Idiot proof oxidation clean up.

[Bubba1235]

My boat (recently purchased) has some areas where the oxidation needs attention. I've read a lot on the internet and it seems everyone has a differnt idea on the "best" way to go about it as well as swearing their product(s) of choice is "best".

Every site I visited though has LOTS of warnings about going too "deep" or various ways you can screw the Gel Coat up. sigh...

Don't use a circular sander/buffer, DO use a circular sander/buffer. Don't use you hands, use a block. Don't use a block, use your hands so you can "feel" it.

Soooo, with so many claims out there, I want to hear what the folks here that have done with large areas of their boats and what they used and see if there is any consencous on the best products and methods.

Thanks

 

[zach103]

Re: Idiot proof oxidation clean up.

Someone here showed me how to do it i forgot who it is but he gets the credit..

1. wipe it down with lacquer thinner to remove all the junk..
2. use either 1500 or 1000 grit 3m wet or dry .. really your choice even 2000
3. use some nice 3m wax. i use canuba or something along those lines..
4. finish it off with your favortie polish..


ill post some pics soon

 

[fixb52s]

Re: Idiot proof oxidation clean up.

Bubba, I just did my entire hull. I used 220 grit wet and dry on the spots where old pinstriping was taken off to get it level, then went over it with 400 followed with 1000. Gelcoat is pretty thick and it is tough, so as long as you just sand enough to get the weathered finish off, you should be just fine.​

I then power buffed the whole thing with rubbing compound and an electric buffer. After waiting a few days, a few good coats of wax sealed it all off.​

My boat is an 86 with the original finish. I had no problems with sanding too deep and was able to sand out some scratches with no problems.​

It worked out just fine for me.​

 

[fixb52s]

Re: Idiot proof oxidation clean up.

Yes, just a circular Harbor Freight buffer. On cars, I would follow the buffing with polishing compound to remove the swirl marks, but it was not necessary on my hull. It did take a lot of buffing to remove the minor scratching left by the sanding. If I went to a 1500 grit paper, it would have not been that bad, but the sanding was killing me.

I am using an orbital buffer to apply the wax though. The one I have is great for this, but not buffing.​

 

[mudmagnet63]

Re: Idiot proof oxidation clean up.

I just did the same ( Circular buffer ) on my hull a week ago. The oxidation was bad, the red looked awful. I used rubbing compound and had to go over most of it twice. Finished off with McGuires wax and looks almost new. The only problem I had was keeping the buffer slow enough as not to dry out the rubbing compound. Keeping the hull and buffing pad wet helped alot.

Mud

 

[fixb52s]

Re: Idiot proof oxidation clean up.

I just did the same ( Circular buffer ) on my hull a week ago. The oxidation was bad, the red looked awful. I used rubbing compound and had to go over most of it twice. Finished off with McGuires wax and looks almost new. The only problem I had was keeping the buffer slow enough as not to dry out the rubbing compound. Keeping the hull and buffing pad wet helped alot.

Mud

A spray bottle of water works great. A little spray here and there will keep it moist. I also run a screwdriver along the pad (with the polisher running) to clean the pad of the old junk.​