wet sanding question
 

i had to do some gelcote repairs. They turned out ok but i had to sand everythign flush. I worked my way up to 1200 grit wet sanding should I go to 1600 or is 1200 enough before i go to compound?

1500 then compound, At least thats what I do on my red.

I've stopped at 800 and used a white stick on a cotton wheel. Took some leaning on it, but turned out well. I'd think 1200 would be okay, but if you got your hands on some 1600 or 2000, it ain't gonna hurt it any..

Try buffing now. You can always go back with the 2000 later if needed

any recomendations on compounds???

to be hinest its been at least 2 years sicne i had to wetsand. I';m not really a big fan of sanding fiberglass i always feel liek I am doign more damage than good. It looks very dull and crappy from eth sanding granet di got all eth miny gouges from eth 220 grit out but i still don;t like teh dull crappy lookgin finish. As i recall the compiound and then the wax makes it look normal and shiny again right???

The finer the grit, the easier the compounding.
If it's too rough you'll work your a$$ off trying to compound it.

sand to 1200-1500 then use a mild rubbing compound, you can use a buffer or alot of elbow grease, once you buff area to a gloss and have removed the sanding scratches switch over to a new polish pad and polish compound this will remove the fine scratches from the rubbing compound and bring your repaired area to a higher luster. once you have completed the polishing steps you should not see any fine scratches in the finish and have a high luster to your repair and surrounding area.

later

1000-1500 wet sand
micro cut compound with a buffer, wool pad
polish with buffer with foam pad
hand wax
Pimp it
In that order

Your Boat?
 

Martin, how is your boat coming along? June 21 fireworks at Alum!

Its done! are you coming to kelley's this weekend.

No. Thank you for asking. Check out the new ride!

Just Once,

I was at Kellys' last night and Put-in-bay today. Hope to get there next weekend.

I stop at 800 but I also use a professional grade detail sander.

Check it out this weekend hopefully.

Wet sanding buffing
 

I used 1200 and buffed w/ 3m perfect it III works great follow with choice of wax.

thanks for eth input guys as soon as my buddy returns my random orbit buffer i'm going to start in with the compounding!

(thank god i HATE sanding!!!)

Orbit buffer is more for wax and not compounds and polish.

later

It depends what you are sansding too, If its gellcoat 800 and a good rubout is cool but if its clearcoat I've found that I needed to go at least 1000 or you'll be rubbing it out all day to get the scratches out.
Puder: Hell ya sanding sucks, my boat is only a 24 but between sanding off all the old paint that the stripper didn't take off, sanding flat all my glass from repairing the 10 million small stress cracks on the dash and around cleats.Than wet saning the whole boat in primer, and now rubbing out the fresh paint, I feel your pain man. I don't even have fingerprints anymore.
Bajalion: hope to see you at Kelley's on saturday.

later, what should i use to compound it then? I need to do some large areas so doign it by hand it basically out of the question.

3m super duty rubbing compund with a makita or dewalt polisher with a 9" pad:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...105&pricetype=

does that just spin the pad like as if i put a polishing bit on a drill???

my waxer (both of them, air powered and electric) can spin in random orbit of non random orbit.

I have a heavy duty Mikita and I use everybit of its power. If you follow that link I gave you there is a "wen" brand. Not as much power but should do the trick, my fater in law has one that lasted quite nicely. Forget the drill idea.

If you use the 3m all over your boat you'll really like the results!!! The right polisher makes for quick rub out of all the chalky look on fiberglas. I don't know too many boaters who do not have one, or at least access to one.

You should be able to rent one or you can use mine after you finish my boat.:D

i'm not saying taht i was goign to use a drill, i was using it as a comparison of the way it rotates.

I already have 2 polishers. One is airpowerd and can spin in random orbit mode or switch to a spinngin mode. MY eletrci one does the saem thing. Is the spinngning motion what the tool you posted the link too does??? FYI i've used the electric random orbit to compound before and it worked well.

the buffers look like a grinder with a rubber backing and wool pad the air buffers came out many years ago and were ok for the lacquer days but dont have the grunt for ureathanes and gelcoat i would start with a agressive compound and work to fine you will safe alot of work buffing the sanding scratches then move to finer compounds.

That is the order I am doing mine this week sometime. Puder I will let you know how it turns out. My boat spent to much time on the west coast and the top looks real bad.