Polishing machine

[Marine Reflections]

It's a little embarrassing to have them let you down like that, I expected more from the 3M direct site.
The whole point of 3M direct (I thought) was so the end consumer rather than professionals had somewhere to purchase from.

The main distributor for 3M marine is Marine industrial in Norfolk, they should look after you.
https://marineindustrial.co.uk/index.php/polishes-compounds-maintenance.html?p=5

01392 406822

Chewi, there are some good guides on YouTube as to the process and some great threads on here.
Here's one of the YouTube vids by 3M marine, it covers the basics pretty well.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ke5kfYz9Ybw

 

[john_morris_uk]

I have found that a tiny bit of water to lubrucate the rubbing compound sometimes helps. I use a hand held water spray (the sort you use for misting plants) to lightly spray the surface your are working on.

(And without meaning to teach anyone to suck eggs, just remember to apply a good polish after you've rubbed back the gel coat. I ran out of time/energy once in the past after rubbing back some gel coat and left the apply polish bit off and really regreted it later!)

 

[chewi]

It's a little embarrassing to have them let you down like that, I expected more from the 3M direct site.
The whole point of 3M direct (I thought) was so the end consumer rather than professionals had somewhere to purchase from.

The main distributor for 3M marine is Marine industrial in Norfolk, they should look after you.
https://marineindustrial.co.uk/index.php/polishes-compounds-maintenance.html?p=5

01392 406822

Chewi, there are some good guides on YouTube as to the process and some great threads on here.
Here's one of the YouTube vids by 3M marine, it covers the basics pretty well.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ke5kfYz9Ybw

Thankyou for that, there are so many you tube vids on it that choosing one was an issue.
I can see the hookit backing pad and the compounding & polishing pads to go with it in that website so looks good.
No prices or ordering info on their website, so I have sent an enquiry re qtys of compounding pads for 100sqft of 1980's gelcoat.
Hopefully I will have more success with them than Laika had with 3mDirect !

 

[richardbrennan]

I have the Rupes mini-polisher, it works well, is powerful in spite of the name, and is little more than half the weight of cheaper models which is significant if you are doing the whole hull through the three processes of compounding, polishing and waxing. The downside is that it's the wrong side of £200, but should last for years and will save you the cost of a good osteopath!

I also use 3M products, both their backing pads with lambswool heads and compounding and polishing products. I used to use their wax as well but now use Meguiars marine premium wax which I find excellent. The 3M products can all be obtained from a company called Carters Consumables which I have found very efficient.