looking for a buffer/sander

[mhaaland]

I'm looking to purchase a buffer/orbital sander to do some gelcoat work to my boat and i was hoping to get some opinions about anything you guys have used. I'm looking to remove the decals & give the boat a good work over. I'm hoping to avoid wet sanding and just do the compound but if i need to wet sand i was wondering if there was a machine out there that i could buff & sand with. I've looked around at various machines & was wondering if a 10 amp, 1500-3000rpm variable speed machine would cover my basis?Sorry if this might seem like a no brain-er to some but i would appreciate any help on this. Thank you!

[gride300]

RE: looking for a buffer/sander

i've been looking into doing the same. hand waxing is a woman scorned.

[east tx skier]

I've never used it for sanding, but it appears to be able to do it.

http://www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-7...225&sr=8-1

[CradGen2]

I have a Sear buffer/Sander. I have used it a couple times. One thing to remember it not to stay in one place to long or it will burn the GEL.

[Nautiquehunter]

I have the dewalt buffer [DW849] and the dewalt [DW433] orbital polisher waxer.
I like the Dewalt buffer because its variable speed with the trigger.
The 433 orbital waxer is great to apply wax it puts it on very thin and even so it
comes off easy. I used to sell supplies to detail shops that is where I learned about
Them.

[AirTool]

I have the dewalt buffer [DW849] and the dewalt [DW433] orbital polisher waxer.
I like the Dewalt buffer because its variable speed with the trigger.
The 433 orbital waxer is great to apply wax it puts it on very thin and even so it
comes off easy. I used to sell supplies to detail shops that is where I learned about
Them.

Ouch....here is what they show for the DW433.

http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/to...productID=5958

[DanielC]

There are a lot of different ways to get it done. Here is my way. It is not the only way to polish a boat, but it works for me.
Tools I have.
Several rubber sanding blocks, and wet or dry sand paper from 220 grit to 2500 grit
A Porter Cable 5" orbital sander/buffer like it one shown above, in this thread
A Makita 7" rotary sander/buffer. RPM range 600 to 3000, with s few wool bonnets.
A very diluted solution of Dawn dishwashing soap in a spray bottle.
Do not be afraid to wet sand. If you are sanding down a gel coat repair, start with 220, then 320, 400, 500, and 600. After 600, I also sometimes sand with 800, 1000, 1500, and finally 2500. Sanding with 2500 is pretty much close to a polish anyway. If you do not have the 7" rotary sander/buffer, you can use the finer grits of sandpaper to reduce the amount of time spent with the orbital buffer.
The orbital buffer is nowhere as aggressive as as the rotary buffer.
I use rubber blocks on most grits of sandpaper below 800 grit. 1000 grit and above, I use sponge pads. Use coarse grits to shape gelcoat, trying to be very slightly high with 600 to 800 grit. 600 or 800 fresh sand paper will still remove gelcoat quite quickly, be careful.
If you do not have a rotary buffer, keep sanding to 1500 grit to 2500 grit.
If you do have the rotary buffer you can stop sanding around 600 grit.
I have used Meguire's color restorer, heavy cut cleaner and diamond cut cleaner.
I put a little on the wool pad, and smear it on the boat before I even start the rotary buffer. Start with the buffer as slow as it will go, or you will just throw the compound right off again, and just waste it. Work it a little, and as it starts to dry out, spray the dawn/water solution on the boat, and keep working the compound.
There are different wool pads, some soft, some not.
I have used a softer wool pad, with Meguire's swirl remover.
I then switch to the orbital buffer, with a foam pad, and use Meguire's boat/rv polish. and finally I use Meguire's pure wax, applied with an orbital waxer. Let the wax dry, and buff it off by hand, with a microfiber cloth.
White and light colors are easy to buff and polish, and make look good. Black, is not.

[Nautiquehunter]

I have the dewalt buffer [DW849] and the dewalt [DW433] orbital polisher waxer.
I like the Dewalt buffer because its variable speed with the trigger.
The 433 orbital waxer is great to apply wax it puts it on very thin and even so it
comes off easy. I used to sell supplies to detail shops that is where I learned about
Them.

Ouch....here is what they show for the DW433.

http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/to...productID=5958

Sorry try a DW443

[Nautiquehunter]

Sonds like DanielC Has it down .

[DanielC]

I wouldn't say I have it down, but I can make a boat look better than it was. I am sure there are people who can do a better job, maybe in less time than I take, But I was just offering some of my experiences.
Power tools will make it go faster, but I hope you got my point, they are not necessary.
I also mentioned Meguire's products a lot, you can use whatever brand of compounds you like. 3M also makes a good line of buffing and polishing compounds.
You can also go into some auto paint stores, and they will also be able to help you. Buffing paint on a car is very much like buffing gelcoat, except the paint on a car can be only 1/10 the thickness of gel coat, a lot less forgiving.
If you are working on the deck of your boat, you may want to cover the upholstery to keep the compound off it.
Many buffing compounds have water in them, do not let them freeze.
My Porter Cable orbital buffer I have had for so long, I do not remember what I paid for it. Last year, I bought a Makita rotary buffer, it came in a kit with a nice storage bag, three wool bonnets, and a Velcro backing pad.
Use only one type of compound on a wool bonnet. If you keep the boat wet with the Dawn, water solution, it really helps to keep the wool bonnet clean.
Using a wool pad on a dark color will transfer a little color to White, or light colors. Not so much the other way around. If you can try to use different pads for different colors. I keep my wool pads in a large zip lock bag when not in use, to keep them clean.

[mhaaland]

Thanks for help gentlemen. I did some heavy research this morning & i think i am going to go with a Makita 9227 variable speed polisher/sander (DanielC is this the one you have?). It looks like there are a few types in the 9227 series & the description says easy conversion to a sander with a lockout button for a constant speed under a load. It's rated for 600-3000rpm, 10 amp. I'm hoping i can sand my teak platform with this also! When i get things rolling on my boat i will post before & after pictures.

[Nautiquehunter]

You probably wont want to use that makita on your teak try a porter cable orbital sander it
will do a better job with out tearing it up.

[DanielC]

The Makita 9227c is the rotary buffer I got. On mine you set the speed with a thumb wheel, and it stays at that speed, no load, or bearing down on it. It also has a "soft" startup, so it does not want to torque out of your hand when you pull the trigger.
To use it, hold the pad fairly flat against the boat. Keep it moving. I like to "cross file" when I am buffing a boat. Hold the buffer at one angle, and you will see streaks of compound going one way, and then change the angle, so the streaks go 90 degrees to the previous pass.
Be very careful around any fittings, bow lights, or anything else on the boat.
Be careful at any edges, detail lines in the gelcoat. It is really easy to burn through the gelcoat in those areas. Try to buff off corners, not on to them.
I paid $199 for my Makita buffer, with a bag, backing pad, and two or three wool bonnets. It was a fairly complete kit.
Do not use it on the Teak platform.

[nch20skier]

I have and use the Makita as well. I have been very satisfied with it and like the variable speed feature

[bchesley]

The Makita is going to be the lightest too. You dont really think about until you have about 4 hours of buffign behind you and your arms are spagetti. I have a Milwaukee and it is heavy.

I use a bar that looks a jewelers ruge to coupound my boat. My dealer uses one and that is what SWCC used when they did gel repairs. It is easy to apply with no splatter but you cant leave it in the sun. I follow up with Finessit II from 3M. I am not as good as my dealer is but I have made a few boats look pretty clean.