Gel polishing/polishing machine??

[Chas25]

This weekend I'm hoping to get down to the boat to give her a polish, I know this subject has been done to death on a few occasions so apologies for the repeat..

There are a few scratches in the Gel, some very light and I'm 100% sure with a bit of cutting compound would polish out, and a few slightly bigger scratches I'm less sure about.

So Q1 Is it possible to hire a polishing machine, I know you can buy them for not too much, but also heard (rightly or wrongly) the cheaper ones aren't as effective.

Q2 The bigger/deeper scratches, should I try to polish them out or will this just make any repair (if needed) harder to do?

Q3 - Any hints and tips gratefully received on the subject!

 

[sarabande]

do a search on Metabo. Loads of comments on polishers recently.

 

[adrianb]

Chas

You can borrow mine, and pads for the weekend, it's a professional unit......

PM if you'd like to ............


Adrian

 

[timbad]

Hi Chas,
For the full Monty you can opt for the Rupes or Meguires machines but you will be paying the thick end of £150, on the positive side small light weight machines with off centre mechanism.
But if you are on a budget I would forget renting & go for one of the Silverline machines you see on e-bay, for under £40 you will get a machine a few heads and you are away. Yes they are heavier than the Rupes & Meguires but it will give you good results I used one when I have the V42.
timbad

 

[Chas25]

Thanks Adrian - PM Sent /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[DanielJaffe]

What kind of polish do you guys recommend?
Thanks.

 

[gjgm]

remember the polish is the mild cutting compound.. if you are going to use a machine, I havent found the make matters that much. FWIW I used Maguires polish and then their Flagship wax. The latter is easier to put on and buff off by hand, but the polish needs to cut back a bit, so you do want to use the polisher for that. The wax is good in that its really easy by hand. Easier than others I ve used. Whether it lasts any longer.. who knows! And you get that tingly feeling having wasted so much money on wax!

 

[Ballistix]

Get a grinder, small, from Halfords. Cost me less than 30 quid and has variable speed. Then some foam polishing pads from Machine Mart or otherwise and you are done!

T

 

[tcm]

hm, not at all sure about a machine unlesss doing lots of boats as a job. You need rubbing compounc and elbow grease. For bigger scratches, you need WET wetndry paper, try 600 to start, then 1000, then the rubbing compound. INstead of trying to "get it all done" i find a better result wth doing just a bit every few days. Finest rubbing compund like G7 and a touch of water will get it shiny shiny.