Wednesday, January 6, 2016

How To Restore Faded Fiberglass: Step By Step Process

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By Jennifer Cook


Unlike decades ago when the boats were made of wood and metals, almost all pleasure boats are made of fiberglass today. They give better final products, are easier to make, and weighs less in comparison to wood and metal. They are also known to last for a very long time, and it is no surprise that all boat owners prefer them over any other material. In order to maintain the beauty and elegance of your pleasure boat, you need the tips on how to restore faded fiberglass using waxes, polishes, and the sealers.

A fiber-reinforced plastic (fiberglass) describes a plastic that has been strengthened using a fiber cloth. In addition to boats, the material is commonly used to make bathtubs, motorhomes, and pickup truck caps among others. Gelcoat is normally applied on its surface to give it a smooth and shiny surface. It is normal for the users and the sellers alike to refer to the gelcoat as fiberglass and thus the term may be used interchangeably.

The second step it to clear gelcoat or the glass surface of any oil or grease. Given that the gelcoat may be porous, the detergent often fails to clear all grease and oil. The ideal solutions to use include acetone or MEK. Just soak a rag in the chosen solution and use it to clear any grease. When doing this, it is advisable to always protect yourself using skin rubber gloves.

The first step is often to start by cleaning the surface with the aim of removing tiny particles and any other substances that may affect a good quality finish. This can be done by adding detergent into warm water to form a washing solution. This is followed with a thorough scrubbing of the surface. In order to remove grease and oil, acetone and similar solutions may be used. It is then allowed to dry before the next step can begin.

Polish is an abrasive and not a coating. It works like a very fine sandpaper and is used to remove pitted surface. The procedure involves applying polish to a small area at a time using a soft cloth, then rubbing in a circular motion. This should leave a glassy surface. Polish does not offer any protection, and sealers or any other protective coating needs to be applied after polishing to prevent future oxidation.

After waxing, the next step is polishing. A polish is simply an abrasive, but not a coating. Rather than coating, it removes the pitted surface. The procedure involves using a soft cloth to apply the polish to small areas at a time. This is done by circular motion rubbing to get a glassy appearance. This is then followed by a wax application to protect the new coat.

Waxing should be the last step. It is used to offer the barrier between the elements and the gelcoat surface. If applied regularly, it can keep the boat in good condition for a long time. However, for older and faded boats, it is the last procedure after cleaning, polishing, and the application of sealers. It traps air in the microscopic surface crevices and holes allowing oxidation to continue after a while. This is the reason behind fading just after a month or two after cleaning and waxing. This put emphasis on the polishing and the sealers application.

First, apply it on the surface, after which a power buffer is then used. It results to a uniform color. In case it does not give a shiny finish, the surface is normally polished. The polish gives the final shine that you are looking for. The wax should always follow polishing, a good paste wax is enough to give the surface a new finish, similar to that in the showroom.




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