having a hard time to buff gel coated fiber glass

**mad666max_** · 04-14-2011, 08:20 AM

i made a test yesterday, i tried to get a great shine out of a white gel coated fiber glass stair set for the boat. i 1st tried with the rotary/wool and 3m extra cut compound, it seemed to be pretty aggressive. then i tried some 3m machine polish with a cutting foam pad and it was still dull and it had no shine. i tried the same product but with a polishing pad, was better but still no shine. did the LSP with some shurhold pro polish wax, still no shine but better. I have 105 and 205 also that i'm about to give a try today. what method or product do you suggest?

**Crazy Amos** · 04-14-2011, 08:22 AM

If you can, post a pic it would help us give more accurate suggestions.

**rwright** · 04-14-2011, 08:31 AM

I've been doing some research about this and some feedback that I received was "Sometimes gelcoat is so far gone that it needs to be sanded down and "painted" again." It very well could be that you are facing this situation.

**fredcandetail** · 04-14-2011, 08:48 AM

Originally Posted by rwright

I've been doing some research about this and some feedback that I received was "Sometimes gelcoat is so far gone that it needs to be sanded down and "painted" again." It very well could be that you are facing this situation.

ive done about 50 or so boats and have seen my fair share of oxidized boats.
My all time favorite combo is 151/9227 on either wool or SM Arnold 7in polishing pad.
A few weeks ago I encountered a 99 Skeeter that was far gone .. i threw everything at it and nothing ... with the owners permission I hit it with 1000 and a small improvement (didnt really scuff the surface) I only had 600 so i tried it and it really cut the gel coat and needed a follow up with 1000 and 2000 and then hit it with Megs 49 and then 151
So as mentioned, sometimes the gelcoat is so far gone the traditional compounds that remove a tiny mil aren't enough.

if I could only figure out how to post pictures i could show some of the results i get with 151