This weekend, I cleaned the fiberglass with 3m's super rubbing compound. After completing this step and rinsing the boat well, I was surprised to see a lot of residue on the glass (e.g. white chalky substance) that was left over from the compound. Is it safe for me to go to the wax step and apply the wax directly to the fiberglass or do I really need to make sure that the fiberglass doesn’t' have any reminence of the rubbing compound? Also, in a previous post the suggestion was to start with a rubbing compound and then move to the polishing compound followed by wax. Has anyone gone straight from Rubbing compound to wax?
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Wash it one more time.
Tony, Just give it a good wash, with a rag and some boat soap. The rubbing compound contains silicon, and the wax may not stick to areas where the silicon remains. My 2 cents worth.
Tony, Just give it a good wash, with a rag and some boat soap. The rubbing compound contains silicon, and the wax may not stick to areas where the silicon remains. My 2 cents worth.
Wash
It is good to always wash after doing anything to the hull before applying wax, however, I've never seen white chalky substance from a compound. Usually the white chalky substance is your gelcoat coming off because it doesn't have any wax to protect it from UV. My advice, wash and put two thick layers of wax on.
It is good to always wash after doing anything to the hull before applying wax, however, I've never seen white chalky substance from a compound. Usually the white chalky substance is your gelcoat coming off because it doesn't have any wax to protect it from UV. My advice, wash and put two thick layers of wax on.
The white stuff could well be
left over rubbing compound that didn't come off. "Rinsing" the boat well was the giveaway -- you really need to get all the compound off before the next step. The reason they say to do things in a certain order is that someone once (or many times) tried to avoid a step and ended up messing up, so, follow the directions -- you're a guy and should be proud of having asked!
left over rubbing compound that didn't come off. "Rinsing" the boat well was the giveaway -- you really need to get all the compound off before the next step. The reason they say to do things in a certain order is that someone once (or many times) tried to avoid a step and ended up messing up, so, follow the directions -- you're a guy and should be proud of having asked!
Wash first
The first thing you should do is wash the gelcoat before compounding to get a shine. Otherwise you are just pushing around dirty, oxidation with your buffing pad. The job will be easier and the results better if you wash first. Mother Mining is right down the road from me and while they do make some good marine products, not all their stuff is the best, I think. I really like MeGuire's products for boats. They have a concentrated gelcoat wash (the first step) and then you can use their Heavy Duty Oxidation Remover. Most fiberglass rubbing compounds have granules that are one size and MeGuire's granuals break down and get smaller as you compound, which gives a better shine with less fiberglass damage. After this application, if you really want a great shine, they have a polisher that will do this, but you can skip this product, if you want. Then apply their #56 wax. The sunshine will eat on the wax instead of your gelcoat. You will love the results.
The first thing you should do is wash the gelcoat before compounding to get a shine. Otherwise you are just pushing around dirty, oxidation with your buffing pad. The job will be easier and the results better if you wash first. Mother Mining is right down the road from me and while they do make some good marine products, not all their stuff is the best, I think. I really like MeGuire's products for boats. They have a concentrated gelcoat wash (the first step) and then you can use their Heavy Duty Oxidation Remover. Most fiberglass rubbing compounds have granules that are one size and MeGuire's granuals break down and get smaller as you compound, which gives a better shine with less fiberglass damage. After this application, if you really want a great shine, they have a polisher that will do this, but you can skip this product, if you want. Then apply their #56 wax. The sunshine will eat on the wax instead of your gelcoat. You will love the results.
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