Polishing

[laika]

Previously I've managed to borrow polishers (being happy with what I got, whatever) and do a lot manually (very time consuming with 12 and a bit metres to do). Not now being able to blag someone else's I've decided to buy my own and after forum advice have decided on the silverline.I'm now faced with the array of different sponges to decide from: I confess to not knowing whether I should use "soft" or "firm" as previously I just used what was available. So what pads/sponges/bonnets does the forum recommend for the different stages of making my gelcoat look shiny?

Also there are two very similar silverlines:
the 264569 goes down to 300rpm
the 129659 goes down to 600rpm, is a tenner more, 100g lighter (not much when it still weighs 3.8Kg) but (I believe) has a constant speed thing whereby it tries to maintain speed when you press harder.
Anyone bought one and regret not buying the other? Not promising that silverline didn't respond to my customer query form asking what the difference was between them (before I'd done a bit more research)

 

[Trundlebug]

I'm not sure it makes much difference on which model you choose from those shown above, either would be suitable.
The main thing is to have adjustable speed. I think I'd go for the cheaper of the two that goes down to 300rpm.
I've got a Silverline (bought off eBay a few years ago) and have been very happy with it.

It came complete with a spare set of brushes and 3 grades of foam.

In terms of which foam to use, I've had best results from the firm, or white foam pad. The others do not allow enough pressure to be applied to do any good.

I've found that Farecla boat / marine compound gave the best results (Can't remember the exact number, sorry). Tried G3 initially and thought that was OK, but in fact G3 was designed for use on car paint finishes. The marine stuff was designed for GRP and does work much better, it gives a better, more even gloss with no swirl marks.

3M also make some very good products so I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them, it all depends on what you can obtain easily and economically.

Tip:
The only other thing you'll need is a garden plant sprayer for SWMBO to spray a fine mist of water on the hull surface whilst you work the polisher. Stops it drying out and enables you to keep going instead of stop start all the time.

 

[nigelmercier]

It came complete with a spare set of brushes and 3 grades of foam...

You aren't using those nasty 50mm blocks of foam that come with the polisher are you?

Try something like these (site picked at random):

http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/flexipads-rotary-backing-plates-cat10.html

 

[richardbrennan]

I would use the 3M lambswool bonnets, white for compounding and yellow for polishing. When used with the 3M products you will not suffer from the problem of needing to spray the surface.

 

[Jamesuk]

SILVERLINE: i bought a two handed Silverline for about 40 or so GBP it has done the hull three times over (all 19 metres of it) i would say tho if you plan on doing any work aloft or from the deck a single handed ne would be a great add on. I just did 19metres of gel coat (30cm width) using just arm power. In a 3 part process. Bloddy hard work but great result. Took me about 2 hours per day over 6 mornings to massively improve it.