Rv Question?

[A.P.D.]

I figured it was pretty oxidized to start with but the cleaner wax did an amazing job removing it. After finishing i noticed it had a patchy cloudy look in some areas( didnt look flat) . Is this due to the oxidation and i should have used something stronger(oxidation remover)? I used a purple wool pad and orbital polisher



What kind of pads are best for rvs and boats wool or foam?

 

[Jpostal]

If it was oxidized gel coat you would need more than a cleaner wax. This link should give you a good idea of what it takes to properly work on gel coat...it is more tailored to boats, but the same principles would apply. The thing I found interesting in this article is that cleaner waxes are actually bad to use on gel coat because of the solvents in them.

 

[A.P.D.]

If it was oxidized gel coat you would need more than a cleaner wax. This link should give you a good idea of what it takes to properly work on gel coat...it is more tailored to boats, but the same principles would apply. The thing I found interesting in this article is that cleaner waxes are actually bad to use on gel coat because of the solvents in them.

Thanks ,any suggestions on pads?

 

[Jpostal]

It would depend on the level of oxidization, but I almost always go with a wool pad on a rotary and use a compound that is made for gel coat (ie. 3M marine rubbing compound). You would probably want to refine the finish after compounding...something like 3M Marine Finesse-It II. Seal it with fleetwax or something durable.



I should note that I never do RV's, but from what I understand boats are very similar and I have done quite a few boats with heavy oxidization.

 

[A.P.D.]

It would depend on the level of oxidization, but I almost always go with a wool pad on a rotary and use a compound that is made for gel coat (ie. 3M marine rubbing compound). You would probably want to refine the finish after compounding...something like 3M Marine Finesse-It II. Seal it with fleetwax or something durable.



I should note that I never do RV's, but from what I understand boats are very similar and I have done quite a few boats with heavy oxidization.

If you dont mind me asking how come you stay away from rv's?

 

[Jpostal]

^^^I don't advertise RV detailing because at this point I am mobile and I would not feel fully prepared to tackle an big RV...bringing big step ladders or scaffolding is not an option for me. If I had a shop I would do them, but I would make sure to schedule a lot of time to get the job done. If you are going to be doing RV's or boats I would recommend charging by the hour. I have found that with gel coat sometimes it looks pretty good but when you start working on it, it is a lot more work than you originally thought it would be. At the very least do a test spot to get an idea of how much time you will need. I charge $40 - $50 an hour for polishing boats...a lot of guys charge more than I do too. If you have to wet sand I would charge a little more to cover materials (sanding discs are not cheap).