Hey guys. I've been doing fiberglass repairs on my surfboards and boats for years. I can do a repair w/o a problem however, I have never been able to achieve a really nice, glossy finish which matches the existing finish of the boat. I've just done a repair today and the repair is "invisible" when the area is wet. Once it dries..you can see the fine swirls left by my repeated wet sanding/buffing. I even got hold of some 1500 wet sandpaper (hard to find) and I still see very fine swirls. How do I get a nice, glossy finish? I've been told a few things: I need to use a "finish" resin ...I have to buff over and over until glossy...I should spray a clear,glossy polyurethane type spray over the area. Any advice?
Submitted by drewp on Fri, 02/06/2009 - 6:42am
Are you "buffing" by hand ?? This might be it.
1 second with a machine is more effective than 1 minute by hand.
You might have to work with the 1500 a little longer ... its not those scratches you are seeing ... its the coarser grit ones you did not take out with the 1500 yet and you are shining these so to speak.
.
#1 Fri, 02/06/2009 - 9:47am
This time I did buff by hand although I have an orbital polisher and have never achieved what I would consider satisfactory results in the past. Maybe I'm not polishing long enough. Should a rubbing compound (machine buffed) work just as well as mechanically wet sanding w/ 1500? I'm running out of 1500 paper
#2 Fri, 02/06/2009 - 10:10am
Try using 3M rubbing compound with a wool buffing pad w/ buffer...
#3 Fri, 02/06/2009 - 10:12am
Use the 1500 by hand ( wet of course ) on a piece of high density foam if you have some ... the best for feathering in small stuff. If you don't have that use a small piece of flexible paneling like the .125" luan door skins with a of cardboard between it and the sand paper. The smaller the puka, the smaller the piece. If you purchase one of those specialty 1/2" thick rubber blocks, know that those are too big and cause you to waste sandpaper unless you are doing large surfaces.
A small pieceof 1500 should last you a long time as it is better/faster to use 600 say to get your repair 'faired' then just topped off fo finish with 1500.
I like 3M's Finesse It the best.
Aloha,
pog
#4 Fri, 02/06/2009 - 1:39pm