How to get white gelcoat back to white

C

CAdetailer

New member
Joined
Jul 4, 2012
Messages
22
Reaction score
0
I`m working on a project I picked up and I`m wondering if it`s possible to get the white gelcoat to either lighten up a few shades or more or get it back to ultra pure white.

There`s thousands of shades of "white" and this boat`s current white is more like a light mocha or Swiss Coffee and I`d like to get it back to or as close as possible to ultra pure white.

I have a rotary with a LC white wool pad, a LC yellow wool (for polishing), a LC Orange curved waffle (for light polishing). On product I have Presta Super Cut Compound, Regular Cut Compound, and Polish (plus a ```` load of car products, DA, pads, and products if needed). Current plan is Presta compound, Presta polish, colonite 446 super double coat as a sealer.


So far I used the rotary with the white wool pad and the Presta regular cut down one side. It got most of the oxydization off but it didn`t really remove most of the marks in the gel coat or really clean it up and make it white-white. It`s shiney but not super white, I haven`t polished it but I`m holding off until I see if there`s something I can do to make the white whiter or possibally the red more fire truck red vs maroonish-red?

The rear upper parts of the sides have been re-shot with more of a pure white gelcoat and I`d like to try and get closer to that white, if possible.

Here`s some pics
 
Heres how the side turned out.
View attachment 74937

View attachment 74938


In these you can see the difference between the original swiss coffee and the fresh pure white and some of the original white that was covered up from the sun.

View attachment 74939

View attachment 74940

View attachment 74941

View attachment 74942

View attachment 74943

View attachment 74944


The hatch cover edge VS. the swiss coffee gelcoat

View attachment 74945

View attachment 74946

View attachment 74947


And it's got some burn marks from being covered out in the sun

View attachment 74948

View attachment 74949

View attachment 74950

View attachment 74951

View attachment 74952
 
Is it possible to lighten the gel a few shades with wet sanding it, or using a different product, or possibally wiping it down with a solvent (mineral spirits, aceatone, etc prior to buffing???

I have not ran the Super Cut yet, I always start off with the least agressive product to get the job done, so not sure if that`ll whiten it up or handle the burn marks?


Thanks
 
Bueler........Bueler.......Bueler........


Nobody has any suggestions on cleaning this up?



Thanks
 
Mike P used to teach the boat detailing classes, but he's no longer with AG.

I worked at a marina for well over 20 years, but never restored gelcoat.

But, I know that gelcoat discolored by marine growth can be "whitened-up" by spraying muriatic acid on it, then rinsing it off after a minute or so.

Sorry. That's all I have........
 
I’d definitely recommend sanding if you’re not getting the results you want from buffing.
 
Is it oxidized? If so this is what I did to bring red color back to life after neglect. my Cobalt 242 to remove heavy oxidation after 5 years of ignoring it other than keeping it clean and waxing. I had to use 2000 grit followed by 3000 grit wet sand(flex orbital), followed by wool (marine 31 one step compound and polish)( rotary), then RUPES coarse blue pads with Marine 31 gel coat polish (flex orbital),followed by wax. Do a test area first. Mike p has some previous posts to follow. Also, see if his book is still available at AG
 
Do a very small test spot around the graphics as I have not dealt with that area on my boat,might have to be less aggressive
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top