Ship Shape TV - Cleaning Buffing Pads the EASY WAY!

[Mike Phillips]

Ship Shape TV - Cleaning Buffing Pads the EASY WAY! (http://www.marine31online.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15)


In this segment John and I show how when using compounds to remove oxidation with wool cutting pads on rotary buffers the oxidation as well as spent compound residue builds up on the face of your buffing pad.

Some guys use a screwdriver to clean their pad, I call this the Caveman Method, it works but the screwdriver tears up the pad and there are better ways to clean your pad without causing damage to the pad or creating a safety risk.

Next we talk about a better option and that is to use a spur to clean your pad but if you really want to get your buffing pads clean then the best way to do this is with a Marine 31 Pad Cleaner and Marine 31 Polishing Pad Cleaner.

By cleaning your pad often you save time and make buffing a lot easier on you plus you make wiping off the residue as it won't be as gummy on the side of the hull like it is when you don't clean your pad effectively.

You also save money because fresh compound will cut better than mixing fresh compound with all the oxidation and spent compound that builds up on your buffing pad.

A pad washer also enables you to get more use out of your pads, again saving you money.

First thing we did was buff out the oxidized gel-coat on the sides of John's Boston Whaler.

Here I am compounding the side of the hull...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1872/Ship_Shape_Pad_Cleaning_001.jpg


Here's John compounding the front of the hull...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1872/Ship_Shape_Pad_Cleaning_002.jpg


Behind the scenes shots as we work through the segment...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1872/Ship_Shape_Pad_Cleaning_003.jpg


John's pointing to both the screwdriver and the spur...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1872/Ship_Shape_Pad_Cleaning_004.jpg


John's asking me about the different ways to remove oxidation...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1872/Ship_Shape_Pad_Cleaning_005.jpg


John's talks about working by hand and explains as everyone knows that to try to remove oxidation by hand will not only be a great work out but a great way to get a tan...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1872/Ship_Shape_Pad_Cleaning_006.jpg


Next we talk about tool options and discuss the benefits and features of a Porter Cable 7424XP but how a more powerful tool like a rotary buffer would be a better and faster tool for this type of project.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1872/Ship_Shape_Pad_Cleaning_007.jpg


Here I'm explaining that the Porter Cable is incredibly safe for working on gel-coats but like mentioned previously the rotary buffer will provide more power and thus do the job better and faster...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1872/Ship_Shape_Pad_Cleaning_008.jpg


In this shot I'm talking about the Flex PE14 and that it's a compact, low weight rotary buffer made in Germany to the highest quality standards...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1872/Ship_Shape_Pad_Cleaning_009.jpg


Next John and I remove the oxidation off the gel-coat sides of the hull...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1872/Ship_Shape_Pad_Cleaning_010.jpg


To do this we're using Marine 31 Gel Coat Heavy-Cut Oxidation Cleaner. You can use this product in direct sun...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1872/Ship_Shape_Pad_Cleaning_011.jpg


The side of the hull started out dull and chalky and as you can see it's now reflecting like a mirror as we restore a hard, shiny surface.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1872/Ship_Shape_Pad_Cleaning_012.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1872/Ship_Shape_Pad_Cleaning_013.jpg


This is what a brand new pad looks like, it's clean and the fibers are fluffy, not matted together...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1872/Ship_Shape_Pad_Cleaning_014.jpg


Here's the same pad after buffing a 2' by 2" section till all the oxidation was removed. You can see the pad is gunked up with dirty, oxidized gel-coat and the fibers have matted together. To try to keep buffing with this pad is going to not only tire the person doing the buffing but it will also make buffing more difficult and require more product while doing less work.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1872/Ship_Shape_Pad_Cleaning_015.jpg


Here we're adding one scoop of the Marine 31 Polishing Pad Cleaner to the Marine 31 Pad Washer in which we've already added water to create the pad cleaning solution.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1872/Ship_Shape_Pad_Cleaning_016.jpg


Next you place the buffing pad into the pad washer...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1872/Ship_Shape_Pad_Cleaning_017.jpg


After placing the pad into the pad washer you close the lid...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1872/Ship_Shape_Pad_Cleaning_018.jpg



Next you run the Flex PE14 around 1000 RPM while pumping it up and down against the grill insert inside the bucket.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1872/Ship_Shape_Pad_Cleaning_019.jpg



Here are the real-world results after less than a minute of cleaning time in the pad washer...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1872/Ship_Shape_Pad_Cleaning_020.jpg


Anyone buffing out a boat will be time, money and energy ahead by using a pad washer with a high quality polishing pad cleaner.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1872/Ship_Shape_Pad_Cleaning_021.jpg



On Marine31.com

Marine 31 Pad Cleaner
Marine 31 Polishing Pad Cleaner
Marine 31 Gel-Coat Heavy-Cut Oxidation Cleaner (http://www.marine31.com/m31-211.html)
Flex PE14 Rotary Polisher


:)

[Mets2010]

When will the pad cleaner and pad washer be released?

[Mike Phillips]

When will the pad cleaner and pad washer be released?




Should be added to the store sometime this morning...


Welcome to Marine31Online!


:)

[Nick]

When will the pad cleaner and pad washer be released?

The pad washer is available now! Give me a call to place an order - 1-877-797-8803

:D

[Mike Phillips]

This episode plays today, tomorow and on Monday...


:thumb:

[bud659]

Does the wool pad need to be cleaned after every2x2 section? Would using color restorer require the same amount of cleaning? And would purple wool pad be just as good? Sorry for all the questions. Thank you

[Mike Phillips]

Does the wool pad need to be cleaned after every2x2 section?




Let me put it this way, cleaning your pad often makes everything about machine buffing faster and easier.

I wouldn't use a pad washer after each 2' x 2' section but I would use a steel pad cleaning spur after each section.

Anytime you're abrading ANY surface you have two things building up on the surface of the pad,

Spent product
Removed material

If you don't clean this stuff off it makes buffing harder and less effective. It dilutes or pollutes the fresh product you're using and it will make wiping the residues on the surface more difficult.






Would using color restorer require the same amount of cleaning?

[/quote

No because it's not going to remove as much gel-coat as a true compound but you still want to clean your pad often.


[QUOTE=bud659;535]

And would purple wool pad be just as good? Sorry for all the questions. Thank you




Do you mean,

Would a purple foamed wool pad be just as aggressive as a wool cutting pad?


If that's what you mean then the answer is "no".


Great questions!



:)