I have an old 5ver with oxidation and would like to make look like new. What products are you guys using?

 

SoftScrub works good and it's a lot cheaper than professional rubbing compounds.

 

Greased lightning. i've heard of using mayonaisee on fiberglass boats before too. Don't know.

 

Soft scrub mixed with sweat.
I forget the ratio... but the bigger the surface and thicker the oxidation the more sweat you need to add.

LOL

Oilguy

 

Soft Scrub works because it has a fine rubbing compound in it. So does toothpaste that polishes your teeth! It depends on what you can get the cheapest that contains very fine rubbing compound in it (called rouge). It's the compound you can get at Home Depot or Lowes for polishing out plastics with a wheel. Sweat is still required!!

 

meguiars #44 marine-rv

 

I've been looking at Meguiar's #49 polishing compound. What's the difference between #44 and #49?

I bought a 6" orbital buffer. I hope it doesn't take too much elbow grease and sweat to run. I hate waxing!

 

Starbrite makes good products fiberglass cleaning. They can usually be found in the marine sections of sporting goods stores or at West Marine.

 

The amount of sweat required has a lot to do with geography... I am in Texas... ...
Just "thinking" outside demand a certain amount of sweat.

Maguire's is good stuff... I prefer 3M products if I buy off the shelf....

 

I tried the soft scrub, it works good for light oxidation. The heavier spots it leaves spots or faded areas, can still see progress. I used some Meguairs Color X 2 in 1, It done a good job but it didn't cut the oxidation like I'd hope. Tomorrow I will get the good stuff and start over.

NAPA sells the 3M products, I'll get some tomorrow.

 

For light oxidation and not being too tough on the finish, try GelGloss. Available many places but probably cheapest at Home Depot or Lowes - - purple can in the plumbing department by the fibreglass tubs/showers. Made specifically for polishing gel coat, used extensively in rv factories and boat factories. Works by hand, by random orbiting polisher, or (if you know how to use one without burning) a high speed polisher. Leaves a light wax coating on the gel gloss. Follow with a good FG paste wax. OUCH, I hurt. You ever figure how many square feet of surface there are on a 36' long high fiver? Far too many.

Bob

 

I bought and used some 3M boat fiberglass cleaner today. It works very good and not hard to remove. It is making a old camper look new again.

Thanks