Rotary.....Gel Coat....New to this and have a ton of questions.

[wopachop]

Hello everyone new here and excited to learn about detailing techniques and products. I bought a used 2013 trailer with a Gel Coat that the previous owner never protected. Very anxious to get it cleaned and protected as the trailer sits outside uncovered. I have been watching youtube videos and reading this forum. The more i read the more questions i develop. Any advice is much appreciated.

I have access to an older orange color Chicago Electric rotary polisher which i plan to use. Very familiar with power tools and confident i can use the rotary without damaging the surface. But its not my rotary and ive never used it before.

1. How does someone inspect a white Gel Coat and determine if it needs compound or just polish? (i rubbed my hand over a 4' by 4' section, please see picture)

2. What pads and product would people recommend for cutting and polishing? (currently looking at Lake Country 7.5".....not sure if i want foam cutting pads or wool)

3. Need to decide on a soap. (got my eyes on Purple Power Vehicle and Boat)

4. Want a quality sealer and liked QP-On 3.0 until i saw the price holy moly!!!

5. For tighter spots should i also get 3" pads for the rotary machine? Maybe i can just do tight spots by hand if my oxidation is not extremely bad?

6. The trailer must have got really hot and window sealant is melting away. It peels away somewhat easy on cold mornings just using my finger. Curious how you guys would attack it.


Many thanks in advance!!!
Wopa

 

[mwoywod]

First of all, I would recommend also buying a cheap dual action polisher.

For the rotary, I recommend getting a Lake Country 6" Lambswool cutting pad. They are very smooth and very durable. If you have access to compressed air you will need to blow the residue out of the pad in between every set.

With that much chalky oxidation I suspect your pad will be clogged with residue too quickly with an aggressive cutting compound.

I would start with a polish like HD Polish+. It's sun friendly, works great in the sun, and is fantastic on gel coat.

A compound with plenty of lubrication that would work great on gel-coat with that much oxidation is Jescar Correcting compound.

Menzerna 3n1 is a cleaner wax that is way too oily for most clear coated vehicles but is really great on gel-coat.

HD Speed is always a great cleaner wax that works on gel coat and clear coat.

lots of good options.

I would plan on cutting through the oxidation with a wool pad and Jescar Correcting compound or HD Polish+ is the gel coat residue is coming off too quickly and clogging up your pad.

Invest in a cheap dual action polisher and some buff and shine 5.5" orange flat foam pads to use with HD Speed or Menzerna 3n1 after you've removed majority of the oxidation with the rotary.

Hope that helps.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I agree you should get a dual action orbital polisher and re-polish the gel-coat after the rotary step.

If you don't, you're going to put hologram scratches throughout the entire exterior and when the sun hits it - it's going to look horrible.


I just taught my annual boat detailing class and we tackled two extremely oxidized boats with gel-coat hulls. While trailers and boats are different gel-coat acts and re-acts much the same way. Of course you don't have to machine sand like my class did, (I bring in really bad boats for the most complete learning experience), but you cold follow the rotary buffer and FLEX 3401 steps.


Pictures: 2018 Boat Detailing Class at Autogeek with Mike Phillips

Here's my test spot before the class started to dial in and make sure my process works perfect.

That's ugly....

Final Results

Final Results

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Hologram stuff....


Holograms in gel-coat boats by Mike Phillips


Same kind of thing applies to trailers, RVs and Motorhomes...

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Cheap dual action polishers are just that...

Here's another option, besides the tool - LOTS of info in this article, just scroll down and read and watch the video...


Here's what you need to get into machine polishing - Recommendations for a beginner by Mike Phillips

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Also....

Becareful with a wool pad around the graphics and the edges of "things" on the trailer as you can do a lot of damage fast with even a cheap rotary buffer...

You can also sling product splatter all over everything, maybe consider taping some areas off to protect them...

Just to note, to me the gel-coat doesn't look that bad? At least not as bad as some of the trailers, motorhomes and RVs I've brought back from the dead. Maybe get the dual action polisher and a bunch of foam cutting pads and hit it with the 3D Speed and avoid the rotary altogether.

 

[wopachop]

Thanks a bunch to both of you im trying to absorb it all. I know i saw a couple of your videos on youtube Mike while searching Gel Coat. I mostly find boat videos and you mention boats and RV's are similar but different.

1. Can anyone explain the basic difference between boat and RV/trailer gel coats? So i can take what i find about boats, and try to adjust technique to be better suited towards trailer gel coat.

2. Any tricks to removing that dripping window sealant? It seems to come off cleaner in the cold mornings using my fingers. But some areas i need to scrape. Credit card maybe? I can hit Lowes or 99cent store for plastic scrapers. I need to outline the entire window edge with something sharp and thin. Plastic knife? Im always open to new tricks that arent secrets....in terms of you guys who own a detail business and want to set yourself apart. Cant go telling everyone your tricks.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Thanks a bunch to both of you im trying to absorb it all. I know i saw a couple of your videos on youtube Mike while searching Gel Coat. I mostly find boat videos and you mention boats and RV's are similar but different.

1. Can anyone explain the basic difference between boat and RV/trailer gel coats? So i can take what i find about boats, and try to adjust technique to be better suited towards trailer gel coat.

I'm pretty sure the gel-coat on a boat is going to be a LOT thicker than the gel-coat on a trailer or RV.

Actually, when looking at the pictures of your trailer, are you sure this is gel-coat? Could it be single stage paint that has simply oxidized?

Can you contact the manufacture and check?

Again, if it were me, I would avoid using a rotary on this trailer and instead, get a dual action orbital polisher and a great one-step cleaner/wax and I'm pretty sure you can get the job done and stay safe.


Here's what you need to get into machine polishing - Recommendations for a beginner by Mike Phillips


Review: BLACKFIRE One-Step Cleaner/Wax by Mike Phillips

2. Any tricks to removing that dripping window sealant? It seems to come off cleaner in the cold mornings using my fingers. But some areas i need to scrape. Credit card maybe? I can hit Lowes or 99cent store for plastic scrapers. I need to outline the entire window edge with something sharp and thin. Plastic knife? Im always open to new tricks that arent secrets....in terms of you guys who own a detail business and want to set yourself apart. Cant go telling everyone your tricks.

Plastic scraper and Goo-Gone or 3M Adhesive remover.

Some jobs simply are not easy.

 

[wopachop]

Yes sir its a Forest River trailer with Gel Coat sides. Has not been washed in months, which might mislead to the level of oxidation on my hand? I plan to use a Ph Neutral soap today i have a cheapo foam cannon coming from Amazon. Eventually i want to use a more aggressive soap to strip it clean, polish with a machine, and then apply Qp-On 3.0 if i can afford it.

I would love a decent DA polisher. For doing larger flat areas like an RV i thought a rotary machine was what most guys would reach for.

Lets say i used a 1 step cleaner wax. Then wanted to apply Qp 3.0. Would i need to wipe the entire trailer with a paint prep? Because wouldnt the cleaner wax leave a wax behind? Or maybe if im going with a ceramic coating i want to polish with something besides a cleaner wax?

Went to the 99cent store and picked up this alcohol to use as a possible paint prep. Doesnt say the percentage of IPA i imagine its 70% or lower? Also has a couple other chemicals. Safe for paint prep or better to use something else?

Thanks for the links im excited to dive into them tonight!!

 

[mwoywod]

I know yesterday I originally suggested getting a "cheap" dual action polisher BUT I will say that my $110 PC 7424xp has outrun 5 cheap harbor freight dual action polishers. I actually just had to throw my 5th harbor freight polisher away today because the on/off switch stopped working. Harbor Freight "updated" their DA and they are now complete junk IMO. Plus, compared to the PC 7424xp and the GG6, the harbor freight polisher is probably 2x louder. I only ever used it with my nanoskin autoscrub pad and for applying waxes so I didn't have to turn the polisher up past speeds 1-2 without ear protection.

I will say that I'm also on my 3rd Griot's garage 6" polisher. It's a GREAT polisher. It has WAY more power than the PC & it's not brutally loud like the harbor freight dual action polisher. It also has an AMAZING warranty. I had to send Griot's my last two GG6 polishers because they started smoking and Griot's replaced them both no questions asked. My current GG6 polish has been fantastic.

-The griot's GG6 polisher #1 in value, performance, warranty, and power.
-The PC 7424xp is certainly underpowered but it's also pretty quiet as long as you don't turn it up past speed 5. It's also the cheapest option and it's virtually indestructible. I even nicknamed mine "good ol' Rock Steady"

I'm not sure many guys on the AG forum can help you with proper prep for QP.ON 3.0 But it seems to me like it's a topper "silica" spray sealant similar to a product like Carpro Reload. I'd apply it according to the instructions but I personally use AIO products on almost every detail and I have never had any bonding issues with carpro reload or with Jescar Powerlock Sealant. I imagine you'll be fine using an AIO product like HD Speed or Blackfire One Step. I typically use Wolfgang Uber or Meguiars D114 as "final inspection" product to remove any residue that may be left on the surface before applying my LSP.

If it's a ceramic coating then I wouldn't use an AIO product.

 

[wopachop]

Very cool thank you!!
Here is another topic. I have read some people used to add APC to their favorite pH neutral soap before applying a new layer of wax. For a nice clean slate.

To me that seems like you have chemicals wasting away trying to neutralize each other.

Im bringing this up because im using Purple Power Rv wash in the foam canon and its not very foamy. Tried warm water. Distilled water. Doubled my ratio. I did 3 ounces to the full canon. (actually i did 1 ounce to 300ml)..........then tried 2 ounces to 200ml.

I was about to add some regular pH neutral Meguiers soap i have. It foamed up good last night. But it has wax and "glossy shine". I dont want that because im about to spray a sealant onto the nicely cleaned gel coat.

Im curious how to get more suds. Using a 2700psi Home D riobi gas powered. Foamed awesome last night with the other wax soap.

Any tricks or advice besides mixing it super strong? What about some Spray Nine? About to try that now.

 

[wopachop]

Oh and for clarity i have not used a machine to polish. Need to save up and buy a DA. Only have until tomorrow to clean the trailer so i decided to wash it real good and wipe ProtectAll onto the exterior. At least its something. Supposed to be low wind tomorrow so up before dawn and will knock it out i hope. Im cleaning the side in the shade right now and disappoined with the foam from the Purple P Vehicle and Boat wash.