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Oxidation Removal - Exterior Gel-Coat and Hull Detailing One of the major areas of boat detailing is the restoration, maintenance and preservation of your goat's gel-coat hull.

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What speed to use with XC 3401?
Old 11-18-2015, 04:35 PM   #1
K-Dawg
 
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Default What speed to use with XC 3401?

I'm going to try cleaning up the gelcoat on my 04 Key West 1720. I'd say the boat has moderate oxidation that's developed over the past 5 years or so; it has a slight reflection, but is mostly oxidized.

I'm going to see what kind of results I can get with my Flex 3401 and some PFW pads. I purchased bottles of Heavy-Cut Cleaner Wax and Captain's One-Step to play around with. If the Captain's works better I'll finish up with the Carnauba Wax + Sealant.

I have a cheap rotary that I've never used. I want to see what I can do with the Flex before I try the rotary.

I've done some reading, but my question is this: What speed should I aim for with the Flex and FPW pads?

Thanks,
Kelvin
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Old 11-19-2015, 09:55 AM   #2
Mike Phillips
 
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Default Re: What speed to use with XC 3401?

Quote:
Originally Posted by K-Dawg View Post

I've done some reading, but my question is this:

What speed should I aim for with the Flex and FPW pads?

Thanks,
Kelvin

Hi Kevin,

You want to use the 4-6 speed setting. The tool is actually easier to control at higher speeds than on the low 1-3 speed settings for this type of work.

Play around with the 4-5 speed setting and you should get good cutting action while easy to control the polisher.

Also, for more cutting without the swirls caused by a rotary buffer and without the muscle it requires to control a rotary buffer slap a 7" to 8" wool polishing or wool cutting pad on the Flex 3401 and you'll find this with the Captains One Step Compound to be an effective approach to removing oxidation and restoring the shine.

Remember to clean your pad often and you're going to see a lot of gunk building up on the pad. This will be,

Dead, oxidized gel-coat removed from the hull.
Spent compound.


Let me know how it goes...

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Old 11-19-2015, 01:06 PM   #3
K-Dawg
 
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Default Re: What speed to use with XC 3401?

Thanks, Mike. That's what I figured, but I've never worked with gelcoat or wool before, so I wasn't sure.

I went ahead and ordered a couple wool pads to try on the 3401.

I'll be sure to report back.
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Old 12-16-2015, 12:05 PM   #4
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Default Re: What speed to use with XC 3401?

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Originally Posted by K-Dawg View Post
Thanks, Mike. That's what I figured, but I've never worked with gelcoat or wool before, so I wasn't sure.

I went ahead and ordered a couple wool pads to try on the 3401.

I'll be sure to report back.

Please do...


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