Polishing Topsides

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Miken

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Does anyone know of someone who can Compound and Polish Topsides in the Fareham/Portsmouth Area for a reasonable cost, I thought that I had found someone (they were advertising on Ebay) and were affordable but have run in to problems with their insurance so are no longer doing business. It's not that I am a Skinflint but the price that some of the "Valeting" companys charge is scary. The boat is 27ft and could do with a good Machine Compound and Polish after that I a Happy to keep it Up to Scratch but it seems a bit of overkill to go out and invest in a decent Polisher for what may be a one off job.

Any recomendations would be apreciated
 
It would be cheaper to "invest" in a decent polisher, do it yourself, and have the satisfaction of a job well done. IMHO
 
[ QUOTE ]
It would be cheaper to "invest" in a decent polisher, do it yourself, and have the satisfaction of a job well done. IMHO

[/ QUOTE ] I agree, buy a decent polisher - even one model up from whatyou think would be reasonable. It is false economy to purchase too 'cheap' a tool. You will subsequently find other uses for it and be glad that you invested in that level of quality.
You will also require quite a bit of elbow grease. But this method ensures that you get the finish to the standard with which you are comfortable.

Furthermore you will have to make some 'time'. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Any recommendations for a good polishing machine? I gather "random orbital motion" is the thing to go for.
 
Re: Polishing Topsides - new amazing alternative

I had the topsides polished on a boat and it was, yerknow, ok.

BUT then i found some fab new chemical from wessex chemicals which is "grp renovator". It's two part, lash it on, rinse it off and er bluddy hell the boat is suddenly the same colour as it was when new. It says "professional use only" cos it means you have to be a bit sensible - trial area first, loads of water, big brush, two people with one to bosh on, other with hose to rinse a minute or so later - don't leave it on long.

No, i have no financial interest - wish i did though...
 
Unfortunately I invested in a polisher which was not cheap but obviously not dear enough, it was rubbish.

Got fed up with that idea saw an ad from a valeting company saying "Polish topsides from £XXX" cant rememeber the amout but it was just about affordable, somewhere around £350 I think, anyway asked for a quote, came back at £500+ so that was that. At £300- £350 I would have gone for it, but £500+ was too much.

Looking for someone cheaper now,
 
£350+vat that's not bad, Mine did include top sides, but at 32ft quite a bit shorter I felt £350 was a fair price, but there you go maybe its not financially viable for the operation at that price.
 
Not really an alternative.

I followed your lead and used the Wessex Chemical Combo.

Certainly sucks out all the stains and discolouration, but leaves the surface chalky and pourous looking.

I recon it is best for use before a good compound and polish to seal the muck out again.
 
Having just gone through this with 2 peeps, this is how we do it:

#1 goes over the cabin top (its an antislip surface ) with a reasonable stiff horse brush and 3M 'cleaner and wax'.

#2 follows on with a shoe polishing brush and uses Starbrite wax with teflon and it comes up beautifully without too much hardwork on either peep.

I have tried electric polishers on the non slip roof and it seems to make more mess than it cleans up, polishers ok for the smooth bits and top sides...
 
DIY, G10 cutting paste & finnese it polishing compound then finnish off with a good wax.

Use a good compound polisher, a decent one will be light & have variable speed, keep speed low at around 900rpm & dampen surface being compounded with water, use a spray bottle it's ideal.

Apply cutting paste to a compounding head, 3M are excellent, keep it moving over the area so as not to build up too much heat.

Given a good day a full compound & polish can be done from waterline up on a 24ft er, a weekend for larger.

Buy from an automotive paintshop, approx cost of all equipment £150, I know it requires an initial outlay & a weekends effort but once you have the right tools there always there in the future.

I found this to be a good alround polisher,

http://concepttools.co.uk/p/SEALEY-SANDERPOLISHER-VARIABLE-1968.aspx

Using these products...

http://www.boatsupplies.co.uk/3m_product_catalogue/default.aspx

others may have there own favorite, one things for sure, you do get what you pay for, stay clear of the two handle buffer type.
 
Re: Polishing Topsides DIY

one of these is a good buy: polisher for around £35
you can get all sorts of polishing attachments & then use the 3m cutting compounds & glazes.
If you go to 3M you can get the 3m catalogue...there are a lot of other resources on the web as well try silverline index for details & then to purchase, paste the code no into the AHC web site above.

good luck

poter.
 
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