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Polishing Pontoon Boat Category #4
Old 06-27-2016, 08:00 PM   #1
ChaseB
 
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Default Polishing Pontoon Boat Category #4

I've got your book on How To Detail Boats With Marine 31 and I was wondering if it's possible to sand with Porter Cable 7424XP instead of the Flex for pontoons. I only ask because I already have the PC all set up with 3" Abralon discs. Also, I know in the book you are again using the Flex for buffing process, is there any way I can do this without having to buy a new machine for almost $400? Thanks!
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Old 07-05-2016, 11:37 AM   #2
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Default Re: Polishing Pontoon Boat Category #4

Quote:
Originally Posted by ChaseB View Post

I've got your book on How To Detail Boats With Marine 31 and I was wondering if it's possible to sand with Porter Cable 7424XP instead of the Flex for pontoons.

I only ask because I already have the PC all set up with 3" Abralon discs.

Yes of course you can machine sand with the Porter Cable.

I just re-read that section and I can't believe I didn't mention or state that the machine sanding of a pontoon boat could be done using any dual action polishers.

So everything I state and show about machine sanding a gel-coat boat in the section,

Category #4: Severely Oxidized and Neglected Gel-coat boats

Would apply to machine sanding pontoon boats.


I think the point I was trying to make in the machine sanding section for pontoon boats was that by having the FLEX 3401 a person could do every step with only the FLEX 3401.

This means the sanding and ALL of the machine polishing step.



Quote:
Originally Posted by ChaseB View Post

Also, I know in the book you are again using the Flex for buffing process, is there any way I can do this without having to buy a new machine for almost $400? Thanks!
Normally a person would use a rotary buffer for the machine polishing steps after machine or hand sanding but this leaves holograms while the FLEX 3401 doesn't.


So "yes" you can do all the machine sanding using your Porter Cable but to remove your sanding marks you're going to need either a rotary buffer to start with and then finish with your Porter Cable to avoid holograms in the aluminum or the FLEX 3401.

If you finish out with the #3000 and/or #4000 Abralon disc you can remove the sanding mark pattern using your Porter Cable polisher but it's going to take a lot more time and a lot more work and a lot more pads because the PC simply doesn't have the power of a gear driven tool like the rotary buffer or the FLEX 3401.

That's one of the reasons the FLEX 3401 is $400.00 and the Porter Cable is $115.00

It's the power it has.


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Old 07-05-2016, 11:46 AM   #3
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Default Re: Polishing Pontoon Boat Category #4

I don't have any of my own pictures showing what hologram swirls look like in aluminum but a quick Google search found these,








The above are from a rotary buffer. Since the pad only spins in a single direction it imparts its own unique scratch pattern.

The FLEX 3401 rotates and oscillates and as such does not leave the hologram scratch pattern unique to rotary buffers.

If you use a rotary buffer simply re-polish the aluminum using your Porter Cable and this will remove the holograms.


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Old 07-13-2016, 11:38 PM   #4
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Default Re: Polishing Pontoon Boat Category #4

Thanks for taking the time to answer, exactly what I needed to know. I did buff with a rotary and now I will finish with the PC. Think I'll just go by the book next time and order a flex ;).
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Old 07-19-2016, 11:37 AM   #5
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Default Re: Polishing Pontoon Boat Category #4

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Thanks for taking the time to answer, exactly what I needed to know. I did buff with a rotary and now I will finish with the PC. Think I'll just go by the book next time and order a flex ;).

It's definitely a labor of love...

But when the aluminum is all shiny again not only does she look cool but she's easier to clean and maintain into the future.


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Old 07-19-2016, 05:34 PM   #6
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Default Re: Polishing Pontoon Boat Category #4

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It's definitely a labor of love...

But when the aluminum is all shiny again not only does she look cool but she's easier to clean and maintain into the future.


Most definitely, very rewarding project.

Didn't take a picture before the sanding process, but you can see where I removed swirls from rotary using the DA. To the left of the line and bottom were not finished. Took about 30 hours...probably cut that down by 5-10 hours for next one.
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Old 08-02-2016, 11:39 AM   #7
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Default Re: Polishing Pontoon Boat Category #4

Looks like a mirror!





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