Waxing Using A Wheel

Here is a FWIW post.

If you go to www.lakecountrymfg.com and look under either wool or foam pads they give you an application guide. This pretty much covers all the bases regarding what type of pads to use.

If you're looking for a product to clean your pads, their pad cleaning powder does an excellent job.

Bob
 
manmade...I don't do the detailing on the boats at work...we actually hire that out to a sub-contractor. I did however do my own boat last year with fantastic results. Buff Magic with a wool pad on a Snap On buffer preceded by a 3m rub-out. Then, hand applied West Marine Paste Wax. Looked like new! As shiney and clear as new boats in the showroom. This year...as it doesn't need to be Buff Magic'd again, I'm going to apply Pro Polish and see what results I get...hoping it will last the summer so I'm not waxing my a$$ off this year again.
 
George, Kenny's statement makes sense to me. With a traditional "apply, dry and remove" wax product, there's not much advantage to using a wheel. However, an orbital can make the application go faster, and a rotary can assist in removal, but it seems to me that trying to apply a wax that's supposed to go on in a thin layer, dry and be removed later shouldn't be done with a wheel.

Another issue is that most wheels have a large pad - all the more soft material to absorb the product.

(just a note: Kenny has achieved an incredible shine on The Dog House - he just didn't have success waxing with a wheel)

An exception is a product like Diamond Luster, which isn't meant to dry. I used it with a wheel this wkd at about 2,000 RPM and had incredible results.
 
This is my process:

Wash and dry

Buff Magic at 1500 rpm with yellow wool pad in 3 foot sections. Buff till clean with no residue left. Spur pad as necessary. The Buff Magic is very forgiving, but take care.

Wash and dry

Hand apply Pro Polish in 3 foot sections, complete 2 sections and polish first section with Porter Cable D/A polisher at 2000 rpm with terry cloth cover. Keep multiple covers on hand and change as required. Alternate application and polish sections as required.

Maintain the wax with Colinite Fiberglass Boat Wax as required through the season. This product has a mild cleaner and will take care of minor scuffs and marks. It is also easy to apply and tough as nails.

You will not be disappointed !

Thanks,

Rolfe
 
SLW
If Kenny decides to work instead of going to his boat this year (yes - it was during the week) while I am at CP, I'll look you up! We'll drink his cold beer, order the kind of pizza he likes, and scrutinize the shine quality together. No dates planned yet, usually somewhere around JUL4th, we'll keep ya posted.
:)
Don
 
Rolfe,

Why are you washing and drying after the BM and before the PP application? Is it several days before doing the PP and the boat surface is already dirty?

Erich
 
quote:
Originally posted by New2Me34C

Rolfe,

Why are you washing and drying after the BM and before the PP application? Is it several days before doing the PP and the boat surface is already dirty?

Erich

Click to expand...


to get the buffing dust from the BM off so you don't grind them into your perfect shine and mess it up.
 
Thanks Kenny!
That's precisely the reason.
Buffing and polishing compounds do not / should not contain wax. Many people omit this step and never get the results they work so hard for.

The cleaner the surface the better the results!

Thanks
Rolfe
 
Kenny and Rolfe,

So what do you wash it with? Would just a fresh water hose down and then dry be adequate.

Thanks,
Erich
 
I used that pink Meguires boat wash gel, but I think plain water would be okay...just need to get the abrassive debris off
 
I recently purchased a Chicago Tools rotary buffer from Harbor Freight. It came with a white 7" hook and loop foam pad, a pseudo wool bonnet, and a terry cloth bonnet. I also ordered some extra terry cloth and microfiber bonnets. I checked that chart on the Lake County web site but am still unsure what to use with Buff Magic. Would the wool-like bonnet have more cutting/cleaning ability than the foam pad, or is the wool-like pad used for polishing (i.e. better for use with the Pro Polish? The directions with the polisher don't provide a lot of help in pad/bonnet selection.

Thanks all you polishing experts!

Erich
 
quote:
rolfejr
Buffing and polishing compounds do not / should not contain wax.

Click to expand...


But the reverse can be true! "One Step" products contain mild abrasives mixed with the wax.

I'm still on-record for not believing there's much benefit to using a wheel with a non-abrasive wax. It uses more product than necessary and makes for more cleanup.

quote:
If Kenny decides to work instead of going to his boat this year (yes - it was during the week) while I am at CP, I'll look you up! We'll drink his cold beer, order the kind of pizza he likes, and scrutinize the shine quality together. No dates planned yet, usually somewhere around JUL4th, we'll keep ya posted.
:)
Click to expand...


Don, I tend to miss a lot of the weekdays too. I guess you'll just have to plan SEVERAL trips!

Here's hoping for low gas prices...
 
That's why they are one step products.
Many times we will three step, possibly four step, a job using more aggressive compounds for oxidation and moving to lighter abrasives for the polishing steps, then wax. We would not want to apply wax to the surface between polishing steps. I like Buff Magic as it eliminates one step on lightly oxidized surfaces.
A wool pad or foam pad is really your preference. I use the wool pad simply because I like the way it holds the compound. I use the DA to remove the wax because I like the way my hand doesn't get tired!!!

One step products are great for cleaner, newer surfaces with mild, or no, oxidation and are well suited for those who are not familiar with using a buffer.

As far as washing, any good car wash or boat wash will do between steps.

I will, however, make the first wash, before compounding, with Dawn dishwashing soap. I want to be sure I have a super clean surface to start with, which is free of dirt,grease and wax build up.
NEVER use Dawn after you wax or you will slowly strip off your wax job.

Thanks
 
quote:
Originally posted by SLW

quote:
rolfejr
Buffing and polishing compounds do not / should not contain wax.

Click to expand...


But the reverse can be true! "One Step" products contain mild abrasives mixed with the wax.

I'm still on-record for not believing there's much benefit to using a wheel with a non-abrasive wax. It uses more product than necessary and makes for more cleanup.

quote:
If Kenny decides to work instead of going to his boat this year (yes - it was during the week) while I am at CP, I'll look you up! We'll drink his cold beer, order the kind of pizza he likes, and scrutinize the shine quality together. No dates planned yet, usually somewhere around JUL4th, we'll keep ya posted.
:)
Click to expand...


Don, I tend to miss a lot of the weekdays too. I guess you'll just have to plan SEVERAL trips!

Here's hoping for low gas prices...

Click to expand...


Thanks for the compliments S. I'm hoping the fuel stays down as well as we're plannning on taking (at least one) small trip to PIB with Joe and Sheryl mid week.
 
Erich
Everyone has their own preference. Find what works for you...
My finish was very heavily chalked 6 years ago when we found her. After the initial wheeling with heavy rubbing compound, I annually use wool pads to keep fine tuning the shine. Each year it get's a little closer to what I want. If I had a newer boat, or had already aquired the shine I desire, I would probably opt for foam pad when applying BM. Call me lazy, but I just can't convince myself to take time out from an already short summer to wax again. The wool works well once in the spring for my needs!
Don
 
Don..as you know, I've had mine for 10 years now. When I got her, it was very chalky as the owner only washed and never waxed the boat. It took me probably 7 years to get her to shine the way I wanted for the entire summer...and then I discovered Buff Magic...what a godsend!
 
Having used Zaino for years I know about washing with Dawn to make the conversion and remove wax but do you guys think 1 wash will do it? I had the boat compounded and waxed last year. This year I am going to make the switch to BM and PP. If I do a 1 Dawn wash will the BM take care of any wax left?

Thanks
Niles
 
Actually Niles...BM took all the existing wax off mine, so I would think one wash would do it.
 
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