Please Help!! I Am Trying To Restore My Black Metal Flake Gel Coat.

[tybouff]

Greetings everyone,

Here is the deal: I have a 1990 19' Bayliner Cobra fish and ski. The hull is glossy silver at the bottom and glossy black on the sides. The cap is supposed to be black metal flake. I recently bought a set of Maguires gel coat restoration products which included oxidation remove, polish, and wax. I followed the instructions to a T and the end result was disappointing. The hull was passable but the cap did not have anywhere near the deep shiny finish it should. Basically the kit worked on all surfaces that weren't metal flake. The oxidation remover worked, and I was able to see my reflection after polishing and waxing but the depth of color just wasn't there. Also, the metal flakes didn't seem to shine like they should. So I talked to a mechanic and he told me that I missed a step... he claimed that I needed to use a color restorer after the oxidation remover. Is this true? Will using a color restorer reveal the depth in the gel coat and will it bring out the metal flakes? Today, I tried using the product "Kwik Shine" and was very disappointed with the results. Yes, I stripped the wax off and deoxidized before applying the Kwik Shine. The Kwik Shine didn't even work on my Porsche phone dial rims. Does anybody have any information that can help me? I am sick of my boat looking like it does and I am doubting weather yet another compound will be the cure. Regards,

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Please Help!! I Am Trying To Restore My Black Metal Flake Gel Coat.

Pix might help someone give you some advice....

But this metal flake gelcoat thread may help

From the resto forum homepage, do an advanced search for oxidized metal flake gelcoat, there may be other relevant threads

And check the 5 threads the iboats server listed as similar to your's at the bottom of your thread:

• [h=6]will rts rustolium clear coat work on metal flake fiberglass[/h] By hank55 in forum Boat Restoration, Building, and Hull Repair
  
  Replies: 14 Last Post: September 23rd, 2011, 10:14 AM
  
  
• [h=6]Metal Flake to Clear Coat?[/h] By sojasyin in forum Boat Restoration, Building, and Hull Repair
  
  Replies: 5 Last Post: March 18th, 2011, 11:14 PM
  
  
• [h=6]gel coat worn through to metal flake[/h] By jhardesty in forum Boat Restoration, Building, and Hull Repair
  
  Replies: 13 Last Post: June 4th, 2010, 08:00 PM
  
  
• [h=6]cleaning/waxing gel coat (sparkle/metal flake)[/h] By BCorn in forum Boat Topics and Questions (not engine topics)
  
  Replies: 0 Last Post: June 1st, 2009, 09:49 AM
  
  
• [h=6]Restore Metal Flake Paint[/h] By hlisonbee in forum Boat Topics and Questions (not engine topics)
  
  Replies: 1 Last Post: February 28th, 2002, 02:03 PM
  

When you read thru a thread you think might be helpful for whatever you're searching for, always check the 5 threads listed at the bottom, 1 of them might have the information you're looking for, and might save you a step or 2...........

Welcome

And again: pix

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Please Help!! I Am Trying To Restore My Black Metal Flake Gel Coat.

There is no color to "restore" on metal flake, the surface layer is clear, but it will take on a yellow tint from UV rays. The flake will bleach out and possibly become dull from the sun too, and there is no way to bring it back. If the surface gloss returned that's all you can hope for. Sometimes a light sanding and buffing will help with the gloss, but you need to be careful and not sand into the flake layer or it may look blotchy.