. I use it as a one step on my boat. My buddy loved it on his Formula as well. I like the FOY products so much I actually talked with Kevin Peak (the owner of FOY) about a becoming a Michigan sales rep. I actually have boxes of samples of his products in my garage... (i bought the samples to begin spreading the word on his stuff to local stores and shops, but realized i didnt have the time to follow through..) i think I used all of the totally buff on my boat and friends... His power one cleaner is what actually sold me on his products.. But now I use his boat soap, vinyl cleaner and protectant, power one cleaner ( removes the yellow staining on the bottom) and totally buff. I am a believer!

Originally Posted by glassdave (Post 3718384)

lol, dude that is so funny because that sounds exactly like me. Kevin is a great guy, hung out with him and Doug G down in Key West a couple years ago. I became a dealer and was hoping to be a distributor but just am unable to scrape up the time to get out and market the product. Last couple cases i pretty much gave away spreading the word to my customers/friends and I made up some cards with Kevins site on it with a short product list/discription. Really wish i could be more involved but just no time with my biz, I preach it everywhere though (case in point lol)

Originally Posted by Full Force (Post 3718490)

I have my own ways that work, never yet to let me down...

The Cig I bought had ZERO shine at all, I use 1000-1200 and wet sand the gel first... number 1 it smooths the gel back out and gets rid of the pitting that is holding your stain, number 2 it makes it look like glass again....

I ALWAYS and ONLY have ever used a Milwaukee buffer with a 3M wool pad combined with 3M super duty compound and this last time I used a newer 3M extreme duty compound that is white, the Cig looks amazing...

In my opinion the only way to get a real good shine back and for it to hold longer is to wet sand it,you will have blotchy spots otherwise that are noticeable...Again, I had ZERO shine before I started...now looks amazing