Waxing / Polishing Help Needed

[Eric Ballard]

I've been wet sanding my boat to get scratches out.

I'm wet sanding with 2000 grit.
Then polishing with Turtle wax polishing compound.
Then waxing with Boat Bling and Mequiars cleaner wax.

Im using a microfiber buffing bonnet on a random orbital polisher/waxer.

I've gotten the scratches out, but I can still see where I sanded a little and I cant get the shiny waxed finish I was expecting.

Do I need a different polishing compound, finer wet sanding grit, different wax, a better buffer or what?

I at a loss here since it seems I'm doing it right and taking my time.

Thanks for any feedback!

 

[John Mcpartland]

Probably a better polisher and a blue or black finishing pad. I use McGuires 105 then 205, comes out great

 

[Dough]

A polisher will help a lot. Also wool/fleece pads. Save the buffer, micro fiber for your truck. Keep working at it, I bet it will work out.

 

[DieselCamel]

You need a something like a PORTER-CABLE 7424XP with with a foam polishing pads . Meg 105,205 Works great. Looks like what your using is more of a wax spreader with a micro fiber bonnet.

 

[Neutron]

In my experience you will most likely need a true buffer not a D/A polisher.
You can finish up with your d/a but to get it like a mirror again use a buffer.
I use my Dewalt buffer for the tough jobs and use my Surehold d/a as a polisher. Or use it to remove wax instead of by hand

 

[Betik]

that is weird. I finished mine with wet sand 2000 by hand and the used polishing compound. It feels and looks like a mirror. My polishing pad was wool though. I did not use micro fiber until the very end.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

You’re going to need a rotary buffer with a wool pad to finish that gel to a high gloss.

 

[zipper]

I used these products last year to remove heavy oxidation from the orange gelcoat on our 07. I started by using 1500 and then 2000 grit 3m wet sand paper. I used the Porter Cable D/A mentioned above but a rotary would have been better. I also used micro fiber pads where a wool pad cuts quicker, you need to be careful when using wool. We are very happy with the results after removing the graphics from the hull.
I found that the Turtle Wax Rubbing Compound was less abrasive than the Marine 31 Heavy Cut Oxidation Remover, and less productive. You can feel it between your fingers. The How to manual was very good at specifying what to use in different conditions. My hull is not perfect, but it came out pretty damn good.

Before: After:

 

[Eric Ballard]

Thanks for all the feedback. Stay tuned for results.

 

[Eric Ballard]

New tools and materials. I have not waxed yet, but I really like the results. I got The Works toilet cleaner for the hull next.

The buffer is still not a great one, but it's doing pretty good.

 

[swatski]

New tools and materials. I have not waxed yet, but I really like the results. I got The Works toilet cleaner for the hull next.

The buffer is still not a great one, but it's doing pretty good.

View attachment 66246 View attachment 66247

105 is the real deal!

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