Dewalt polisher

[Two killicks]

Just got a an email about a deal at Canadian tire about a Dewalt polisher. Would this type of polisher be good to polish and wax the tug ant truck. Usually Dewalt is a good tool to use. Check the link below for the spec and please let me know what you think of this tool. for the canadian tugger, it's on rebate for a week starting on friday.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/dewal ... l-pdHoS-rU

Thanks

 

[Searaypaul]

This is the polisher that I own and loan out to all of my dock mates. Powerful, well balanced, easy to use, and it does a great job. It just takes a little while to learn to use it. If you are struggling to use this machine you need to evaluate your technique. When you have your technique down you can use it all day.

 

[Two killicks]

Great news searaypaul 🙂

I'll go and get it tomorrow 😀

 

[Levitation]

You will need foam pads. You do not want to use the usual washable cotton covers, etc.
I get most of my supplies from Autogeek.Net
My suggestion is:
7 inch rotary flexible velcro backing pad
LC-78-2450 8.5 inch CCS Orange Light Cutting pad - and use it with 3M Perfect-it polishing compound (or Finesse-It)
LC-78-64750 8.5 inch CCS White polishing pad for putting on wax. Wax of your choice.
I use Meguires. Though they have Marine 31 wax they recommend.

I am assuming the paint does not need heavy cutting action. For that you will want a cutting pad and a more aggressive polish. If so discuss it with them on the phone.

 

[rick&sue]

I own and use the same polisher - works great.

 

[R Baker]

At the other end of the scale is the Wen 7" polisher; a similiar design. Mine is two speed and I've had it for over twenty years, and have no complaints. They are still available at a cost of well less than $100.

 

[Scuffy]

We use a Surehold orbital buffer. Made for waxing and polishing. Adjustable speeds as they recommend different speeds for waxing and polishing. We polish with wet foam pads using Aqua Blue 200 polish with good results. This buffer is less likely to leave swirl marks. At a little over 100 dollars it comes with some extras that you will use. We got some extra foam pads one for removing wax the other for polishing and a couple micro fiber polishing bonnets. The kit comes with nice instructions that provide good results. Just another option
http://www.amazon.com/Shurhold-3101-Act ... d+products

 

[Two killicks]

You will need foam pads. You do not want to use the usual washable cotton covers, etc.
I get most of my supplies from Autogeek.Net
My suggestion is:
7 inch rotary flexible velcro backing pad
LC-78-2450 8.5 inch CCS Orange Light Cutting pad - and use it with 3M Perfect-it polishing compound (or Finesse-It)
LC-78-64750 8.5 inch CCS White polishing pad for putting on wax. Wax of your choice.
I use Meguires. Though they have Marine 31 wax they recommend.

I am assuming the paint does not need heavy cutting action. For that you will want a cutting pad and a more aggressive polish. If so discuss it with them on the phone.

The eyebrow is quite faded on the top part compared to the rest of the boat. The hull itself is still shiny and red. I wonder if the eyebrow will come back to it's shinny state after the polish and wax application? I will post a picture of the tug once I get the permission to post pictures on my profile.

 

[Scuffy]

We had a dark blue brow on our C-Dory 2008 and our R-27 has a dark blue brow. They fade quickly and require pretty regular attention to keep them looking like new. I think the polish will bring it back to shiny and regular waxing should help maintain the look. Welcome to the world of darker colors.

 

[Two killicks]

perharps I should get a custom cover done, it would be nice to cover it againt the sunshine?

 

[Searaypaul]

If you have a lot of oxidation or fading on the brow make your life easy. Order a couple of wool pads to remove the oxidation. The orange pads will work given enough time to polish the area. There is no substitution for a wool pad. Keep the buffer moving and you will not have swirls or gel coat damage at 1500 rpm. Fading I would have to look at to make a recommendation.

When I have my blue hull looking good I apply wax lightly with a paper towel, no elbow grease required. the paper towel will not scratch the gelcoat. To remove the wax I use either a black or white pad. Let the wax dry, then remove the wax at about 600rpm. One quick easy pass should do it. Removing the wax with the polisher sure beats the Armstrong method.

 

[Levitation]

We all have the eyebrow oxidation problem. I just did mine after a two year gap - they were grungy. I had a some back issues that kept me from cleaning the boat last year.

Yes, the Perfect-It Ultrafine Machine Polish and an orange pad will have the eyebrows and the hull looking like a mirror again.
Be careful purchasing as also they have a Perfect-It Rubbing Compound. You do not want to start cutting gel coat off with that and then have to spend hours going up through the grits to get back to a polished surface - meanwhile discussing my ancestry for not warning you.

Here is an Amazon URL for the 16 oz.
http://www.amazon.com/39062-Perfect--Ul ... perfect+it

Their market is primarily professional auto body guys who know the difference on sight. You want the bottle in the lighter red oxide color and and a blue cap.
You will have to be patient and run the buffer back and forth a dozen times. Might even have to add a bit of fresh polish as it dries fairly fast when buffed. Turn the buffer speed down, waaay down. A screaming buffer is the sure sign of an amateur about to burn through his paint.

 

[Two killicks]

Thanks for the tips and the link, I will get the polisher today and get the products in the spring and polish the tug so that it is sparkling again 😀

 

[hughesdave123]

I went through all this with my 25 footer trying to restore it from the used condition it was in. Prev owners I don't think ever had it detailed.

Fortunately my brother owns a Yacht detailing business and I had him do mine . I was wanting to do it myself , and after him showing me all the things to purchase and time to invest , it decided to just pay him to do it.

Dewalt is a nice brand , however there are others out there far less expensive that do the same job . I gave my brother the dewalt polisher I bought also , as I wouldn't use it as much to actually get my money back out of it.

Since it needs to be almost a perfect day to do the job right , I really wanted to use that type of day on the water cruising rather than the detailing and buffing gel coast , but that's just my opinion.