Polishing/finishing fibreglass gell coat?

[adriaan pienaar]

Is there perhaps a thread with step-by-step instructions on polishing the gelcoat of a fibreglass bugy?
_________________
Please say Hi to us at
www.aircooledvwsa.co.za &
http://hotwheelsclubza.freeforums.org

[Letterman7]

It's not hard Adriaan. Depending on how oxidized it is, start light and work to finer "grits". Any marine store will have the polishes and waxes on hand. For heavily oxidized finishes, you could start with automotive rubbing compound (use the stuff safe for clear coats), then follow that with polishing compound, then wax it. If you plan on using a buffing wheel, don't press - let the weight of the wheel do the work - and go at a slow speed to gauge your progress.

[Wolfgangdieter]

If really bad - you can use very fine wet-dry sand paper (use wet) of 1500 or higher grit. Use a rubber or styrofoam pad - not your fingers. The follow with rubbing/polishing compound and carabu wax.
_________________
CMC '57 Porsche Speedster Replica and Dolphin boat tailed full pan VW MOD-T Street Buggy

[HeidelbergJohn4.0]

I can't get to my dad's boat right now, but I'm pretty sure this was what we used. it's a two part cleaner/stripper than a sealant. There's a few guys around there that have been using it and swear by it. Mine boat isn't bad enough to use it and my buggy is painted.

http://www.vertglas.com/index.html
_________________
71 LWB Manx style dunebuggy
71 Beetle
71 Volksrod
Machette Speedster
2012 Passat TDI SE (sadly sitting in a buyback parking lot somewhere waiting for it's heart to be ripped out.)

[90runner]

I recomend 3m products thats what we use when polishing boats and its made for gelcoat if its really bad we wet sand then use the polish compound with different grades of pads. Time and patience can get you great results but use the right product theres lots of so called miricle finishes/fixes and they are garbage.
_________________
74 Thing stock lots of rust figured someone needed to save it.

[Glamis Addict]

[weadjust]

I used Meguiar's M4965 Marine/RV Fiberglass Restoration System from amazon for $24.50 spend another .50 cents and get free shipping.

http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-M4965-Marine-Fiberg...amp;sr=8-1

Before

After

[germanx]

I use the polishing and finishing combo from 3M:

- 3M finesse-it
- 3M pink wax

I most often make customer paint jobs on rc models with 2-component clear coat. I sand the paint with 8000 grid (wet and last pass), and then I use the 3M products.
I do not know how 'tough' gel coat is in terms of hardness. But I often 'soften' the clear coat for the models to ensure the flexing of the body does not create cracks. Polishing of flexible clear coat did never cause any troubles.

Send me a PM or google 3M professional car paint polish for more info...

Here some samples of the results:

_________________
'73 Beach Buggy
'66 T1 Deluxe

[Glamis Addict]

[andk5591]

3M makes a variety of marine products with various degrees of grit. Just be careful that you dont get through the clear. I used the cleaners a couple too many times on our buggy and need to repaint it - but it was already starting to wear through on some spots. Just take your time and be careful.
_________________
D-Dubya Manx clone - 63 Short pan,1914.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Cindy's daily driver.
Max - 73 standard Beetle hearse project - For sale
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them...