Fiberglass Buffing....

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Nelsonhow

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Jan 4, 2007
406
Hunter 30 Centerport
I've been following you on this net for a long time and really appreciate your posts and pics. They are always spot on.

I'm looking at a major buff/polish on my ohld H-30 next spring and would really love to see a demo of how you use waterproof sandpaper (super fine grit 600+?) and a buffer to get your fantastic reults... could you post something on youtube or something? If it's already there please let me know where to find it.

THANKS!!!!!
 
Ed Schenck

Ed Schenck

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Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
Wise to DIY if you are comfortable with sanding your gelcoat. I talked to a detailer on Monday. His explanation was exactly as Maine Sail describes and that "Brian3280" is presently doing. I asked him about price. He did a 30-footer recently for $450.
 
Bill1565

Bill1565

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Jan 22, 2008
1,483
Hunter 37 C sloop Punta Gorda FL
I've tried 5 "detailers" here in SW Fla. They are all one step guys at about 10-12$/ft. I'd be thrilled to find a laborer at $30/hr who would do it Maine's way.
 
B

brian3820

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Oct 1, 2011
188
Hunter 42 Passage Huron, OH
Ed, at this point, I would be happy to pay the $450. It is a ton of work, but the results are fantastic. Bill, if you have medium to heavy oxidation, you are better served to do it MaineSails way. The one step process will only work for a couple of months. I was out last night, with the wind blowing and a full moon over my head buffing... kinda cold, but I am extremely happy with the results. If you follow MaineSails tutorial, in conjunction with the product directions, you will be very happy.
 
taichi

taichi

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Feb 21, 2010
57
Hunter Hunter 23 Oshkosh Wisconsin
Hello - could someone reply with the link back to that tutorial - thanks!
 
T

txtowman

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Mar 8, 2009
530
Catalina 22 Kemah,Texas
Top
I've tried 5 "detailers" here in SW Fla. They are all one step guys at about 10-12$/ft. I'd be thrilled to find a laborer at $30/hr who would do it Maine's way.

So, are you saying a regular guy like me with some experience might make a modest living buffing boats in your area?

I am looking for work, and the opportunities are very limited.
 
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brian3820

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Oct 1, 2011
188
Hunter 42 Passage Huron, OH
txtowman, If you followed mainesails tutorial, bought a grinder/buffer and have some upper arm and shoulder strength..you will be a rock star down there. This job is tough, especially if you have to start with wet sanding, but the results are awesome. Mine is here at my house on a cradle..its a 34 footer and with the keel, the bow is somewhere between 13 and 15 feet to the toe rail, so pretty much working upside down, lifting the buffer the whole time. It gets very heavy, very fast. My oxidation was terrible, but my starboard side looks like glass now. AND, I still have 2 steps to go...the polish, then the wax. If you have any questions in regard to MaineSails tutorial and anything I have done, please feel free to email me.... Good Luck!
 
Ed Schenck

Ed Schenck

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Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
Detailers here work by the hour, not by the length. You will need some experience so that you can provide a reasonable quote. Something like "the last 30-footer I compounded was heavily oxidized and took me twenty-four hours". Two boats of the same length could be days apart in getting the desired results.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,709
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Nelsonhow said:
I've been following you on this net for a long time and really appreciate your posts and pics. They are always spot on.

I'm looking at a major buff/polish on my ohld H-30 next spring and would really love to see a demo of how you use waterproof sandpaper (super fine grit 600+?) and a buffer to get your fantastic reults... could you post something on youtube or something? If it's already there please let me know where to find it.

THANKS!!!!!
Click to expand
I should do a video but I am no good at that stuff and editing video is all Greek to me...
 
B

brian3820

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Oct 1, 2011
188
Hunter 42 Passage Huron, OH
MaineSail, Is this the part where I tell you I am a professional Musician, Music Producer and Video Editor. Musician for 40 years, 30 as a professional. Wrote, performed, engineered and produced several CD's distributed and sold worldwide. Also produced a ton of video and television, been doing that professionally for 20 years, even produced a special effects sequence for the HBO film "Little Miss Magic". My studio is in my home now, so let me know if you ever need music or video work...happy to help. ALSO... the buffing tutorial is AWESOME...thanks to you, my 27 year OLD boat now is looking like a 27 year NEW boat... thanks again.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,047
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Video editing

Brian, looks like you have a trip to Maine comin' up! :):):) Bring you iPod, MS's has some great music, too.
 
sailcruiser

sailcruiser

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Sep 6, 2011
435
Brian I'm following your progress. I looked at your boat at one time and determined it needed more than I could give but I'm happy someone has given her a good home. I'm watching your pictures as they're posted.

MS - even the photo tutorials you put together rock. Watching a video would be awesome because you present material very well to the average layman.

SC
 
B

brian3820

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Oct 1, 2011
188
Hunter 42 Passage Huron, OH
Sailcruiser...then you know the work she needs. Talked with Hunter and several other glass experts and they said the glass work is no big deal. A good portion of the interior is ripped out and all of it will be new in the end. The hull is looking amazing, I may be posting pics again tomorrow if I get the starboard side done. Not sure what the asking price was when you looked at her, but I can tell you, I STOLE it.... I paid less than 5 figures....So we have a little wiggle room to get her redone. A long process, but hopefully she we see the lake by April. Keep in touch if you are near by and we will have you come look at her in the spring..... Stu... a trip to Maine would be wonderful. Is MaineSail a musician too?
 
sailcruiser

sailcruiser

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Sep 6, 2011
435
brian3820 said:
Sailcruiser...then you know the work she needs. Talked with Hunter and several other glass experts and they said the glass work is no big deal. A good portion of the interior is ripped out and all of it will be new in the end. The hull is looking amazing, I may be posting pics again tomorrow if I get the starboard side done. Not sure what the asking price was when you looked at her, but I can tell you, I STOLE it.... I paid less than 5 figures....So we have a little wiggle room to get her redone. A long process, but hopefully she we see the lake by April. Keep in touch if you are near by and we will have you come look at her in the spring..... Stu... a trip to Maine would be wonderful. Is MaineSail a musician too?
Click to expand
Oh I do. Calling her issues 'a little oil canning' was an understatement. They were pretty firm on their price when we looked early summer time frame. I saw what she needed and knew I couldn't do it with my bandwidth. You did steal her but you'll have a ton of sweat equity in her by Spring. I'd love to see the after. I'm not terribly close but it doesn't take much to convince me to drive. Where will she dock?
SC
 
emergpa1

emergpa1

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Oct 2, 2008
1,424
Island Packet 31 Brunswick, Ga
Like a Swedish massage.

Nelsonhow said:
I've been following you on this net for a long time and really appreciate your posts and pics. They are always spot on.

I'm looking at a major buff/polish on my ohld H-30 next spring and would really love to see a demo of how you use waterproof sandpaper (super fine grit 600+?) and a buffer to get your fantastic reults... could you post something on youtube or something? If it's already there please let me know where to find it.

THANKS!!!!!
Click to expand
Nelsonhow,
I think I know wherebu r at. A couple of years ago I was using mainsail's buff magic post to restore my gelcoat. I remember a couple of questions that it did not seem to answer. They may or not be the ones you have. But here r my solutions anyway.
1. To sand I found it best to start with 600. I worked up to 2000 before buffing. Buffing several times will not make up for sanding. To sand, I began with circular motions. I used the amount of pressure I would use for a massage. Start hard and ease up. I would finish with light back and forth motion as if I were dusting. The mistake I always made was UNDER sanding. Change paper a lot. The finer the grit,, the more time you spend in an area. I did not find it to be difficult or unrewarding. Very relaxing work once you get the hang of it. Of course my boat was on a trailer in my back yard.
2. With the buffer, light pressure. The lighter the better. Don't use the edge of the pad for small areas. Keep the pad slightly tilted. But only slightly.

Those r the only things I have to ad to mainsails excellent article
Keith
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brian3820

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Oct 1, 2011
188
Hunter 42 Passage Huron, OH
Sailcruiser...So let me guess... You spoke to TJ at Harbor North when you heard the phrase "Oil Canning"? Same phrase I heard. Fact is, she was set was placed in her cradle with all the weight on the back of the keel, cracked the 2 transverse stiffeners. you saw it, you know... Spoke to the surveyor, and Hunter and both felt not a big deal, IF.... you are willing to tear out part of the interior to do the glass work. Long story short, I finally have her sitting in her cradle level... the bow WAS way high in the cradle... I got the whole boat rolled forward now and the keel sits nicely. What a job. But we did get her for a great price...I know I will have 5 hard months of cleaning, buffing, glassiing, building, etc... but we are excited about her... "Oil Canning".... seriously.....T.J ...yes???? He makes everything sound so..."No Big Deal"....... Nice guy though......
 
sailcruiser

sailcruiser

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Sep 6, 2011
435
brian3820 said:
Sailcruiser...So let me guess... You spoke to TJ at Harbor North when you heard the phrase "Oil Canning"? Same phrase I heard. Fact is, she was set was placed in her cradle with all the weight on the back of the keel, cracked the 2 transverse stiffeners. you saw it, you know... Spoke to the surveyor, and Hunter and both felt not a big deal, IF.... you are willing to tear out part of the interior to do the glass work. Long story short, I finally have her sitting in her cradle level... the bow WAS way high in the cradle... I got the whole boat rolled forward now and the keel sits nicely. What a job. But we did get her for a great price...I know I will have 5 hard months of cleaning, buffing, glassiing, building, etc... but we are excited about her... "Oil Canning".... seriously.....T.J ...yes???? He makes everything sound so..."No Big Deal"....... Nice guy though......
Click to expand
You got it! I about dropped my teeth when I saw her expecting one thing and saw this as a result. I decided right then it didn't matter what he had I wasn't wasting an afternoon for that sort of bad information intentional or not. It is definitely a job. While I have no problems doing my own work if at all possible it was too much for me to take on with life where it is right now. It worked out in the end and I'm still busting my butt getting stuff one and it's a fraction of a fraction of your winter list. I'm guessing they were over zealous on the tilt to empty the scuppers or perhaps someone wasn't paying attention.

Either way her future looks good. I'm always happy to see (or do) rehabs to get th classic plastic back out there.

SC
 
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