Heavy oxidation removal- Complete kit recommendation?

[CJK440]

I'm in the process of acquiring a cosmetically neglected Four Winns that looks as if it never saw a coat of wax. The gelcoat is extremely chalky so its going to need a good cut. I plan to remove the decals and trim and go to town. I have a couple odds and ends and a rotary polisher that sounds like its going to grenade any time so I want to equip myself with all the tools needed to restore the finish including a new polisher.

I have had good luck with Dewalt and am looking at an 849x when I stumbled upon this kit.

https://www.autogeek.net/dewalt-boa...MI7bqK5oqH4gIVE4zICh26fgT1EAkYASABEgKnRPD_BwE

Any opinions on the contents of this kit or know of any other oxidation removal packages??

 

[Leardriver]

I have that buffer. It is a fine heavy use device. You could buy that and the compounds separately, and make a big dent.

 

[CJK440]

Yeah, I can get the buffer for $165 which means I'm paying $185 for the variety of backer, pads and sauces. I know that stuff adds up but is there a better system out there to use with that buffer than this Marine 31 kit which seems like an autogeek brand.

 

[crazy charlie]

I think the whole package is overkill.Cant beat Dewalt but you can get a decent polisher for $50-$75 for the use you described.If you are going to use it for many more uses that the Dewalt will merit the extra $$ My recommendation is prior to buying anything,get yourself a bunch of magic erasers and systematiclly do a section of the hull at time.be aggressive and a lot of the chalking will come right off rather than you wasting expensive restoring product.When complete,take a small section and use polishing compound with your old buffer and follow it up with cleaner wax or polish and final step any wax that you might have.Now stand back and take a look and see if that is how you want the entire boat to look.What kind of gloss did u get etc...Best results of the magic erasers is if the boat is floating so you have a constant sourse of water which is essential.Charlie

 

[CJK440]

Magic erasers to remove chalked gelcoat? Huh. Learn something new every day. I do have other uses for a good sander or polisher so the dewalt will get the nod.

Good tips.

 

[harringtondav]

Severe chalk needs wet sanding to cut down to good gel coat. It sounds scary, but it doesn't take off enough of the .020-.030" factory depth to worry about. You will work a long time with rubbing compound and a buffer to cut through the same amount. Start with a spot test with 1500 grit auto grade wet dry. Step up to 2000, 2500 and finish with 3000.

I did this on some spray gel coat patch repairs (I started with 400 grit and stepped up). Results were factory glass. Mirka Abralon and Meguires make foam backed wet discs that start low and go up to 4000 grit. Pricey, but so is your time. I have a Porter Cable random orbit sander/polisher that I used for the discs, and finished with 3M Perfect-It Machine Polish.

For 2-3 yr maintenance I tough up with Meguires Unigrit 3000 hand sheets and polish with the 3M. 23 year old glass shine.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Here is what I would do

wet sand with 400 grid, 600 grit then 800 grit (or DA with those grits)

use aquabuff 2000 by hawkeye industries and a buffer (I use a $60 variable speed harbor freight one) buff twice

after that buff a third and 4th time with 3M finesse it.

buying the sand paper, buffer, 2 wool pads, a quart tub of aquabuff and a quart of finesse it and your at about the $120 range

 

[CJK440]

I'm no stranger to wet sanding and buffing automotive paint and that's much thinner than the gel. I'd always west sand by hand but for this perhaps an imported pneumatic orbital palm sander would be the ticket with the mentioned grits. Those meguires foam backed disks. Yikes!! they are costly.

 

[CJK440]

I got the Dewalt polisher and the Marine 31 kit. I removed the decals, filled gouges, wetsanded, compounded with a wool pad and polished with a foam pad. Decals installed but no wax yet. I'm happy with the results so far.