Tips For A Great Buff & Wax

DayDreamer41

DayDreamer41

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Oct 29, 2016
1,929
Hunter 41 DS Port Huron
I would use the Presta compound as mentioned at the beginning of this thread followed by the polish and wax. This product results are very good, I would stick with the Colinite wax seems to do a great job and has good last power
 
Davidasailor26

Davidasailor26

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May 17, 2004
5,656
Beneteau Oceanis 37 Havre de Grace
jviss said:
O.K., friends, back at this after a long hiatus - divorce, move, all of that stuff. Lost track of my Makita buffer and Lake Country pads, so bought another, and couldn't find LC 8" pads, so bought a 5" backing plate and a set of foam pads from SPTA, five foam pads from "heavy cut," T120, though "polish," T20 (numbers seem to run opposite of sanding grits). I have a collection of car detailing products from Chemical Guys which I will use.

I want to get that wet-look gloss on the deck (between the non-skid portions), coach roof, and cockpit gel coat. That's the goal.

I don't think it's at the point that it needs wet sanding - yet.

How would you all recommend I proceed? Try "sneaking up on it," by starting with a light cut then polish, then finish, or just go for it and start with a heavy cut and work my way up?

Would really appreciate some advice.

p.s. I plan to finish with just a couple of coats of Colonite carnuba wax, 'though I was considering one of these automotive ceramic coatings.
Click to expand
What’s it look like now? I’ve tried skipping straight to the Presta Ultra Cutting Crème step on noticeably oxidized but not old/abused gelcoat; it didn’t work out great. It did well enough that when waxed it looked ok, but not the deep gloss look and not that long lasting. The next year I started from the Presta Gelcoat compound step and the results were much better.
 
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Likes: jviss and DayDreamer41
jviss

jviss

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Feb 5, 2004
7,089
Tartan 3800 20 Westport, MA
Davidasailor26 said:
What’s it look like now? I’ve tried skipping straight to the Presta Ultra Cutting Crème step on noticeably oxidized but not old/abused gelcoat; it didn’t work out great. It did well enough that when waxed it looked ok, but not the deep gloss look and not that long lasting. The next year I started from the Presta Gelcoat compound step and the results were much better.
Click to expand
It's hard to describe what it looks like, as there are no easy objective measures for this, it's all very subjective. I'll try to describe it next time I'm there....
 
BigEasy

BigEasy

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Jun 21, 2004
2,866
Beneteau 343 Slidell, LA
Just got finished with the topsides. I used 3M super duty compound followed by Presta ultra cutting crime, & Collinite paste wax. I find that Presta compound gums up my wool pad too severely & frequently. Had to retire my old Makita polisher after 25 years of service, fairly certain the armature failed. .
 
jviss

jviss

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Feb 5, 2004
7,089
Tartan 3800 20 Westport, MA
BigEasy said:
Just got finished with the topsides. I used 3M super duty compound followed by Presta ultra cutting crime, & Collinite paste wax. I find that Presta compound gums up my wool pad too severely & frequently. Had to retire my old Makita polisher after 25 years of service, fairly certain the armature failed. .
Click to expand
Oh, bummer on both counts. I just ordered a new Makita, as I said. $260.

Do you think your Makita just overheated?
 
Ward H

Ward H

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Nov 7, 2011
3,779
Catalina 30 Mk II Cedar Creek, Bayville NJ
I'd like to do the smooth areas on the deck of my C30 as well. I gifted my Makita polisher to a friend before I took out a shoulder trying to do the topsides.
Any recommendations for a smaller sized 4-5" polisher for the deck work?
 
BigEasy

BigEasy

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Jun 21, 2004
2,866
Beneteau 343 Slidell, LA
jviss said:
Oh, bummer on both counts. I just ordered a new Makita, as I said. $260.
Do you think your Makita just overheated?
Click to expand
Not sure; however, I don’t think it overheated. Think that it died of old age.
 
jviss

jviss

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Feb 5, 2004
7,089
Tartan 3800 20 Westport, MA
Davidasailor26 said:
What’s it look like now?
Click to expand
When I got the boat 7 years ago it was all pretty shiny, glossy. It now has that duller look, from sun exposure, and perhaps not enough protective wax, and it's even a bit chalky in places.

Davidasailor26 said:
The next year I started from the Presta Gelcoat compound step and the results were much better.
Click to expand
I will consider that. I already have a collection of progressive grits of compounds and polishes from Chemical Guys that I had purchased for my car.

The thing that frustrates me is that I now have a collection of pads, including wool, and five foam pads of varying "cut," and a bunch of different compounds and polishes - so, what combination to use? What to start with? Very frustrating.
 
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