What colour head on mechanical polishers

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MidlandsOnSea

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I'm going to cut, polish & seal my boat, and acquired a mechanical polisher. It comes with a variety of different heads, each with a different colour, and a polishing bonnet. Plan is to use Farecla to cut back, then apply polish, then seal. But, can anyone give me guidance on which of the heads to use for which jobs?

Any other tips for a newbie polisher?

Thanks
 
Here's some instructions I put together recently for my cleaner in Palma. The polisher is maded by Rupes and the part numbers are 3M. This simple system works superbly.

[ QUOTE ]
<u>Preparation</u>
Make sure surface to be polished and waxed is completely clean and free from dust as this will scratch the GRP surface during polishing. Surfaces should be wet first then dirt washed away with plenty of water and a suitable wash solution. Use a sheepskin mitt to reduce the chance of causing scratches.

<u>Polishing</u>
Work in sections no bigger than 50cm x 50cm at a time. Buy a plain plastic spray bottle like the one attached to this e-mail and use it to spray 3M Machine Polish onto the surface. Fit the Yellow Hookit Polishing Pad #05713 to the Rupes machine and set in to a speed of 2-3 max. Whilst the polish is still wet work from right to left using gentle pressure. If the polish is dry before you use the machine it will not work properly.

For more noticeable scratches use exactly the same method above but use the White Hookit Plus Compounding Pad #05711 and apply more pressure. Then re-polish the area as above with the Yellow Pad.

Deep scratches can be removed with Wet and Dry Abrasive Paper Grade 1200 used wet.

<u>Waxing</u>
Waxing is not to be done with the machine. Apply wax by hand using one of the Yellow Microfiber Cloths. When dry buff by hand to a deep shine with a clean Yellow Microfiber Cloth.


[/ QUOTE ]
 
It's not that simple. All cleaners have a different idea about what constitutes cleaning, or polishing, or waxing for that matter. Most are crap as anyone who has their boat in the med will concur. Some are good but not experts in every aspect of keeping a boat looking superb.
 
I disagree, I know who can clean my boat well, and can detail my car well. I know what to do if I want a perfect boat or car, and those people who know what I know are the companies I employ. If I had to tell them what they have to do, means they are not capable in the 1st place..

IMHO
 
Yes things like this are much easier in the UK. Come to Palma, or the SoF for that matter. It's a bit different there.
 
Well I'm not paying for a valeter to travel from the UK to Palma once a week and if you are prepared then that's up to you.

In any case who cares? My boat is cleaned better than any in our marina and whilst the polishing and waxing job would have been good, now it's superb. I'm happy.
 
Eh?

Boat is cleaned once a week. This takes one person 6-8 hours. On top of that my stainless is polished every 4 weeks. Polishing and waxing the GRP on something the size of a P67 from top to bottom takes the best part of a week to do properly which usually means starting at one end and doing it in stages. Wax doesn't last long in the med so needs to be re-applied every 3 months. That means an average of around 12-13 hours a week every week.

Not sure what you are getting at here. The OP wanted some advice on which colour polishing heads to use. I have given him some information that may be of use. If you think it's bad information or don't agree with the method I choose that's fine. By the same token I couldn't care less if you fly out the Queens's Regiment to clean your boat, when you get it.
 
I normally use the red foam mop for the mild cleaner/polisher (Commander 4) I use every year. Wax top coat is applied and polished by hand and given a final buffing with a lambswool bonnet. Works for me.
 
The best head for a buffer is a lambs wool mop. Brush the compound on the grp then use the buffer to work it in. That is only the first stage of the treatment. I work around the solent on boats every day with years of exp and found this the best method, any enquiries send me a PM.
 
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