Before & After ..??

[Maine Sail]

Hi All,I've never been one to take many "before photos" and decided I should. Usually I take a photo after the hard work is done but it's always nice to see the difference you made.I am replacing the ports on our boat so I decided, while they were out, it was a good time to buff out the deck.I am using Presta Ultra Cutting Creme and a 3M wool compounding grade pad. It really should have been wet sanded but this Presta stuff never ceases to amaze me. Here's a before and after photo of the progress. This photo only represents the compounding. I have not yet polished it or used a wax..STBD side before Port side after..

 

[Louis]

Looks Fantastic

Can you give more details. What kind of buffer, how much time? Any special process?

 

[Ctskip]

You never cease to amaze me

Are you married? Looking to adopt? In need of a kid brother? Keep it up, Ctskip

 

[seadaddler]

Main Sail

I was wondering about what to use on my 2007 Hunter.Fleet wax 920 cleaner because it is only one year oldand don't need to use aggressive compound,Finesse it,885 final wax two coats.How about porter cable 7424 instead of the makiter because I readit's really for a pro and novice have to be very careful it willburn the gelcoat.I thought the porter cable is easy to handle for my not so great back.Nick

 

[Maine Sail]

Tim..

Tim, Nice job! Presta... Chroma 1500 is similar to 3M Finesse It and is a polish. The "flag" or "banner" on the can of Presta denotes the pad color to be used. Chroma 1500 has a light blue flag or banner and is designed to be used with the light blue polishing pad.Ultra Cutting Creme is similar to 3M Marine compound just a lot better. The Ultra Cutting Creme is designed to be used with your black compounding pad and it has a black flag or banner. Spectrum does have the Ultra Cutting Creme and it's about $20.00 for 32 oz..

 

[Jim Seamans]

Nice Job - Mainesail

I was looking at getting the Makita 9227 also looks like a real nice polisher. I burned up my variable speed grinder this spring while doing the hull.Another polishing compound to consider is:3M Imperial Compound and Colinite 925. http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=623

 

[Rich (P303)]

MaineSail

Very nice...Seems you have this down to a science. My boat is waiting if you work for beer and/or drinks only. Hot tub and pool is open.What do you use for a wax after chroma 1500???

 

[seadaddler]

Anyone use Porter Cable

I was told you need to be very careful with a circularbuffer like the Makita and the porter cable is easy to use for novice.Nick

 

[Rich (P303)]

I think...

as long as you keep it moving... don't bear down on it... and let the compound do the work... you are all set.I feel comfortable on the hull... however I know I could get in trouble on the deck. Too many small and curvey surfaces... I would burn through.

 

[Maine Sail]

Random Orbit..

Quote: " I was told you need to be very careful with a circular buffer like the Makita and the porter cable is easy to use for novice."Random Orbit buffers like the Porter Cables are far better for thin automotive grade paint such as clear coats that are much softer and thinner than gelcoat. RO's don't work nearly as well on gelcoat and take far more time than a circular buffer. RO's are relatively new in the buffing world and people have been buffing thin automotive paints with circulars for years! keep in mind that gelcoat is usually 10-12 times, or more, the thickness of an automotive clear coat and gelcoat can be wet sanded and buffed many times throughout it's useful life where clear coat is a one time shot with wet sand paper and perhaps one serious compounding before you're at the base layer....

 

[Scott]

It takes some practice ...

I copied Maine Sails earlier postings and bought the Makita 9227, 3M Rubbing compound and the Finesse It with the appropriate pads. Last weekend I worked on the rubbing compound and have a much better shine than before. I am anxious to use the polish to see how much better it will look than before I started.Our boat was in fairly good condition for a 1984 vintage boat that didn't have a lot of obvious upkeep during the recent years prior to us purchasing it in 2004. I had used a polishing compound and wax in the past but did not apply with the type of system that MS is advocating.A few notes on my application. I thought MS was recommending a speed of 1800 to 2000 RPM before so I put it at 1800. I think I will slow it down. I also buffed until the compound was dry and coming off. I probably applied too much pressure because I was pretty tired by the time I was thru with the topsides. I haven't done the deck since we are still covered. I found it easier to spread the compound material if I kept the applicator pad pretty wet. I did not think about keeping the pad moist. I had a lot of discoloration from the boot stripe and I would have to buff the discoloration out after finishing that part. I did tape the bottom paint to protect the pad. I had to make sure I oriented the rotation so the pad didn't pull the tape down. I did way too much edging for a novice because it seemed like flat polishing was a lot of effort (too much pressure). I didn't clean the pad as I was working, I really don't know what it takes to keep it clean or what actually is "clean" once it has compound material caked on the pad. I used a small bottle of the compound material for our 27' Starwind. There is a tiny bit left in the bottle. I thought I would need more so I have another bottle. I may try the application again.Despite my inexperience and mis-handling, I am very impressed with the result and if I messed anything up or damaged the gel coat ... I can't tell.

 

[Rich (P303)]

Scott...

don't forget to wax! What wax will you use?Wax on... Wax off

 

[seadaddler]

Thanks Mainsail

I listen to what you say on this forum and hope to havehalf the results you get.You help a lot of guys here learn what not to use and detailedhelp to protect and get a great looking boat.Thanks again for all your help,I can't wait to get started,I diduse 885 on my brand new boat last year and did look good all summerbut now I will start compounding first and than 3m finesse it and hopefullytwo coats 885.I'll be ordering the mikita 9227 tomorrow morning.Nick

 

[sailaway78]

You sure do pretty work

Main Sail,You sure do pretty work. Where do you find the time and the gumption to keep doing this quality of stuff. I should have done some myself this weekend, but just said the hell with the working on a boat, and went sailing on one.

 

[Maine Sail]

Grew up...

Grew up with the family motto passed down from great grand fathers. "Any job worth doing is a job worth doing the best you can". Whether it was stacking fire wood or detailing my dads antique cars or varnishing the boat it had to be the best I could do. Sometimes he would just look at something I had done and say what my grand father used to say to him. "Is that really the best you can do?"..I had that drilled into me from a young age and really can't settle for anything less... I guess it's how I'm programmed....I often sneak up to the boat before work from 5:00 am to about 7:30 or after my wife goes to bed I'll go to the barn which is where I am right now working on my cabin sole...P.S. Keep in mind we have a built in 6 month period to do boat work up here in the frozen North..

 

[Scott B]

waxed on

Was up last weekend to prep for launch. 17 yr. old son volunteers to come with me and help ;D no prodding, no asking, and he knew what I was headed up to do... gotta love it !! We peeld the shrink wrap and I painted the bottom. I used the Maine Sail technique with a Dewalt buffer. I used the Meguiars #7 polish on a foam pad and he wiped it off, followed up with 3M paste wax applied by hand. I waxed on, he waxed off. Got it done in approx. 2 hours. Last year I ( I should say "we", as I had everyone helping last year) used Meguiars #9 swirl remover followed by the wax which made this year much easier.Biggest bonus is.... we're now in the water. !! ;D ;D *5Maine, do you use the compound on the no-skid as well. Mine's a fairly deep texture and I didn't do it last year, but will be this weekends project. I was wondering how difficult it would be to get the compund out of the texture.

 

[Jim Seamans]

Price on Makita 9227

Just in case anyone is looking...Found the Makita 9227cx for $177 at National Tool Warehouse. Anyone got a better price let me know. Difference of $10-20There is some interesting info on the web from auto detailers about different polishers and how to use them. One mentioned a lot is the Makita.cheers

 

[Rich (P303)]

190...

at Advantage Gas in Portland ME.

 

[Maine Sail]

Advanatge is where..

Advantage Gas is where I bought mine but that was quite a few years agona nd if I rememebr I paid about $165.00 - $170.00. Anything under $200.00 clams on the 9227C is a good deal these days. The thing I really like is that soft start and the 600 rpm slow speed. Most other buffers have a slow speed of 1000 rpm's...I've generally not been a big fan of Makita, other than their circular saws, but this particular buffer is well built. Even the trigger mechanism has set screws so when you wrap the cord and rip it out, as I have done, you can very easily split the handle with four screws and replace the cord in about ten minutes and be back in business..

 

[Tim R.]

Advantage Gases website

Toolsforless.com is their website. Here is a link to the 9227:http://www.toolsforless.com/product/5249/Makita_9227CY_7_Inch_VS_Sander_Polisher$194.88 w/free UPS groundThese guys are great to deal with. I buy all my tools and accessories there. They have also internet price matched for me.