Which machine is best? Orbital, DA Orbital, Random Orbital, Rotary for removing oxidation on gel coat fiberglass RV?

[RV08]

1. Which machine is best for removing oxidation and hopefully diminishing/lightening a yellowed/cream gel coat fiberglass (originally was white) on a 2001 RV?

- Orbital
- DA Orbital
- Random Orbital
- Rotary


2. I have read that using a wool pad would be best. Will any wool pad work or is there a particular one that would be better to use?

Example:
- Twisted wool cutting pad
- Wool cutting pad
- 100% heavy cut wool pad
- 50/50 wool polishing pad
- Thin foamed wool pad

[Setec Astronomy]

Gelcoat is hard, I think you're going to want to use a rotary, or you have left off a type of machine from your list, the forced-rotation DA, like a Flex 3401. This gives you some/most of the power of a rotary, without sacrificing all of the safety of a DA. Someone else will have to speak to your pad choice as I rarely use wool.

[Mike Phillips]

How bad is the oxidation?

In my boat detailing book, I understood "condition" would be a HUGE factor when recommending a tool, pad and product. Thus when I wrote it I divided boats into 4 categories,


Category 1: New or Like New

Category 2: Good condition with light oxidation

Category 3: Mild neglect

Category 4: Severely oxidized and neglected


For what it's worth... the cover of any book is considered the most valuable real-estate for the book. So a person would think and plan carefully how to use the cover of the book to send the most leveraged message possible.


Note the tool and the pad...

[Mike Phillips]

Which tool to use really comes down to,

How fast do you want to get the job done.

How many steps do you want to do?


In my book, somewhere I recommend never letting your boat get to category #3 or #4. Then you can tackle in one step without holograms using the FLEX 3401.

Soon as you start using a rotary buffer then you have to decide do you want holograms in the gel-coat? Or do you want to leave a flat, more perfect surface.


See my article here,

Holograms in gel-coat boats by Mike Phillips

[RV08]

Which tool to use really comes down to,

How fast do you want to get the job done.

How many steps do you want to do?


In my book, somewhere I recommend never letting your boat get to category #3 or #4. Then you can tackle in one step without holograms using the FLEX 3401.

Soon as you start using a rotary buffer then you have to decide do you want holograms in the gel-coat? Or do you want to leave a flat, more perfect surface.


See my article here,

Holograms in gel-coat boats by Mike Phillips

Thank you Mike for replying and providing the links. I really appreciate it.

My MH is a Category 3: Mild neglect. The fiberglass has turned a cream/beige color and there is a contrast between the fiberglass and white metal bay doors.

I do not want holograms in the gel-coat. I want to lighten the cream/beige color and I want a nice smooth shiny surface.

[Zen Dong]

These days, I 'm also confused about these machines.

[RV08]

Attached is a pic of my MH. Apologize for the pic quality; the pic is taken my phone. The fiberglass is more cream/beige color in person than what the picture is showing. A couple years ago I used Meguiar’s #49 and Meguiars #56. I put these on with an orbital polisher.

If it is possible, I want to lighten the cream/beige color on the fiberglass.

[Mike Phillips]

Thank you Mike for replying and providing the links. I really appreciate it.

My MH is a Category 3: Mild neglect. The fiberglass has turned a cream/beige color and there is a contrast between the fiberglass and white metal bay doors.

I do not want holograms in the gel-coat. I want to lighten the cream/beige color and I want a nice smooth shiny surface.

Attached is a pic of my MH. Apologize for the pic quality; the pic is taken my phone. The fiberglass is more cream/beige color in person than what the picture is showing.

A couple years ago I used Meguiar’s #49 and Meguiars #56. I put these on with an orbital polisher.

If it is possible, I want to lighten the cream/beige color on the fiberglass.

A few years ago when you used the Meguiar's #49 and the #56 did this restore the brighter white color to the gel-coat?

If it did, then repeat the process. If if didn't it could be the gel-coat has yellowed as the pigments have faded.

Are the graphics vinyl and laying on top of the gel-coat?

These make buffing a pain...

[precisionmobile85]

Before i went on my own i worked for a company that use to go to lake winnepasake in N.H. and detail boats. I learned that every gelcoat finish seems to react different to different pads, polishes, compounds etc.... We would test all the above and pick whats best for the job we were working on

[RV08]

A few years ago when you used the Meguiar's #49 and the #56 did this restore the brighter white color to the gel-coat?

If it did, then repeat the process. If if didn't it could be the gel-coat has yellowed as the pigments have faded.

Are the graphics vinyl and laying on top of the gel-coat?

These make buffing a pain...

When we purchased the MH the fiberglass was a darker cream color and had a very dull/chalky finish and the graphics were pretty much gone. It had been neglected from the previous owners. The #49 did lighten the cream color of the fiberglass to the stage it is now. We did not have the right buffer or pad.

The graphics are painted on top of the gel-coat by us.