Has anyone ever used this?

[dellsboater]

Re: Has anyone ever used this?

PS. The newer compounds out there are light years ahead of Super Duty ...

What other products with same cut power are you refering to?

Does anyone have picture, or link of what sanders you are refering to?

 

[captainzac]

Re: Has anyone ever used this?

You most likely already know this but
I have not heard anyone talk about prep before you compound or sand.

Cleaning
The first step in restoring the gloss to dull gelcoat is always a thorough cleaning. Add a cup of detergent to a gallon of water-warm water is better-and use a sponge to wash the surface with this solution. Be sure to protect your hands with rubber gloves.

If mildew is present, add a cup of household bleach to your cleaning solution. Difficult stains like fish blood and waterline scum may require the direct application of a concentrated cleaner formulated for fiberglass. Rinse the clean surface thoroughly and let it dry.

Degreasing
For dependable results from wax or polish, the gelcoat surface must be completely free of oil and grease. Detergents often fail to fully remove these contaminants from porous gelcoat. Wipe the entire surface with a rag soaked in MEK (preferred) or acetone, turning the rag often and replacing it when you run out of clean areas. Again, protect your skin with thick rubber gloves.

Using Rubbing Compound
If the gelcoat is weathered so badly that polish fails to restore its shine, you will need the stronger abrasives rubbing compound contains. Wax on the surface can cause the compound to cut unevenly, so first remove all wax by "sweeping" the surface in one direction-not back and forth-with rags saturated with dewax solvent or toluene.

Select a rubbing compound formulated for fiberglass and use it exactly like polish, rubbing it with a circular motion until the surface turns glassy. The gelcoat on your boat is about 10 times as thick as the paint on your car, so compound shouldn't cut all the way through it as long as you are careful not to rub in one place too long. If the gelcoat starts to look transparent, stop.

After the surface has been compounded, polish it, then coat it with wax and buff it. Providing the gelcoat has an adequate thickness-the boat might have been compounded previously-this process will restore the shine to fiberglass in almost any condition.

 

[dellsboater]

Re: Has anyone ever used this?

No I did not know that, making a shopping list now. What compound do you suggest? I need something agressive. I have a finish compound for the next step, but need to find the first cutting compound. I have access to the following:

Rubbing Compound, Meguiar's, Inc.; Heavy; 16 oz

Super Duty, Aggressive; 1 QT; Liquid
Product Line: 3M

 

[captainzac]

Re: Has anyone ever used this?

I like 3m
If you go to a auto paint supply store they should have what you need
3m has a 123 progrram that matches compounds and pads
I just clean as shown above
Heavy compound 1st with wool pad. (if this is your first time using a buffer then I would go with the 3m foam pad made for heavy compound)
Keep the buffer moving and do about a 3ft x 3ft aera at a time.
When you are finished with an area rub your hand over it you will know if you should do it again
Then I go with the 3m pollish I use the 3m foam pad made for the polish
same process as above
When it flls smoth its done.
Then I use 3m marine wax.
apply with hand and pad (your store might have a special rag for this made by 3m its very nice but hard to find) be sure and apply in one direction do not rub on in a circle
wipe off with cloth towel ( I like baby diapers)
Then use a mild detergent and was the boat towel dry
(about a cap full per 5 gal)
always wash the boat like this until its time for a wax job then repeat above.

 

[captainzac]

Re: Has anyone ever used this?

Look at these

 

[dellsboater]

Re: Has anyone ever used this?

Look at these

Missing link or pictures?

 

[cbavier]

Re: Has anyone ever used this?

The quote came from 3m. And the picture that the OP posted of the "Squirt" bottle of 3m's Super Duty Rubbing Compound IS liquid not dry. I've used it for many years and when used correctly is does produce a high gloss and minimal swirl marks. The use of a DA is overkill on gel coat IMHO.

I would try 3m Marine Fiberglass cleaner and wax Part # 09009 If that doesn't work. Oh and follow the instructions exactly like stated on the bottle. PM me and I'll tell you of a Harsher 3m product. These work believe me.

"Chuck's Fiberglass"

http://s244.photobucket.com/albums/gg15/cbavier/?start=0

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Has anyone ever used this?

What other products with same cut power are you refering to?

Does anyone have picture, or link of what sanders you are refering to?

There are a few out there with the same cutting power.. 3m makes a tooling compound..and a heavy cut Gel compound ( I dont have the numbers ) as well there is Diamond cut compount and others..you just have to look around.

I dont use heavy duty anymore because its so much faster to sand and polish then to use it.

The Sander im refering to is right out of the miguires pics that was posted earlier.. http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43076

That small buffer isnt really a buffer ( you can get the attatchies for it though ) its a sander. Porter cable 6" Random Orbital..

http://www.google.com/products/cata...sult&ct=image&resnum=3&sqi=2&ved=0CC8Q8gIwAg#

Looks like they changed the housing..its the same thing..

This stuff is the best for gel IMO..

http://www.google.com/search?q=3m+i...group&ct=image&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CCgQzAMwAA

YD.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Has anyone ever used this?

Like YD said, its faster and you get a better finish by sanding more and buffing less.

 

[dellsboater]

Re: Has anyone ever used this?

Just not that comfortable sanding, in the old days, we tried to avoid sanding a finish as it breaks the original factory paint and will require more maintenance in the long run, of course this was working on cars, not boats. I bought some of the Super duty 3m, going to try it this weekend. Also got some de waxer to clean the hull first. The Imperial 3M looks like what I wanted, but no one stocks in locally....so I guess I can go back to that if this does not work. I will be taking and posting pictures here....before and after..

Funny thing, I got this months copy of Trailer Boats, and they have a blurp in there about polishing, and state, if you do not dewax first, you will just be pushing the wax around...thanks to this forum, I found that out yesterday!

 

[dellsboater]

Re: Has anyone ever used this?

There are a few out there with the same cutting power.. 3m makes a tooling compound..and a heavy cut Gel compound ( I dont have the numbers ) as well there is Diamond cut compount and others..you just have to look around.

I dont use heavy duty anymore because its so much faster to sand and polish then to use it.

The Sander im refering to is right out of the miguires pics that was posted earlier.. http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43076

That small buffer isnt really a buffer ( you can get the attatchies for it though ) its a sander. Porter cable 6" Random Orbital..

http://www.google.com/products/cata...sult&ct=image&resnum=3&sqi=2&ved=0CC8Q8gIwAg#

Looks like they changed the housing..its the same thing..

This stuff is the best for gel IMO..

http://www.google.com/search?q=3m+i...group&ct=image&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CCgQzAMwAA

YD.

Wow sanding with a buffer? Is that what everyone uses? Is there not a sander that works on the air compressor?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Has anyone ever used this?

While they did bring the color back on that hull, the method they used left it uneven with a very noticeable roving print, its also hard to tell how much of the improvement is from removing oxidized gel coat, or just masking it with oils from the compounds. Sanding it first can remove the print and yield an excellent surface profile, the gloss will typically last longer too.

 

[oops!]

Re: Has anyone ever used this?

Wow sanding with a buffer? Is that what everyone uses?

that buffer/sander yd showed in the link by porter cable is the industry standard

you can get cheepies at harbour freight (in canada princess auto) for around 60 bux .....look for the one with variable speed and get used to working on low.

imho the deal of that porter cable at 109 is a steal !....my makita was 250 and porter cable makes a great tool

 

[dellsboater]

Re: Has anyone ever used this?

The auto supply store locally said not to use a buffer/sander but to buy a da air compressor type. He had one on the shelf, its a small unit with round pad that fits in the palm of your hand, but maybe he was just trying to sell me something.

I own a Milwaukee buffer, and a cheap Harbor frieght one. The Milwaukee has no setting on it I can see to slow it down...

 

[oops!]

Re: Has anyone ever used this?

the shop i am currently working at has air tools coming out the ying yang.

i have not yet found an air sander or grinder i like. (except the air powered long board). you will also need a huge compressor.

besides my big makita..(the big sander polisher) i use a 4 inch palm sander with a 6 inch foam pad. this is my light grit sander..(400 and up) i do not wet sand,.....at all.
i just keep sanding in a progressive stage...400-600 all the way thru to 1500 grit. each sand paper removes the scratches form the last paper....as ondarvr just mentioned...the longer you sand...the better the polish/finish.

(400-800 will still remove some of the gellcoat...the rest are basically a polish paper....so be careful about spending too much time in one spot or you will burn thru)

i think i have pics of all the tools i used in the link in my sig....it will be somewhere around the gellcoating stage.

 

[dellsboater]

Re: Has anyone ever used this?

Ok, so bought the Super Duty Compoud, used a wool pad. It was very labor intensive. Took 4 hours on one side. These are the results...
Still will have to use finish buffing with polish, then wax...

 

[Bondo]

Re: Has anyone ever used this?

the shop i am currently working at has air tools coming out the ying yang.

i have not yet found an air sander or grinder i like. (except the air powered long board). you will also need a huge compressor.

Ayuh,... I've got a copy of most any air tool, or electric tool needed for this stuff,...
If I don't, Bobby's got it...
The Shop at my disposal has a Massive I/R compressor,...
enough for 2 or 3 tools at a time,...

I Know some of you guys just Love gelcoat,...
But,...
In the time already spent on this hull,...
I'd had it sanded, 'n Shot to a Beautiful Finish, with 2 pt urethane Paint,......
Curin', 'n waitin' on graphics....

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Has anyone ever used this?

Ayuh,... I've got a copy of most any air tool, or electric tool needed for this stuff,...
If I don't, Bobby's got it...
The Shop at my disposal has a Massive I/R compressor,...
enough for 2 or 3 tools at a time,...

I Know some of you guys just Love gelcoat,...
But,...
In the time already spent on this hull,...
I'd had it sanded, 'n Shot to a Beautiful Finish, with 2 pt urethane Paint,......
Curin', 'n waitin' on graphics....

I would have Buffed this thing out to another 3 years of life in less time for your prep/prime/paint/derun/polish ( and hope nobody sees that run or two that was in there ).

Not only that..but once you PAINT..there is NO going back to the sweet sweet gel finish ( unless you sand off all that paint ) .

Gel IS the best .

But .. Im a Dinosaur I know both sides heh.

YD.