Gel coat polishing techniques

boatmike

boatmike

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Following on from a previous thread I have a Makita 9237CB polisher which comes with a 7 inch lambswool mop. Nice bit of kit if a bit heavy. My question is, to get the best out of it, should I be using a foam pad? If so any recommendations as there appear to be lots of different grades and types, and what type/make of compound should I try? I have used Ferecla 3g before but find it dries out very easily and just clogs the mop. This has been helped by using a little water with it but not ideal. The gel coat is a bit oxidised and needs cutting back a bit I think. What does the folorum think?
 
boatmike said:
Following on from a previous thread I have a Makita 9237CB polisher which comes with a 7 inch lambswool mop. Nice bit of kit if a bit heavy. My question is, to get the best out of it, should I be using a foam pad? If so any recommendations as there appear to be lots of different grades and types, and what type/make of compound should I try? I have used Ferecla 3g before but find it dries out very easily and just clogs the mop. This has been helped by using a little water with it but not ideal. The gel coat is a bit oxidised and needs cutting back a bit I think. What does the folorum think?
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ITYWF that the old way was paste compound on a foam mop which you have to keep moist ( trigger spray bottle of water) ... Thats the method i have used

More modern method seems to be a "self lubricating" polishing compound and a lambswool mop. No added water! Not yet tried it personally. Maybe the way to go.
 
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boatmike said:
Following on from a previous thread I have a Makita 9237CB polisher which comes with a 7 inch lambswool mop. Nice bit of kit if a bit heavy. My question is, to get the best out of it, should I be using a foam pad? If so any recommendations as there appear to be lots of different grades and types, and what type/make of compound should I try? I have used Ferecla 3g before but find it dries out very easily and just clogs the mop. This has been helped by using a little water with it but not ideal. The gel coat is a bit oxidised and needs cutting back a bit I think. What does the folorum think?
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The Makita is a lovely machine, as you say a bit heavy but very smooth operation.

Farecla's G3 does have a tendancy to dry out and as such folk add a little water to ease the slip, but this ends up being a messy operation. G3 started out life as an automotive compound.
Farecla have recently upgraded their marine compounds and polishes so perhaps a look at their marine section to see what is on offer from their Profile range?


I've never had much attraction to their products, but there are folk who swear by G3 on a foam pad and adding water via a spray.


Try some of the 3M compounds and lambswools, they work very well and are industry standard.

 
I would concur with M. R. I have used 3M compound and polishing products with good results using lambswool bonnets, white for compounding and yellow for polishing, and not had problems with them drying out.
 
Polishing compounds work best as they just begin to dry. Too much water and the stuff flies all over the place while nothing happens in the way of polishing.
 
Marine Reflections said:
The Makita is a lovely machine, as you say a bit heavy but very smooth operation.

Farecla's G3 does have a tendancy to dry out and as such folk add a little water to ease the slip, but this ends up being a messy operation. G3 started out life as an automotive compound.
Farecla have recently upgraded their marine compounds and polishes so perhaps a look at their marine section to see what is on offer from their Profile range?


I've never had much attraction to their products, but there are folk who swear by G3 on a foam pad and adding water via a spray.


Try some of the 3M compounds and lambswools, they work very well and are industry standard.
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What's the sealant he uses at the end?
 
I've had very good results using Farelca Profile 200.

But yes it's a liquid paste (in a bottle) and requires keeping moist, I ask the help of a beautiful assistant to spray a fine mist of water over the area just as it's drying out. I find the small pump up garden sprayers are ideal for this.

Critical to finish off by waxing - which is another discussion altogether, fully discussed with videos of results in a thread by Marine Reflections.
 
Marine Reflections said:
The Makita is a lovely machine, as you say a bit heavy but very smooth operation.

Farecla's G3 does have a tendancy to dry out and as such folk add a little water to ease the slip, but this ends up being a messy operation. G3 started out life as an automotive compound.
Farecla have recently upgraded their marine compounds and polishes so perhaps a look at their marine section to see what is on offer from their Profile range?


I've never had much attraction to their products, but there are folk who swear by G3 on a foam pad and adding water via a spray.


Try some of the 3M compounds and lambswools, they work very well and are industry standard.

Click to expand...
Pity there isn't a spoken commentary/subtitling to explain the techniques used in the different phases of the process and the products used. A short clip of each phase at normal speed, with commentary, would have been much more informative.
 
Spirit of Glenans said:
Pity there isn't a spoken commentary/subtitling to explain the techniques used in the different phases of the process and the products used. A short clip of each phase at normal speed, with commentary, would have been much more informative.
Click to expand...

Completely agree and will put something together when I get time, not sure about the commentary bit though :nonchalance:.

I just sped this one up and popped a tune to go with it but completely agree, to be more informative it would be better with commentary and explanations.

Happy to offer any assistance or information meanwhile on the process used?

Tony
 
Marine Reflections said:
Completely agree and will put something together when I get time, not sure about the commentary bit though :nonchalance:.

I just sped this one up and popped a tune to go with it but completely agree, to be more informative it would be better with commentary and explanations.

Happy to offer any assistance or information meanwhile on the process used?

Tony
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Thanks, Tony. Your post#15 clears up the main mystery. It was instructive to see the use of the different coloured bonnets and the water spray, plus the fact that you kept the polisher in motion at all times that it was in contact with gelcoat. I could stop the video at relevant spots to recognise the other products if I put my mind to it:)
I'll thumbnail this and have another look at fitting-out time.
 
I've been given an A-Glaze kit for a 40 footer ... wash, prep, polish and final application of watery looking stuff which is presumably the 'glaze' bit .... I'd read the instructions but they're down on the boat ... anyone used A-Glaze? ... if so ... ???
 
Kingfisher 3 said:
I've been given an A-Glaze kit for a 40 footer ... wash, prep, polish and final application of watery looking stuff which is presumably the 'glaze' bit .... I'd read the instructions but they're down on the boat ... anyone used A-Glaze? ... if so ... ???
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It used to be the standard post-PDI application that a new car salesman would offer you. It came under a varierty of product names - Autoglym Lifeshine / Diamondbrite etc. If applied properly it's a pretty good sealant (assuming the kit is genuine) but there are better (and harder to work with) sealants out there. Trade kits were about £25 each and they sold the treatment for £250 - £300.
 
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