Cut and pollish question

[1979 Quartermasters]

Hi guys;

Well I have finally got that break in the gelcoat repaired and am starting to cut and pollish.

I have a section of the hull sanded up to 1000, pollished with a glase and topped with Mcguires marine wax. Its as smooth as a baby's bottom and shiny like crazy, but seems to be hazy or dull. Not sure why. I can read a news paper in the refection but it seems cloudy if your looking at it straight on.

I'm not happy with the finnish and would like some advice from youguys.

thanks.......

Ken

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Cut and pollish question

If it still looks cloudy you need to remove more gel coat before buffing.

Try a small patch and do more sanding, stop to but it frequently so you can tell if looks good.

There is a chance that it looks dull all the way trough, this isn't normal, but does happen. That's why you should just do a small area first.

 

[1979 Quartermasters]

Re: Cut and pollish question

Do I need to go to a finer grit. The boat is very shiny where I haven't sanded. I was wanting to sand out the scratches and the pollish the whole boat. But it seems that where ever I have sanded its kind of cloudy. No where the same as the original. Do I need a more aggressive rubbing compound?

I have sanded up to 1000. I have a 1500. Should I use a palm sander and wet or dry?

I have never worked with fiberglass before. I got the hole in the gel patched perfectly, color and all.

I'm finding this a little discouraging!!!

Patience and advice is greatly appreciated......

Ken

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Cut and pollish question

Do I need to go to a finer grit. The boat is very shiny where I haven't sanded. I was wanting to sand out the scratches and the pollish the whole boat. But it seems that where ever I have sanded its kind of cloudy. No where the same as the original. Do I need a more aggressive rubbing compound?

I have sanded up to 1000. I have a 1500. Should I use a palm sander and wet or dry?

I have never worked with fiberglass before. I got the hole in the gel patched perfectly, color and all.

I'm finding this a little discouraging!!!

Patience and advice is greatly appreciated......

Ken

I will bet its perosity in the gel .. take it to a car wash station and pressure wash your boat. I think your looking at x-compound in the substrate that will wear off.

You can keep Waxing ..or sand and buff .. your choice.

YD.

 

[fstalfire]

Re: Cut and pollish question

It's cloudy looking for one of two reasons....either there are still scratches from sanding in it or you didnt sand off the oxidized layer. when you buff, recognize compound is like sandpaaper and there are variying levels of coarseness...start with a cutting compound to remove the sanding scratches then move to a polishing compound to remove the swirl marks from the cutting compound. Also, when you sand you have to remove the oxidized layed not just abraide it.....when i did mine i sanded with 800 dry on a DA sander then cut, then polished. take your time and work in small areas of 3x3