Removing Oxidation before polishing

T

TexasEye

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 25, 2017
Messages
270
Fluid Motion Model
C-248 C
Hull Identification Number
FMLT2599D808
Non-Fluid Motion Model
C-Dory Angler 22
Vessel Name
Tug Time, Athens, Alabama
Has anyone used Magic Eraser to clean and remove oxidation on topside (Mr Clean foam abrasive pads)
 
I heard they were great for that, so I bought some and put them on the boat but haven't used them yet. I've since heard that the abrasives actually cause very fine scratches on the gelcoat. Now I'm worried they will haze the shine of the gelcoat, so I'm afraid to use them.
So, I'm also interested to hear from others of their experience with Magic Eraser.
 
Magic erasers do work by being a very fine abrasive but I think you get the same effect from polishing compounds. I would think using some water and not scrubbing too hard you should be fine.
 
from what I understand, all abrasives introduce scratching, the coarser the abrasive the deeper the scratches. this scratching abrasion lowers the overall depth of the gelcoat until the originally scratches no longer show. Then you have to "polish"out the abrasion scratches - haze to shine. polishing is just really fine abrasion.

I would be interested in collecting suggestions on the abrasives and then polishes people have used on their gel coat.

I've looked at the 3M system but its quite expensive. other suggestions for a system of products: abrasive to remove the oxidation and the polish and wax. I dont think a single purpose cleaner wax will touch the abrasion on my top sides.

also are people using Random orbitals or just regular orbital polishers? recommended models?
 
I use collonite hull cleaner and then liquid wax. I do carry the magic eraser, but use it to remove rubber scuffs or hard to remove things. I do not use it for polishing.
 
I have used quite a few different products. I have settled on only using the 3M products for compound and polish, 3M rubbing compound, followed by 3M Finese IT. I use Collinite wax, when I don't need to compound I use Collinite 920 fiberglass cleaner followed by wax. Random orbital polisher from Harbor Freight along with their foam pads. When I do the 3 step process my 8 year old blue hull has a tremendous shine.
Collonite 850 Metal Wax is fantastic on the S.S. Use a cotton glove to apply it, the work goes really fast.
 
Cutwater28GG":89ofvmcg said:
also are people using Random orbitals or just regular orbital polishers? recommended models?
Click to expand...

I looked at the random orbital ones but I could not find one that gave the speed control I want which I think is more important. I went with the Dewalt DWP849 which is regular orbital. t’s a really nice machine.

Texas eye,
Regarding using magic erasure for oxidation. Don’t bother. I have tried. Magic erasures are great for cleaning (especially the inflatable dinghy) but you’ll be there all day trying to use them for oxidation. Rubbing compound, polish, with a power polisher and a good wax is the only way to go in my opinion.
 
Shortly after I posted I headed for the Tug...Broke out the little sponge (Magic Eraser) and scrubbed down the super structure and deck. We have severe spider issues and they leave drippings! Well, the Magic Eraser did the trick, used very light mixture of dawn and water with the eraser and obviously need to wax and shine.

I also used them on the Handrails, Horn, Spotlight and Mast.

I'm impressed how well they clean, and no they don't remove the oxidation, well unless you want to spend forever....

I've had several fabric covered aircraft, some had old finishes. I took scotch bright pads with heavy mixture of warm water and dawn and carefully scrubbed her down head to toe using caution around corners, screwheads and wing stitching. I was prepared to recover the aircraft if I screwed up. It looked good after the wash and scrub, so a bit of wax and buffing and the fabric was looking good and airworthy.

Rubbing compound, wax and even some soap all remove surface material.

I'd give the little magic eraser an A+ on cleaning and a D- as a rubbing compound.

But, the real test is tomorrow when she is dry and the real Inspector see's her!
 
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