Gel Coat Restoration?
Hi All,
"Dreamweaver's gel coat is suffering a bit from UV exposure and I'm looking at good info on the best way to approach the gelcoat restoration.
There is quite a build up of 'chalky' oxidisation and any amount of various cutting polishes and subsequent applications of waxes just aren't giving the best result I'm after. Being a cuddy cab, it has a large foredeck that has gone quite 'flat' as appearance goes.
I'm no expert in restoration of FRP/FG, hence this post, but, after browsing through a number of sites/pages/blogs etc, there seems to be two ways to go - the traditional de-oxyginisation, polishing and waxing and the new polymer coating technique with products like Vertglas and Polyglow.
On the latter, some folk swear by it and others won't touch it with a bargepole.
It's been suggested that I start off using MEK or acetone to degrease the surface, a dewax solvent or tolurene to remove the previously applied wax then polish buffing and a follow up of wax.
Ok, now down to products - which is best? Maquires gets a good wrap, Sepetone doesn't (I've tried the latter with poor resuts).
Finally, previous attempts have been by hand. Some folk I have talked to is that 'by hand', though much harder work gives a better result - others swear by using a proper electric buffer (not attachments to drills etc).
OK, over to you, lots of areas to cover there. I'm all ears and very grateful in advance for your helpful and knowledgeable advice.
Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!
strike_zone
Posts: 403
Date Joined: 09/09/10
just been down that road
my advise is to get a decent electric buff i used a hitachi with a nice new lambs wool pad get some fibreglass buffing compound brand shouldnt matter to much i used boatcare which is a septone product (nothing wrong with septone) and give it a decent buff and then finished off with some (septone) fine paste polish and the boat came up like new i was rapt with the result hope this helps ya
gregrobo
Posts: 26
Date Joined: 09/01/11
marine finesse by 3m great
marine finesse by 3m great product but wear dustmasks as it contains silica
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18029
Date Joined: 11/03/08
good to see you back Dreamy.
good to see you back Dreamy. why dont you make it easier on your old body and get it done professionally. might save you from a lot of aching parts of your body. after chasing them chickens around you found you werent too young anymore so you got to take t easy old timer
Get youself some glass cut and polish and a good buffer and many spare hours so tyou dont have to rush the job, but be careful not to burn the polish onto the hull and it isnt fun removing it
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Dreamweaver
Posts: 4688
Date Joined: 01/12/07
Thanks Guys! Any More Input?
Thanks Guys! Appreciate the input and feedback!
AS you say strike_zone - the product's probably good if used with a buffer - I'll certainly be investing in one of those - beats the elbow grease.
Russell! Take a blue pill and FORGET about those bloody chickens!
, nah mate - thanks for the kind words, but after reading your post I feel I need to brake out a zimmer frame LOL. Getting done professionally down here is not an option unfortunately.
Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!
Tony Halliday
Posts: 2500
Date Joined: 14/06/07
stop being such a soft C@#$k
stop being such a soft C@#$k Dreamy, grab one of the mates live sheep, cable tie the legs together and give the old tub a good elbow grease polish with some Emu lard from the shed....
the tub will come up shinnnny and new and leave a berly oil slick that will have herring jumping into the boat
Tony Halliday: ~Meals on Reels ~
It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it
"It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
"In a mad world only the mad are sane." Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998)
Dreamweaver
Posts: 4688
Date Joined: 01/12/07
- LOL Tony - I had to read
Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!
Tony Halliday
Posts: 2500
Date Joined: 14/06/07
no mate, you never cable tie
no mate, you never cable tie them for "pleasure" you use velcro on the Welly-boots Kiwi style...
Tony Halliday: ~Meals on Reels ~
It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it
"It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
"In a mad world only the mad are sane." Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998)
nico
Posts: 226
Date Joined: 17/08/10
resto
Dreamy acid wash the boat wear gloves bcf sell a product called hull restorer by Boatcare or wet and dry 800 grit sandpaper cut ,polish 3 coats of wax electric buffer with wool pad dont use cheap crap polish cause not all polishes are created equal. Make sure they are not petroleum based the wax is the key to sealing the finish most people think the polish seals the gel wrong kitten car wax will do the job $10.00 from super cheap auto in a green tin repeat the wax every 8 weeks if the boat is of age to keep a old boat looking sharp takes a lot of tlc good luck.
In Mocean