Aqua-Buff 2000 Compound and Polish

[ParaHandy]

The instructions are admirably short and to the point:

<<Spread Aqua-Buff 2000 Compound and Polish on the surface to be compounded with a brush or cloth, several square feet at a time--using one-half the normal amount - and mist the surface with water. Immediately machine buff with a clean, damp lamb's wool-type pad. Repeat the process to eliminate scratches from exceptionally hard surfaces. Should the compound become dry while being buffed, re-wet again by misting the surface with water.
Note: For best results, use machine buffers that generate at least 2500 rpm for
Aqua-Buff products.>>

An acquaintance has used this stuff on his Tradewind and the results are pretty good.

I'm planning on using my 240mm orbital polisher (Halfords best circa 2001) with lambs wool bonnets. Even an eejit couldn't screw up, could they? Any advice gratefully received

 

[robmcg]

Don't know about advice, but a before and after photo would be good - never heard of Aqua Buff but always on the look out for something good on the GRP.

 

[ParaHandy]

Don't know about advice, but a before and after photo would be good - never heard of Aqua Buff but always on the look out for something good on the GRP.

Here we go, the cabin roof half done

The rest of the boat, hull etc has been done and it worked very well.

Some ideas for somebody who has never tackled this

a) the problem I had was the amount of space to work in. This photo shows what I mean

The advice given in another thread here was to use a good quality polishing/compounding mop with a polishing machine such as Silverline. The 3M hook and loop woollen mops, plus the 14mm backing disc plus the Silverline polisher is well over £100. However, this combination gives good results when you're well balanced and a good posture to hold the kit, which weighs just over 5kg, for prolonged periods to work the compounding. I just couldn't do it; the mop tugged, was difficult to guide at a constant pressure and path. The result was a bit hit and miss with some swirls.
b) a couple of months ago and to detail the Jag, I bought a Maguiars Dual Action attachment for a standard drill. The kit is/was £50 with a compounding and polishing sponge. A typical one is here from Ultimate. The smaller 100mm head made it much easier to control and the dual action was forgiving. Anyway, the result was no swirls and a pretty good finish especially for one who has never done this before.
c) I'm not entirely convinced that Aqua-buff is any better or easier than any other. I chose it because a pal with another Tradewind had used it with what I thought was a good result. It is, though, water based which means you can mist it after compounding to lift it off easily.
d) Aqua-buff is a compounding and polishing paste. Although some prefer to separate the two functions, given the effort that has to be made just to get one application on an entire boat, I wouldn't be bothering with two separate coats.
e) a pure wax coat was applied at the end.
f) one other advantage of the Maguiars polisher is if you decide to do the deck. The small head and it's sides are very useful in getting into areas a mop could never get into. The Maguiars pads are sponges and after doing the hull and deck are good for another year I reckon. The pads cost about £7

I hope this might help others. The result is enormously satisfying.

 

[claymore]

A quick calculation wid suggest that ye've blown yer winter fuel allowance and dibbed intae hersel's?

 

[Elessar]

The instructions are admirably short and to the point:

<<Spread Aqua-Buff 2000 Compound and Polish on the surface to be compounded with a brush or cloth, several square feet at a time--using one-half the normal amount - and mist the surface with water. Immediately machine buff with a clean, damp lamb's wool-type pad. Repeat the process to eliminate scratches from exceptionally hard surfaces. Should the compound become dry while being buffed, re-wet again by misting the surface with water.
Note: For best results, use machine buffers that generate at least 2500 rpm for
Aqua-Buff products.>>

An acquaintance has used this stuff on his Tradewind and the results are pretty good.

I'm planning on using my 240mm orbital polisher (Halfords best circa 2001) with lambs wool bonnets. Even an eejit couldn't screw up, could they? Any advice gratefully received

Its what i use. And quite a few pro grp guys. You can get a white one and a blue one. The blue is fast cut you need the white to leave a good shine.
Paint on and buff off with lambswool. But i doubt your polishing machine will be up to it. I use a 12 or 14 inch lambswool head in a powerful polisher.
So quick and easy.
Dont forget it is only a polish and has no protective qualities, you need to wax or glaze once polished. Halfords "polish" confuses this.

 

[ParaHandy]

But i doubt your polishing machine will be up to it. I use a 12 or 14 inch lambswool head in a powerful polisher.

...... you need to wax or glaze once polished. Halfords "polish" confuses this.

It handles it fine. You can see that. With what I now know, I could quite probably use a 200mm lambs wool head (doubt a 300mm) but it wouldn't do the deck easily in the confines of a crowded boatyard.

Understood abt wax. I bought some stuff that 'smells like the Caribbean' ......

 

[robmcg]

Parahandy, the result on the coach roof is impressive, like glass! Do you find it a bit slippery? On our Tradewind, I am forever standing on the coach roof to tidy the sail away after use, so ours is painted in non slip paint. Obviously the method of application you are using is working a treat! :encouragement:

 

[ParaHandy]

Parahandy, the result on the coach roof is impressive, like glass! Do you find it a bit slippery? On our Tradewind, I am forever standing on the coach roof to tidy the sail away after use, so ours is painted in non slip paint. Obviously the method of application you are using is working a treat! :encouragement:

I've got handholds on my roof so you don't slip (but you could trip!). Anyway, thanks for your thanks if you see what I mean .....

 

[robmcg]

Very nice - like she just popped out of the mould