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surfnc
Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2006
Posts: 948
Location: OBX, NC
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 Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 9:28 pm Post subject: Restoring Gel Coat |
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I have had Paul's yellow Manx at my house for a while. I told him I could buff out his original Yuma Yellow gel coat "no problem". Well my first attempts were not promising. I used 3M Perfect-It 3 part system with limited success on the hood, but I had to wet sand it with 1500grit before I started buffing to get rid of the layer of "chalk" (faded gel coat). I had been reluctant to do the body since it had some small cracks in the surface that I knew would be a problem when I sanded it. (It would sand through the thin gel coat and into the black base and would stick out like a sore thumb)
I was buffing out my the plexiglass headlight covers on our car with Autosol. I thought it might work on the gel coat since it did not leave any scratches (or very minimal) and it took the thin layer of fogging (chalk) off.
Here are the results:
Before
After
( I know that one side is driver's and other is passenger but I forgot to take the before on the drivers side)
Here is another picture where you can see that the fender is buffed closest to the camera and you can see the dull surface in the back ground.
I also wanted to try it on clear gel coat so I did it on a faded but good section on the green Manx I have.
Before
After
I have to say that it did not take that long and it will not need another step except to wax it. Scratches are minimal to non existant.
Here is the Autosol. (applied in a thin coat with a paint brush) I got it from Eastwood.
I also used a variable speed buffer with a wool head on it. (At the lowest speed setting) I used firm pressure at first and finished with a light pressure. (basically the weight of the buffer)
Here are some more pictures:
If you look closely at the fender you can see the outline of the turn signal housing. This will not buff out to make the fender all one color. Keep in mind it has never seen the sun or the elements. You are only making it shinier when you buff that area. It will be covered by the turn signal and will not be visible when the car is completed.
This will work on faded solid gel coat that is not too deeply scratched or cracked. It will work on clear gel coat that is faded. It will NOT work on clear that you can feel the rough metal flake popping through the surface or where the flake has truned silver.
Here is a good candidate for this process:
This one is not a good candidate
Vince
_________________
LOOKING FOR VINTAGE MEYERS MANX STUFF!!!
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1105228 |
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Ian
Samba Moderator
Joined: August 28, 2002
Posts: 4932
Location: 713
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| Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 11:27 pm Post subject: |
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Dang, it really did buff right out. 
_________________
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Love and good roads!
IN LOVING MEMORY OF ROB CRESS 1968-2012
**ACHTUNG DO NOT USE AA BRAND PRODUCTS OR BUY ANYTHING FROM PACIFIC PARTS INTERNATIONAL IN CALIFORNIA** |
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joescoolcustoms
Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2006
Posts: 9054
Location: West By God Virginia
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| Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 11:30 pm Post subject: |
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Wow Vince! Great find!
I am thinking David's Moss Green would be another good candidate.
_________________
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Best Day Ever Racing 2022 NORRA 1000 2nd in Class and first All Female team to complete the race
Everyone is gifted. Some just do not open the package.
Looks like it was painted with a live chicken,polished with a brick and buffed with a pine cone |
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Mike_CNYBuggy
Samba Member
Joined: November 29, 2010
Posts: 628
Location: Syracuse, NY
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Dale M.
Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2006
Posts: 20380
Location: Just a tiny bit west of Yosemite Valley
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| Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 9:17 am Post subject: |
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Impressive....
Dale
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ... |
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mstevens
Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2008
Posts: 225
Location: Boise, Idaho
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| Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 9:49 am Post subject: |
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| Pretty amazing results. I am going to give it a shot. |
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surfnc
Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2006
Posts: 948
Location: OBX, NC
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| Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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Ian
Thanks, I was just as amazed
Joe
Thanks! I think the inside may buff up nicely but the horizontal surfaces might not work as well. (hood, fenders etc) I would also worry about it getting deep into the rough gel coat and possibly causing a paint compatibility problem.
Mike
Thanks for the kind words.
Dale,
Thanks!
mstsvens
Thanks! Post the results if you try it.
Vince
_________________
LOOKING FOR VINTAGE MEYERS MANX STUFF!!!
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1105228
Last edited by surfnc on Sun Dec 15, 2013 12:49 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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911GT2
Samba Member
Joined: January 19, 2013
Posts: 180
Location: Nederland
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| Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 8:41 am Post subject: |
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| Wow it cleaned up nicely... |
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Wetstuff
Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2010
Posts: 700
Location: Maryland
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| Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 3:16 pm Post subject: |
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More excellence from professori Vinchenzio.
Then, I grabbed White Diamond metal polish and attacked my '01 Escape's headlamp covers with an air tool. Worked!
..after 247k they were a just a little opaque. I tried Mystic Cut compound before, but it must be too coarse. A little glaze finished it off. Thanks Vince.
Jim
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Manx #2614 |
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MOON BUGGY
Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2011
Posts: 174
Location: NC
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| Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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I'll definitely give it a try. thanks Vince.
does it remove much gel coat?
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"Dune Buggies and Watermelon Rock! .” (MOON BUGGY) |
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surfnc
Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2006
Posts: 948
Location: OBX, NC
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| Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 7:09 pm Post subject: |
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911GT2
Thanks!
Jim
Thanks for the promotion. 
Glad it worked for you. Might be stopping by on my way to my parents.
Moon Buggy
Only takes off the top layer of "chalk". Does not eat into the gel coat. Try it on the inside of the tub first. Post pictures of your results.
Vince
_________________
LOOKING FOR VINTAGE MEYERS MANX STUFF!!!
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1105228 |
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swampcreek
Samba Member
Joined: August 30, 2013
Posts: 33
Location: Pasadena MD
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| Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Amazing! Our buggy is painted but I'll be getting that stuff for the boat! |
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Rathbone
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2006
Posts: 235
Location: Palm Coast, Florida
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| Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2013 6:30 pm Post subject: |
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they should give you a commission - they'll be selling a boat load of this stuff now!
_________________
(o\_i_/o) what you've just said ... is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul - Mr. Oblaski, Principal |
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Pinboss
Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2012
Posts: 23
Location: Phila, PA
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| Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2013 8:39 am Post subject: |
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Looks great Vince... nice job.
Joe |
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j1msm1th
Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2020
Posts: 32
Location: Upper Darby, PA
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| Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2020 3:40 pm Post subject: Re: Restoring Gel Coat |
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| surfnc wrote: |
I have had Paul's yellow Manx at my house for a while. I told him I could buff out his original Yuma Yellow gel coat "no problem". Well my first attempts were not promising. I used 3M Perfect-It 3 part system with limited success on the hood, but I had to wet sand it with 1500grit before I started buffing to get rid of the layer of "chalk" (faded gel coat). I had been reluctant to do the body since it had some small cracks in the surface that I knew would be a problem when I sanded it. (It would sand through the thin gel coat and into the black base and would stick out like a sore thumb)
I was buffing out my the plexiglass headlight covers on our car with Autosol. I thought it might work on the gel coat since it did not leave any scratches (or very minimal) and it took the thin layer of fogging (chalk) off.
Here are the results:
Before
After
( I know that one side is driver's and other is passenger but I forgot to take the before on the drivers side)
Here is another picture where you can see that the fender is buffed closest to the camera and you can see the dull surface in the back ground.
I also wanted to try it on clear gel coat so I did it on a faded but good section on the green Manx I have.
Before
After
I have to say that it did not take that long and it will not need another step except to wax it. Scratches are minimal to non existant.
Here is the Autosol. (applied in a thin coat with a paint brush) I got it from Eastwood.
I also used a variable speed buffer with a wool head on it. (At the lowest speed setting) I used firm pressure at first and finished with a light pressure. (basically the weight of the buffer)
Here are some more pictures:
If you look closely at the fender you can see the outline of the turn signal housing. This will not buff out to make the fender all one color. Keep in mind it has never seen the sun or the elements. You are only making it shinier when you buff that area. It will be covered by the turn signal and will not be visible when the car is completed.
This will work on faded solid gel coat that is not too deeply scratched or cracked. It will work on clear gel coat that is faded. It will NOT work on clear that you can feel the rough metal flake popping through the surface or where the flake has truned silver.
Here is a good candidate for this process:
This one is not a good candidate
Vince |
so i came across this post from forever ago on a google search. - i am in the process of stripping brown primer off of a manx and trying to bring out at least a bit of the shine. how did this stuff work at evening things out? I have the same turn signal ghosts as yours did here, and i am fine w. that because I will be putting signals back on - I am just thinking about giving this a shot, but i dont know if my gelcoat is save-able.
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surfnc
Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2006
Posts: 948
Location: OBX, NC
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j1msm1th
Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2020
Posts: 32
Location: Upper Darby, PA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2020 8:09 am Post subject: Re: Restoring Gel Coat |
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| surfnc wrote: |
Your last pictures look like you have tried something to polish it out. It may not get any better.
It did even it out fairly well but solid color gelcoat is different from the clear gelcoat.
You can buy a small tube and give it a try:
https://www.ebay.com/i/283634626238?chn=ps&nor...oIQAvD_BwE |
thanks! yeah, i had hit it with some 1500 wet and then fiberglass rubbing compound. i might give this a shot though. |
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