Restoring sanded gelcoat

[rangerb]

I recently purchased a boat used by Wild Life<br />enforcement officers. Orginally it had the<br />Words "Wild LIfe Officer" and a big 2' wide green vertical stripe on both sided of the boat. Before<br />it was sold the lettering and stripes were sanded<br />off leaving a dull finish that looks like it was<br />sanded. There is no fiberglass showing just scuffed gelcoat. The boat is a lite almond color. Anyone have any suggestion on how I might<br />restore the finish. I am hoping for a permanet fix rather than using a restoring paste or wax.<br />Thanks.

 

[Dexloy]

Re: Restoring sanded gelcoat

You should wet sand the area with finishing grit paper stepping down as you remove the scratches to a finer grit, after about 220 grit go to the rubbing compond and it should shine up, wont go fast, take your time, carefull to not remove too much but get out the scratches. then put a good wax on it.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Restoring sanded gelcoat

Depends on what grit the scuff is..<br /><br />1.take a pencil and scribble all over your dull area<br />2.take 600g sand paper on a D/A sander and dry sand till your pencil marks are gone ( use 400 or 320 grit if it seems to be goin VERY slow..repencil then 600 sand ) .. no need to 400 grit after 320 if your using a D/A sander just 600 it<br />3.Keep your sander Flat !! ( for the most part..you can get away with puttin it slightly on edge if you go over it again flat )<br />4.buff it out a couple times ( first with heavy cut compound then with a finer compound..or mix a little heavy with your finer compound )<br /><br />GL. YD<br /><br />ps. and of cource use all safty equiptment ( dust mask,glasses..etc. )

 

[Dexloy]

Re: Restoring sanded gelcoat

dohh! yea don't listen to me I can't remember what grit to stop at or start at without looking at the paper lol

 

[bounder4465]

Re: Restoring sanded gelcoat

ZZZZZZZZZ

 

[Mark42]

Re: Restoring sanded gelcoat

Originally posted by bounder4465:<br /> Ranger can you use a buffer, and do you have access to a 6-7 inch vaiable speed (0-1,500 RPMs)one? If so, check my replies and email me. Be happy to share my knowledge with you. If you are looking for voodoo wax, or some household product to cover the problem...I cant help you.

Bounder, <br /><br />I have seen you make this same post to many requests for help with gel coat problems. <br /><br />Why not post your knowledge here so everyone can share in it? <br /><br />Is it because you don't want us to know what your method/experience is? <br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Mark42.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Restoring sanded gelcoat

Ive never heard of a polisher that worked 0-1500 rpms.. ? polish at 10rpm ? well...Im open to new tricks ..but not at 20 rpm..<br /><br />YOU cannot..buff out 320 scratches ( unless on radius ).<br /><br />YD.<br /><br />PS.what Mark said..why not post your way of fininshing gelcoat ?

 

[bounder4465]

Re: Restoring sanded gelcoat

ZZZZZZZZZ

 

[Realgun]

Re: Restoring sanded gelcoat

Bounder your the man I will be buffing the gelcoat too but, only after I use the azax and green pads recommended by my bud Mark42.<br /><br />Mark I did a test area and that is amazing. I have very little dull gel but I do have lots of dirt, grease, and scratches. Your method seems to really work fast then I will just polish it up.<br /><br />Bounder all I have is a royobi orbital buffer about 7 inches will that work? I think its 1 speed but not really sure.

 

[bounder4465]

Re: Restoring sanded gelcoat

Realgun you are in the middle of a big project, and it looks great. Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[Realgun]

Re: Restoring sanded gelcoat

No I got the 1 for cars with two handles. Its ok and we do have a harbor Freight here. Was there for a hole saw today. <br /><br />I guess I gota do the wax on wax off method.

 

[BillP]

Re: Restoring sanded gelcoat

Like bounder says there are different ways to get there. I'll share mine.<br /><br />Before sanding anything I would use a buffer and abrasive compound to see if the finish can be restored. Without seeing it in person its hard for anybody to know whether you need to sand first. <br /><br />In my younger years when in school I used to glass, sand, compound and polish surfboards as a tradesman...normally 10 a day and probably did 3-5000 boards total. Later I worked in the boat mfg industry doing everything from plugs/molds to final product. With that said...Normal procedure in the surfboard industry was to dry sand (triggering 4500 rpms down)with 400 to get the surface level. Then sand (triggering 4500) with 600 grit to get a smoother finish, then compounding (trig 4500)with an abrasive (such as Dupont 202S lacquer compound) and final was to polish (trig 4500)with a non abrasive polish. Old boat gelcoats were done the same...600 grit max, abrasive compound and then polish. Foam pads were used and rpm was limitied to how much experience the user had. Low rpm polishing was only used on boat molds for wax removal. I still go to boat factories and talk to production types, it hasn't changed. And yes, 320 can be compounded down but its faster to sand it down with 400.<br /><br />I'll add a tip here. If painting over gelcoat...Use an abrasive compound to prepare your gelcoat instead of sanding. It is 10x faster.<br /><br />HarborFreight sander/polisher #46507 is a good one for home use. I bought one last year and have some "miles" on it without problems. The only issue is finding accessories that fit.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Restoring sanded gelcoat

You guys ever buff out a 40' boat that was just sanded with 320g ? erm..if you did..then your foolish.<br /><br />yes you can buff out 320 with compound..then buff again and again to get your nice finish.<br /><br />In the case were talking about here..im sure the peeps who sanded off the stripes didnt use 320g. therefore its gonna be a pain and a waste of time to get the finish back to factory.<br /><br />Or..are we not talking about factory finish ? just polish it till its nice and shiny ?<br /><br />Oh..and Im probably one of the best in the Country

 

[Mark42]

Re: Restoring sanded gelcoat

I think the bottom line is to try various methods until you get the one that works well for you. <br /><br />Bounders boats came out really nice. For 8-10 year old boats they look great. <br /><br />The situation I had was a 40 year old boat. The gel would rub off on your hand. Boat always looked like it had a dusting of baby power on it because everywhere I touched it, you could see my hand prints.<br /><br />The reason I went with the abrasive cleaner was because I was afraid to put sand paper to it for fear of the paper loading up with the soft oxidized layer or the sand paper going right through the gel coat. Plus I really don't like wet sanding anything big, it is difficult and frustrating to handle wet sandpaper.<br /><br />The scrub pads and cleaner did a great job at safely removing the soft gel and exposed a hard layer that polished up nice. <br /><br />The buffer did it's job well. I can't complain.<br /><br />It is important to note that many people told me I was wasting my time because the shine would only last a week or two. That they had been down this road and it won't work. Well, to those folks I can say that it did work, and the shine held up all season. It still looks shiny under the cover in the back yard. So I think it will stay that way. A bit of wax on a regular basis keeps it looking good.<br /><br />So do what you feel will work for you. The buffer techniques are probably the best tips you can pick up from the experienced polishers. <br /><br />But the best advice is probably to test your method in a small area before attacking the whole boat. <br /><br />Mark.

 

[lakelivin]

Re: Restoring sanded gelcoat

Originally posted by Realgun:<br /> Bounder your the man I will be buffing the gelcoat too but, only after I use the azax and green pads recommended by my bud Mark42.....<br />

Is Marks method detailed in another post? If so, worth providing the link for the convenience of other iboats readers who imight be interested?

 

[Realgun]

Re: Restoring sanded gelcoat

Yup I book marked it for future reference as i can't seem to get the search fuction to do its thing.<br /> Mark42's method!

 

[BillP]

Re: Restoring sanded gelcoat

Originally posted by Yacht Dr.:<br /> <br /><br />Oh..and Im probably one of the best in the Country

Which country? ROFL<br /><br /><br />Mark42,<br />Your comet type cleaner method is like using a course buffing compound without the paste.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Restoring sanded gelcoat

Some of the guys at work used the scrubbing method instead of wet sanding to clean up their older boats. I think it appeals to people more than the idea of "wet sanding". A lot of folks, especially those who do not do a lot of auto body or paint work (or never have for that matter) don't know how to wet sand. But everyone knows how to scrub. And everyone knows what Comet is and what it can do to even the hardest surfaces in your house. So it's a familiar "tool". <br /><br />And it works. <br /><br />I'm sure some of you body and boat finish professionals could really get my boat to shine, but I'm no pro, and it does look great. <br /><br />It's important to remember that not everyone here is going to take their boats "to the max". If they think they can do it, they will, especially if there is minimal cost and time involved. <br /><br />And they will be proud and happy boaters. <br /><br />Mark.

 

[bounder4465]

Re: Restoring sanded gelcoat

If the person is happy with the appearence of their boat after using a polishing method they feel comfortable with... that is really all that counts in the end.