Best method for buffing the exterior

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Best method for buffing the exterior

April 17, 2019, 09:27:38 pm

Want to improve the exterior appearance of our coach,
First question would be, what type/ brand of buffer works best
Second question, any recommended "polishing" product?
I could not find anything already posted
Thanks
David

Re: Best method for buffing the exterior

Reply #1 – April 17, 2019, 09:43:14 pm

This is what Extreme uses

Re: Best method for buffing the exterior

Reply #2 – April 17, 2019, 09:46:49 pm

Check out the attached Cindy's write up on how she kept our Gel Coat looking like new. It's all there from soup to nuts.

Re: Best method for buffing the exterior

Reply #3 – April 17, 2019, 10:55:18 pm

Thanks Barry, Cindy and Dick
That at least gets me headed in the right direction
I have s lot of buffing ahead
David

Re: Best method for buffing the exterior

Reply #4 – April 17, 2019, 11:09:55 pm

Last time I was at Xtreme, Rance used a product called Aqua Buff;
Aqua-Buff Compounds
I bought some, but haven't had a chance to use it yet. A novice user may be better off with a random orbit buffer like the one from Porter Cable, as it is much harder to accidentally burn through the gel coat vs a traditional buffer, IMHO.
Don

Re: Best method for buffing the exterior

Reply #5 – April 17, 2019, 11:57:01 pm

a full body paint coach is completely different, I'm not sure what you have?

Re: Best method for buffing the exterior

Reply #6 – April 17, 2019, 11:59:20 pm

I use: Gel-Gloss RV GG-64 Polish and Protector 64 oz with a Porter Cable industrial buffer with sheep head. The Porter Cable has enough torque that it doesn't slow down while buffing.
I do the whole thing top to bottom, stem to stern 2 times a year. I apply the Gel Gloss by hand and try to remove any Haze seen in the surface. Buff when dry.

Have considered using the same stuff Rance uses but I know how this works so I am staying with it, Been using it since my boat days.

Re: Best method for buffing the exterior

Reply #7 – April 18, 2019, 01:12:17 am

I used 3M cutting/polishing compound and the Porter Cable orbital polisher when I did my 97 U320. Worked great!

Re: Best method for buffing the exterior

Reply #8 – April 18, 2019, 03:07:01 am

We use the Zainobros.com products,works for me been using them 20 years.

Re: Best method for buffing the exterior

Reply #9 – April 18, 2019, 06:33:35 am

Sorry I did not mention that the paint is the original white, just the same as it came off the factory floor

Re: Best method for buffing the exterior

Reply #10 – April 18, 2019, 09:12:41 am

Is it white PAINT or white GEL coat? Big difference. OE was gel coated fiberglass.

Re: Best method for buffing the exterior

Reply #11 – April 18, 2019, 10:14:33 am

Quote from: wolfe10 – April 18, 2019, 09:12:41 am

Is it white PAINT or white GEL coat? Big difference. OE was gel coated fiberglass.

Is there a VISUAL way of knowing whether one has paint or gel? My files show a color chart, but no info what application it is.

Re: Best method for buffing the exterior

Reply #12 – April 18, 2019, 10:23:32 am

Any good paint guy could look at a coach and tell if the OE gel coated FG has been painted. Same as could be said for someone knowledgeable being able to spot a repaint on a car. Been there, done that.

Re: Best method for buffing the exterior

Reply #13 – April 18, 2019, 10:30:46 am

Quote from: Don & Tys – April 17, 2019, 11:09:55 pm

Last time I was at Xtreme, Rance used a product called Aqua Buff;
Aqua-Buff Compounds
I bought some, but haven't had a chance to use it yet. A novice user may be better off with a random orbit buffer like the one from Porter Cable, as it is much harder to accidentally burn through the gel coat vs a traditional buffer, IMHO.
Don

Rance gave me a bucket that was near the end of its shelf life when he did the headlights and step.

Re: Best method for buffing the exterior

Reply #14 – April 18, 2019, 10:39:58 am

Mike,

Unless repainted, you have a gel coat. Before you can start polishing your coach, you have to determine the condition of the finish. If it has a gel coat and has been stored outside, even a shop buffer is not going to bring it back. I tried buffing but went to a HF jitterbug (air) with 3000 wet/dry with a tiny water spray every thirty seconds or so. This produced a nice shiny surface. A slow speed shop buffer with a foam pad and either new school chemical compound or old school rubbing compound will bring the shine almost to like new. The OEM gel coat is rock hard and difficult to damage with a buffer. Because of this, a super fine wet or dry paper is the ticket as the scratches from a coarse paper can prove very difficult to remove later.

Buffers: I have a Milwaukee shop buffer spinning at 1400 RPM. Also an old 1250 RPM Sioux. These are heavy buffers and will just about dim the lights. I do use quite a bit of pressure but keep the pad moving. They work great for restoring most any kind of headlight or taillight with a plastic cover.

A really good body shop buffer costs a lot but frequently can be found used on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace for pennies on the dollar.

Never purchase a 2000 RPM or faster buffer. They can heat and possibly damage the surface in seconds. Low speed is the ticket here.

Restoring the shine IS going to be a lot of work so do a little at a time. A lot of work!

Pierce

Re: Best method for buffing the exterior

Reply #15 – April 18, 2019, 10:47:39 am

As Pierce says it's A LOT of work. Takes me about a week of on and off to buff and wax the coach. I buff once a year wax 2 times, more on the front for bugs and bay doors for hand prints.

Re: Best method for buffing the exterior

Reply #16 – April 18, 2019, 11:08:17 am

It's a project that's on my list as well. I've used those 3M products on my last coach (SOB), after wetsanding due to the amount of oxidation that was present. It was a two week project on a 37' coach, and lots of beer.

3M has a new product out for gelcoat, and I was wondering if anyone has tried it yet?

Introducing 3M™ Gelcoat Finishing System - YouTube

Re: Best method for buffing the exterior

Reply #17 – April 18, 2019, 11:09:22 am

Quote from: bbeane – April 18, 2019, 10:47:39 am

As Pierce says it's A LOT of work. Takes me about a week of on and off to buff and wax the coach. I buff once a year wax 2 times, more on the front for bugs and bay doors for hand prints.

The front bumper area seems to be the first to dull and need the most frequent work. The gelcoat seems to be a different quality on our GV's front cap and oxidizes faster, plus seems softer. When the front bumper is badly oxidized, it takes a lot more work to get the bugs off.

I use the same compounds as seen in the top photos. Works well.

Pierce

Re: Best method for buffing the exterior

Reply #18 – April 18, 2019, 11:12:36 am

So I'm assuming that as we are "buffing" the gel coat you will need to stay away from the decals. Are there any tricks to doing that, like blue taping them or... staying far away and doing the close up by hand. I doubt that you just buff right over them.
Maybe captain obvious can help me out here.

Re: Best method for buffing the exterior

Reply #19 – April 18, 2019, 11:16:38 am

Quote from: Bob & Sue – April 18, 2019, 11:12:36 am

So I'm assuming that as we are "buffing" the gel coat you will need to stay away from the decals. Are there any tricks to doing that, like blue taping them or... staying far away and doing the close up by hand. I doubt that you just buff right over them.
Maybe captain obvious can help me out here.

Using tape works well and should be done. Two inch tape should be wide enough for any mistakes. Our decals were shot, especially on one side so I removed all of them. Took a full day. The worse they are, the harder they are to remove.

P

Re: Best method for buffing the exterior

Reply #20 – April 18, 2019, 11:41:55 am

Speaking of a lot of work to keep gelcoat looking good, Cindy continues to tell me how MUCH easier it is to keep our painted coach shined up. Car-wash soap, water (change often), microfiber, wipe dry and red bucket. When necessary, touch-up with her favorite high quality "Klasse All-in-One" non-abrasive cleaner/polish.

Cindy has saved hours and hours since having our coach painted. The clear coat is so good that after 8 years it continues to look like the day it left Xtreme and with mainly just car-wash & water. Money well spent. Painting the roof with one-step gritted paint also makes keeping the 'difficult to keep clean' roof clean, also much easier with a couple of buckets of car-wash & water. And keeping roof clean, keeps the sides of the motorhome clean.

Better quality car-wash leaves the coach with a slick shiny polymer surface. Doing one 3-4' section at a time, washing, turning rag, and drying immediately with microfiber towels.

Each bucket has a (cut-down-smaller) Grit Guard on the bottom to help keep dirt out of the water.

Re: Best method for buffing the exterior

Reply #21 – April 18, 2019, 12:47:17 pm

I learned, the hard way, of course, why so many folk store their coach indoors down here in the 'Deep Desert'. For full-timers, that's impossible: our decals, after six years, are just about shot on the nose and heading out on the sun-side. I've tried every product, talked to the installer, talked with 3M and they all give me the same runaround: "They will not last long in full sun, whatever you apply." Of course the shade side is fine, but anywhere I get sun is starting to (and has) failed. So I guess, 10 years is the life expectancy? BTW, I have new paint/ gel (also done in 2013) that is doing fine. I'm not surprised to see so many coaches that have the 'Prison Bus' look. The installer said he'd re-do the nose (something about the angle makes it the worst) for $250.00. Not bad, but, that would buy a lot of Jamesons!

Re: Best method for buffing the exterior

Reply #22 – April 18, 2019, 01:20:10 pm

Quote from: mike leary – April 18, 2019, 12:47:17 pm

I learned, the hard way, of course, why so many folk store their coach indoors down here in the 'Deep Desert'. For full-timers, that's impossible: our decals, after six years, are just about shot on the nose and heading out on the sun-side.

I've spent a lot of time studying our new home, and at first I thought that the diagonal black marks, on what remains of our decals, were "art." After a couple of just right morning dew visits I realized that the metal frame had worked as a heat sink for the ink on the decals and what I see is the frame. That frame. One of the reasons I jumped on this RV.

Re: Best method for buffing the exterior

Reply #23 – April 18, 2019, 02:04:46 pm

My Xtreme paint job still looks like new so I have never buffed it. I use Wash Wax All after washing it. For the cars and boats I have a DeWalt professional variable speed unit with soft start. Slower speed is better. If you have never used a buffer before a random orbit unit will work best for you as it's easy to burn the finish. Look on YouTube for videos on how to do it. There are a few tricks you need to know.

Keith

Re: Best method for buffing the exterior

Reply #24 – April 18, 2019, 02:09:36 pm

Quote from: Old Toolmaker – April 18, 2019, 01:20:10 pm

I've spent a lot of time studying our new home, and at first I thought that the diagonal black marks, on what remains of our decals, were "art." After a couple of just right morning dew visits I realized that the metal frame had worked as a heat sink for the ink on the decals and what I see is the frame. That frame. One of the reasons I jumped on this RV.

I see those on the rare occasions we get dew. Like Brett told me, "If you don't see them, you are in BIG TROUBLE!

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