Need buffer pad suggestions

[BrianM]

Originally Posted by 76S&S

Guys, I need a little help. I need to buff the back of my boat which has faded. Since I've never done this I thought I would practice on the PWC first. If it gets screwed up, it doesn't matter near as much.

So, I went to do a small area on the pwc last night and the compound almost immediatly turns black. So I'm left with a black buffing pad and this black residue on the pwc that can only be removed by using more compound on a clean rag and buffing by hand.

I'm using 3M compound and a foam cutting pad.

HELP!

Sounds like you have some sort of other residue probably oil/gas on the hull. Is it a 2 stroke? Hard to say for sure but I would wash it with simple green then soap and water then hit it with the compound. If it still does it then keep compounding. You have to get all of the contaminates off so you can polish.

[76S&S]

Thanks Brian, it's a 4 stroke, but something is definately going on. All give it a couple of baths and then try it again.

I appreciate the response, I was at a loss. It looks like rain here most of the weekend, so I'm hoping to do some buffing.

[TNstevo]

Reading through all these posts, and trying to figureoutif I need to keep buffing with cutting compundor go back to wet sanding. Using a 1200 to. 1500 rpm rotary, and wool pads along with McGuire heavy cutting compund, the highest cut they make, I think it was the105. There was HEAVY oxidation on my green x2 transom. I've done at least 5 to 10 passes with the buffer. It cut almost all the oxidation and is pretty shiny, but had some white haze still. Went to the next step McGuire polish ( think it was the 205), amd at first it appeared to polish real well. However, if you inspect closely, there's still a white sheen. Think I polished two passes. I'm pretty sure I don't need to go on to wax. I'm concerned if I go back to cutting I'll do damage. How man passes is too many? I feel like I'm relatively safe since I never did any wetsanding? I'm assuming it's just taking so many passes, b/c I likely should have wetsanding to start with? What would y'all do next?

[BrianM]

Gel is pretty darn thick. I would have no hesitation going back and wet sanding then using the compound.

That being said if you see a spec of black while sanding or compounding STOP as this is the base color layer under your gel coat and you have gone through the color.

[Dylan]

I'm going to further derail this thread, my apologies in advance.

I have a 6" rotary that I've had for years, similar to this one:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...r%20Toolsmv=rr

I bought some foam pads this year, figuring to try something new. I thought they would slide over like the wool bonnets, but I was mistaken. Does anyone know where I can source the backing plate to connect the foam pad?

Thanks!

[zsqure]

Check out an auto refinishing supplier. (auto paint store) in your area, Auto geek, properboatcare dot com, check them out. Being Craftsman, they used to do strange things with their stuff to keep you coming back to them for parts and accessories, I had one of those back in the 90's and gave it away cause it did not have enough speed, and it had an odd thread on the spindle I had to make an adapter for it.
HTH.