Gel-coat rotary backing plat/pad ?'s

[Hoytman]

Mr. Phillips,
I've got boat detail in order and have a few questions. I did some searching on the subject and here is one of the links I ran across: http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/circular-polishers-rotary-polishers-high-speed-polisher/47941-what-s-your-favorite-rotary-pad-plate-combo.html

The boat is a 21' Trophy with a walk-around cuddy, 84-87 model, I think. The boat has been in my family for a long time and belongs to an uncle. To my knowledge it's never been polished out. It's not in bad shape, but I'm certain there is oxidation, some of which may be heavy. Color is white.

My question is in regard to having/getting the right backing plate for this project. I currently only have two, good, rotary backing plates. Of course I have two that are junk and came with the rotary(Harbor Freight) and are hard as a rock...which I assume would allow for some serious cutting. Still, I don't think it would be wise to use these backing plates.

What backing plate, and products, would you recommend Mr. Phillips? I'm thinking the W65 bp I have won't be soft enough for the curvature of the boat lines, or may completely be the wrong backing plate.

Should I invest in some smaller wool pads for the smaller areas as well? My smallest pads are 5.5" Buff and Shine.

I thought I'd mention that my rotary experience is limited to polishing a few times on gel-coat, and I will consider this more practice before using the rotary on paint.

Here's a list of what I have to tackle the project:

1 pad cleaning spur

Optimum
1 - Optimum 5" flexible rotary backing plate similar to this one Flex-Foam HD Rotary Backing Plate, circular polisher backing plate, backing pad (http://www.autogeek.net/hd-rotary-backing-plate.html)


Meguiar's
Meguiars Mirror Glaze #105 Ultra-Cut Compound 32 oz. New D.A. Version (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-mirror-glaze-105-ultra-cut-compound.html)
Meguiars Mirror Glaze #205 Ultra Finishing Polish, final polish, Meguiars polishes, car polish, 205 FP (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-finishing-polish.html)
Meguiars Microfiber Correction Compound, cutting compound, polishing compound (http://www.autogeek.net/da-correction-compound-32oz.html)
Meguiars DA Microfiber Finishing Wax, final wax, cleaning wax, car wax (http://www.autogeek.net/da-finishing-wax-32oz.html)

1 - http://www.autogeek.net/mgw65.html (http://www.autogeek.net/mgw65.html)
3 - W4000 wool pads
http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-soft-buff-pads-6.html (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-soft-buff-pads-6.html)
An assorment of mf discs


Mothers Professional Line
Mothers Professional Rubbing Compound, car rubbing compound, compounding polish (http://www.autogeek.net/mothers-rubbing-compound.html)
Mothers Professional Foam Pad Polish, mothers car polish, machine polish, auto polish (http://www.autogeek.net/mothers-foam-pad-polish.html)
Mothers Professional Hand Glaze, glaze car polish, hand polishing glaze (http://www.autogeek.net/mothers-hand-glaze.html)


3M
3M Perfect-It 3000 Rubbing Compound, car polishing compound, auto paint compound (http://www.autogeek.net/3m-rubbing-compound-16oz.html)


I plan on normal decontaminating wash and clay, then taping things off, but I'm worried about some of the decals. I don't think I want to use a wool pad near these. Then again, I may not need the wool pad combo, and a test spot will revail this.

All suggestions and tips welcome.

[Hoytman]

Alright, after spending several more hours doing more research and coming across this very informative thread over at MOL Meguiar's **New** 2009 Rotary and DA Backing Plate Review!!!! (http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?36919-Meguiar-s-**New**-2009-Rotary-and-DA-Backing-Plate-Review)!!!! It looks like the W65 backing plate that I bought will work well with the W4000 pads I purchased, as well as the W68 backing plate. My guess is that the W66 backing plate will work with both the W4000 wool pads and the 7" Solo pads.

That said, I guess one of my main questions has changed a bit from my original post. That being a concern that the only time I'd ever use those big 8" W4000 pads would be on this boat, and the fact that I may need some smaller wool pads to get into tighter areas on the boat.

I'm debating on returning the W65 bp and the W4000 wool pads simply because they'll most likely get used in the large areas. If I returned them and bought some 6 inch wool pads and a matching backing plate I could also use the backing plate for my 6.5 inch foam pads on the rotary. This way I would only need the one backing plate. Which bp would you recommend?

Maybe those larger pads would still be the best way to go, I don't know.

[Mike Phillips]

What backing plate, and products, would you recommend Mr. Phillips? I'm thinking the W65 bp I have won't be soft enough for the curvature of the boat lines, or may completely be the wrong backing plate.

Should I invest in some smaller wool pads for the smaller areas as well? My smallest pads are 5.5" Buff and Shine.

I thought I'd mention that my rotary experience is limited to polishing a few times on gel-coat, and I will consider this more practice before using the rotary on paint.




The initial cut or process to the boat is the most intense and hardest as that's when you're going to be chopping off all the dead, oxidized gel-coat.

You want a supper aggressive wool cutting pad, usually twisted, 2 ply or twisted 4 ply wool cutting pads work great.

You want the most aggressive compound you can get, basically liquid sandpaper. I've had good luck with XMT #4 (http://www.autogeek.net/32ozxmthedus.html) and Gel-Coat Labs Heavy Cut Compound (http://www.autogeek.net/gel-coat-heavy-cut-compound.html).

Meguiar's M91 Power Cut Compound (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-power-cut-compound.html) is also very aggressive and finishes out to a low swirl surface.

Anytime you do any heavy cutting using aggressive products and wool cutting pads with rotary buffers you're going to want to do at least one more follow-up pass with something less aggressive and switch to foam.




Here's a list of what I have to tackle the project:

1 pad cleaning spur

Optimum
1 - Optimum 5" flexible rotary backing plate similar to this one Flex-Foam HD Rotary Backing Plate, circular polisher backing plate, backing pad (http://www.autogeek.net/hd-rotary-backing-plate.html)


Meguiar's
Meguiars Mirror Glaze #105 Ultra-Cut Compound 32 oz. New D.A. Version (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-mirror-glaze-105-ultra-cut-compound.html)
Meguiars Mirror Glaze #205 Ultra Finishing Polish, final polish, Meguiars polishes, car polish, 205 FP (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-finishing-polish.html)
Meguiars Microfiber Correction Compound, cutting compound, polishing compound (http://www.autogeek.net/da-correction-compound-32oz.html)
Meguiars DA Microfiber Finishing Wax, final wax, cleaning wax, car wax (http://www.autogeek.net/da-finishing-wax-32oz.html)

1 - http://www.autogeek.net/mgw65.html (http://www.autogeek.net/mgw65.html)
3 - W4000 wool pads
http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-soft-buff-pads-6.html (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-soft-buff-pads-6.html)
An assorment of mf discs


Mothers Professional Line
Mothers Professional Rubbing Compound, car rubbing compound, compounding polish (http://www.autogeek.net/mothers-rubbing-compound.html)
Mothers Professional Foam Pad Polish, mothers car polish, machine polish, auto polish (http://www.autogeek.net/mothers-foam-pad-polish.html)
Mothers Professional Hand Glaze, glaze car polish, hand polishing glaze (http://www.autogeek.net/mothers-hand-glaze.html)


3M
3M Perfect-It 3000 Rubbing Compound, car polishing compound, auto paint compound (http://www.autogeek.net/3m-rubbing-compound-16oz.html)


I plan on normal decontaminating wash and clay, then taping things off, but I'm worried about some of the decals. I don't think I want to use a wool pad near these. Then again, I may not need the wool pad combo, and a test spot will reveal this.

All suggestions and tips welcome.[/QUOTE]


Out of what you listed above, do some testing with the different heavy cutting compounds, for example the MOthers compound is a great heavy cut compound. The W-4000 Wool pad is a great heavy cutting wool pad.

For backing plates and heavy cutting a solid backing plate will tend to be be more aggressive but a flexible backing plate will help keep your pad flat to the surface for curves. The key factors are really the compound and pad for maximum cutting ability.


Have fun with this one... it should be one heck of a good arm, shoulder, back and leg work out!


Also use that spur and clean you pad OFTEN! It will make all buffing and wiping of compound much easier...

This is a project that you would LOVE having a Pad Washer (http://www.autogeek.net/grit-guard-universal-pad-washer.html) to help getting your pads clean and ready to work after buffing a section.

Show Car Garage Video: How to use the Grit Guard Universal Pad Washer (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-videos/24325-video-how-use-grit-guard-universal-pad-washer.html)


How to adjust the Pad Cleaning Plate in the System 2000 Pad Washer (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/wool-foam-buffing-pads/22460-how-adjust-pad-cleaning-plate-system-2000-pad-washer.html)



:xyxthumbs:

[Hoytman]

Thanks for the reply. I'll certainly keep those additional products in mind. I'm just hoping I won't need them after doing my test spot. Here's to hoping...

Pad washer's been on my list for quite awhile now and will be on my next purchase for sure.

I'll be practicing my picking up a bead technique from the various positions, which will be great practice for me. I'm certain I'll have some issue's with splatter until I get the technique down. Should I get good at picking up a bead, I assume they'll still be some splatter from using a rotary. How should I deal with this? Or, with good technique, will there not be much splatter to deal with?

[Mike Phillips]

Should I get good at picking up a bead, I assume they'll still be some splatter from using a rotary.

How should I deal with this? Or, with good technique, will there not be much splatter to deal with?




When you get good at it there's very little splatter but honestly it's easy to also make a little mistake and the sling a little spatter by accident...

You're going to do fine!


:xyxthumbs: