Any tips on bringing back the shine?

[Brad-nTrish]

Any one with any ideas on bringing back the shine to old fiberglass pipestone???? Have tried all I can find with no avail!! Thanks Brad

 

[JB]

Re: Any tips on bringing back the shine?

Moving to Boats.

 

[Sal G]

Re: Any tips on bringing back the shine?

First, use h/duty rubbing compound or wet sand the gelcoat with 600 grit wet/dry papr if the boat is<br />very badly oxidized. You want to get the color back in the gecoat to its closest original state.<br />When done you can do several things.<br />1- Use a product such as NewGlass2 or Veriglas that contains acrylic polymer. This will "seal" the gelcoat and give a high gloss. If you can't get your hands onthis stuff or if you feel it's too pricy, I've used in a pinch Armstrong Shinekeeper or plain commecial vinyl floor wax- just as long it contains acrylic polymer. Apply 4+ caots,making sure each coat drys completely before you attempt the next. Newglass drys within 15 seconds where as the plain commercial stuff takes longer. Try a hair dryer with the commercial cheap stuff. Shinekeeper drys relatively fast. Apply this (acrylic polymer in thin layers with a synthetic type rag. Something like a sheepskin with no pores to it.<br />2- There's aproduct called PETROL that supposed to work wonders on oxidized gelcoat. I've bought it<br />and did my inside dash etc. My boat is a !977<br />Formula and the inside dash and all vinyl surroundings look NEW! This you simply apply with a <br />rag. The people who have used this stuff swear by it saying that it enriches the color and protects the gelcoat (water bead on it). Regardless- still take the time to remove as much oxidation with rubbing compound or wet sanding.<br />3- Last- the old boat wax thing that will give you shine but fades away quickly because of the<br />chemical reaction of salt/sun and water.<br />Hope I was able to help. Let me know if I was any help to you. You can e-mail me-salutations@erols.com to let me know how you made<br />out. Good luck.

 

[DJP]

Re: Any tips on bringing back the shine?

That'd be Penetrol, available at any marine retail outlet.

 

[bassin51]

Re: Any tips on bringing back the shine?

I'm with trippin, marine penetrol works great. I had tried all of the waxes, and color restorers, none ever worked for me. After seeing a post here about marine penetrol, I tried it, and the good thing about it, its really easy...

 

[footloose1950]

Re: Any tips on bringing back the shine?

I wet sanded my 1972 hull with 600 grit and used PoliGlow and it looks like new. Needed 6-7 coats but is easily applied without any buffing. It is suppose to last a year without another coat (we'll see).

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: Any tips on bringing back the shine?

isnt penetrol a flow agent for paint?

 

[jrc27]

Re: Any tips on bringing back the shine?

Marine Penetrol bonds paint to almost anything, stops rust and controls corrosion. Marine Penetrol restores lustre to faded fibreglass.<br /><br />ONE EASY APPLICATION OF PENETROL PRIMES, SEALS, BONDS <br /><br />What is it?<br />Marine Penetrol is a versatile blend of natural oils with a penetration power 3 times more than water and a powerful bonding ability. High in solids, non-toxic when dry, clear with low odour it is user friendly and recommended by major paint manufacturers. <br />took this straight from their website...

 

[ShawKingAquaholic]

Re: Any tips on bringing back the shine?

Any one with any ideas on bringing back the shine to old fiberglass pipestone???? Have tried all I can find with no avail!! Thanks Brad

You have a pipestone?? Me too, I'm glad you posted this as I will be doing the same to mine soon. Would love to know what year you have. Mine is a 1959.

 

[gcboat]

Re: Any tips on bringing back the shine?

Yes Sea Master - Penetrol is a paint additive. Used as a brushing aid in oil based paints. their water based additive is called Flotrol.
Would not use it as everyone says. When it dries it turns into a hard finish that will amber out and peel after awhile. It does have its purpose but applying to someting for a shine factor just isn't it. Maybe you guys aren't old enough to remember but some time ago they used to use brake fluid on the sides of the old station wagons that had that fake wood trim. Looked great for a bit then turned to crap. Pretty much the same situation here.
The polymer kits are nothing more than a modified floor wax. In some cases that would be the way to go. I'm just from the old school where a good sanding and compounding followed by some good wax is the way to go.
I did however find that Meguiar's makes a one step compound / polish that does work exceptionally well - their # 67. I've only experimented on a white hull so can't speak for a darker one.
I guess to each their own - my $.02

 

[Mark42]

Re: Any tips on bringing back the shine?

I would avoid putting anything oil based on the gel to "restore" it. If the gel is dull and can't be brought back, go to Home Depot and buy Armstrong's floor polish for CVT vinyl tile. Its the same major ingredient as Polyglow at a much lower price. Same as Future floor wax, if you can find it. Both products only come off with ammonia, so they are soap and water safe.

Put on one or two coats of the Armstrong floor polish and you will think its new.

 

[Steve Mahler]

Re: Any tips on bringing back the shine?

I am a big penetrol user with two important caveats:

1) never use it on white
2) I only use it on old cheap boats or on small portions of nicer boats, so the risk is minimal.

That being said, I have done it the hard way with wet sanding and buffing and have found that often the oxidation is serious enough that you cant get a really great shine that way. Penetrol and probably other oils etc. seem to fill the micro gaps the oxidation creates, to make things shiny.

I have not had an issue with peeling, but do agree that you usually have to give it another coat mid summer at least. I had a bright red speed boat that I took to shows, I ran a coat on that practically every week