Really tight spaces with a rotary buffer

[stephentfreitas]

For moderate to heavy oxidation in very tight spaces on fiberglass I have used the 3" foam pads and the Meguiars #67 with good results. Are there smaller pads that people can recommend for a potary buffer or perhaps a different technique?

I need to use an agressive compound and good cutting action to get er' done because those tight areas are numerous on a large yacht. Not enough time and old muscles just make hand polishing out of the question.

Thanks in advance,

Steve

[Tom MacDonald]

Our smallest pad is a 6.5 inch pad. Have you tried doing these areas by hand? If you must use a rotary buffer, use caution and gently work and edge of the pad, along with product into the fiberglass of those areas.

I have seen some very small (3-4 inch pads) but not sure what type of store would carry such a pad.

Good luck,

Tom

[KTruck]

Hi:

The only other option that I can think of would be a polishing tool that is not sold by Meguiar's.

Search the Internet for a tool called a powerball. They have two sizes.

Not sure if it will work in your application.

Hope that helps.

Regards,

KTruck

[Tom MacDonald]

I would not recommend using that particular item. You would be better off doing it by hand. Not because it is not ours, I have used this item and for the type of work you are doing if smaller pads can not be found, you would be better off just doing it by hand. Visit some auto detailer supply websites and see if they have any small pads.

Regards,

Tom

[the other pc]

stephentfreitas,

How much smaller than 3" do you need for "a large yacht"?

What kind of detail are you trying to buff?


PC.

[stephentfreitas]

What really tight space?

Reply to the other PC

The sun eats up gel coat in the smallest spaces. My problems come around decals and fittings or under handles and in tight corners. On a yacht of moderate size these spaces are numerous and I'm meticulous

Trying to do all those areas by hand would be a killer.

[sneek]

isn't the power ball just for doing wheels?

[the other pc]

I guess I'm having trouble visualizing places on a big boat where a 3" pad wouldn't fit.

Some places may be just plain too tight, like in between lettering on an emblem. You'd have to remove it to buff or just live with it.

Decals, if they're in good shape, can be masked but there's a major risk of peeling them off with the tape.

Some hardware can be masked or removed. Some, like stainless steel parts with no sharp edges can be buffed over and around without damage.

I have a 1" hook&loop mandrel that's made for sanding disks. I was planning to cut some 1" plugs out of some pads to see if I could use them on very small details but I haven't tried it yet.

If the problem with hand polishing is the amount of work it takes to remove oxidation before you even get to "polishing" wet sanding is an option. It's not "recommended" because it's way to easy to screw up and do irreparable damage but it can be done. I would only use very fine grades of Meguiar's abrasive sheets or Mirka Abralon pads.


PC.