Offshoreonly.com - Buffing Gelcoat

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I plan on buffing my boat this winter. I have a partial wrap on the boat. Any ideas of what to put over the edges of the wrap so the buffer doesn't mess it up. I was thinking painters tape but I did not want that to peel up the wrap when I pull it off. Has anyone else ever done this?

Thanks,
Blake

the blue painters tape is pretty weak stuff, the glue is like a friggin post it note lol. I would think regular 3M green should work good and if your wrap was properly applied I wouldnt think you should have a problem pulling it off.

Thanks Dave!

Quote:

Originally Posted by glassdave (Post 4210011)

If properly installed, you shouldn't need anything. I've buffed mine with no problem.

Even with a rotary buffer and wool pads buffing pads?!

I wouldn't think it would pull up the wrap, but the buffer could take out the coloring or mess the coloring up, I would run a piece of 2" down the edge of the wrap to protect it against that.

Hey Blake, tried to RE your PM and got a "pm box full" thingie . . . so hear ya go :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBlakeNS

Dave,

My buddy Chris "badmonkey" had mentioned your name. He said you had a product you typically use that keeps a very nice shine on your boat. I will attach a picture of my boat. I was wondering what your process would be. I have a porter cable rotary buffer. The gelcoat is clean looking....it isn't really chalky it just has a dryer feel to it. I want it almost slick like a bowling lane. I was going to use either 6" blue foam cutting pads or thin purple foamed wool pads with marine 31 all in one gelcoat polish and wax. Let me know what you think.

Yep actually i have a compound i use for exactly that, light oxidation. Fountain of Youth Restore has a compound called Totally Buff that is amazing, not a snake oil product just a well thought out marine compound. Its a diminishing compound that works itself down to a finer polish as you go and it has an odd/cool property that lets it clean itself out of a wool pad (by the way wool ONLY for gelcoat, no foam) As you work the buffer it kinda balls up and flings out of the pad and never gums up. I have done three thirty eights with the same pad and never spurred it a single time pad. After hitting it with Totally i finish up with either Vitreo or Awesome wax (also from FoY) heres a link. All there stuff is great its all i use in my shop

http://www.fountainofyouthrestore.com/products.html

not sure if you saw this thread but theres some good info . . . .

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/f...vibra-cut.html

good luck man and let me know how it goes

Thanks Dave. I am going to order now.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by CBlakeNS (Post 4210280)

Even with a rotary buffer and wool pads buffing pads?!

I use a Dewalt 7" polisher variable speed, tops out at 1750. Foam pad to polish and finish up with terry cloth pad.

Never had an issue, but I would listen to Glass Dave.

Quote:

Originally Posted by glassdave (Post 4210456)

Hey Blake, tried to RE your PM and got a "pm box full" thingie . . . so hear ya go :D

Yep actually i have a compound i use for exactly that, light oxidation. Fountain of Youth Restore has a compound called Totally Buff that is amazing, not a snake oil product just a well thought out marine compound. Its a diminishing compound that works itself down to a finer polish as you go and it has an odd/cool property that lets it clean itself out of a wool pad (by the way wool ONLY for gelcoat, no foam) As you work the buffer it kinda balls up and flings out of the pad and never gums up. I have done three thirty eights with the same pad and never spurred it a single time pad. After hitting it with Totally i finish up with either Vitreo or Awesome wax (also from FoY) heres a link. All there stuff is great its all i use in my shop

http://www.fountainofyouthrestore.com/products.html

not sure if you saw this thread but theres some good info . . . .

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/f...vibra-cut.html

good luck man and let me know how it goes

Im another huge fan of these products. Great stuff. I HATE detailing my boats / cars, but I'm extremely anal at the same time. This stuff works great and is easy to use.