clear coat problems/questions

[jtellor]

Alright guys...first off im defiantly a noob when it comes to using a buffer and restoring paint. I have an 82 enchanter that has been clearcoated on the top. The clear is actually starting to peel on the edges but figured i'd try to buff the top out to get it decent looking. Long story short..didnt turn out so well. Any tips would be great.



This is after i wet sanded with 1500 followed by 2000 then followed up with some presta ultimate cutting cream with a heavy cut wool pad. If you look closely you can see a small spot where the clear is peeling on the deck and it shined up like new using this process. Is the presta where i went wrong?? does it just need a polish now?

This is what it looked like...crappy cell phone pic but you get the picture. I had a cover on it outdoors (now its under a lean-to ) and the cover ripped so water was trapped underneath and caused these water spots.


Next question is....what can i do about the clear coat peeling? Does it have to be sanded and re cleared?? Its crazy how nice the parts that have no clear shine up...They shine way more than any parts that have clear. Is there a way to strip the clear then buff the gel back out??

On a side note that presta shines original gel coat up nice. Here it is on my 79 predictor i just bought friday. I bought it for $500 and was told the gel was shot. It shined up pretty nice but i will probably go over it again. Here it is with half of the deck done.

 

[Rob B]

I would guess you need to have the top re cleared. First I would try going to 800 grit then 1200, 1500 and 2000 on a small area then buff. Also remove the handrails much easier to buff without them on. How does the boat look elsewhere, gunnells/hull?

 

[jtellor]

I would guess you need to have the top re cleared. First I would try going to 800 grit then 1200, 1500 and 2000 on a small area then buff. Also remove the handrails much easier to buff without them on. How does the boat look elsewhere, gunnells/hull?

It actually looks great elsewhere...they were so lazy when they cleared it that they didint even clear the splashwell or take the windshield off to do the dash. I really wish i could remove the clear and then buff. Because i tested on the nose of it (where the clear had already been peeled off) and the finished buffed out like new. Also do you think that presta was to course for the clear? should i switch to something a little finer with a foam pad?

 

[Rob B]

It actually looks great elsewhere...they were so lazy when they cleared it that they didint even clear the splashwell or take the windshield off to do the dash. I really wish i could remove the clear and then buff. Because i tested on the nose of it (where the clear had already been peeled off) and the finished buffed out like new. Also do you think that presta was to course for the clear? should i switch to something a little finer with a foam pad?

Do you have metalflake under the clear coat? Presta is good stuff, so I don't think that's problem. Try using a 800 grit on a small section and see if you can remove the clear.

 

[jtellor]

Do you have metalflake under the clear coat? Presta is good stuff, so I don't think that's problem. Try using a 800 grit on a small section and see if you can remove the clear.

The clear seems really thin...so maybe that might work?? ... But how am i going to know when im through the clear and not going to far with the gel?? Just still kind of confused why this stuff worked so great on the gel but ended up so cloudy on the clearcoat..

 

[Rob B]

The clear seems really thin...so maybe that might work?? ... But how am i going to know when im through the clear and not going to far with the gel?? Just still kind of confused why this stuff worked so great on the gel but ended up so cloudy on the clearcoat..

When clear coat starts peeling it leaves a edge/feathered as you sand, just watch the edge move a you sand. In the first picture next to the black bottle and handrail the small spot with no clear that's what you're looking for. From looks of the CC it wasn't properly prep before being sprayed.

 

[jtellor]

well went and bought some presta chroma polish today and polished the enchanter out with one of their green foam pads. It came out 10x better than it was. I honestly think that the water spot that is there now...is under the clear. It sat for a few months before i realized the cover was ripped... Could the water penetrate the clear like that? It sure looks like it to me. Also like i said the clear is lifting in several spots already and you can see tiny bubbles under the clear everywhere.

Cmpulse170... I tried sanding in a tiny spot next to where the clear is peeling and soon realized it would take FOREVER by hand with 800 to sand all the clear of from the entire deck. This might be a job for the DA when im ready. I was just going to try to make it decent for this season and overhaul it maybe next winter.

Here you can kind of see the bubbles underneath

If you look at it dead on it looks like glass


Soo...i think im just going to buff out the rest of the deck and worry about it after boating season.


One last thing cmpulse170...would I benefit from putting any meguires #7 glaze on this thing? And if it will ...what type of pad do you use? I already have a presta green polishing pad for the chroma polish. Can you use the same pad with 2 different polishes? Sorry for all the questions ... but im slowly getting the hang of this buffing thing.

 

[Rob B]

The deck is looking good!!! I was going to suggest a DA to remove the clear off but wasn't sure how comfortable you were with one. Did the 800 grit remove the clear coat? I used a white foam pad for Meguires no.7, you probably could use the green pad and I don't think it will hurt to buff with no.7. If you could remove the clear coat without damaging the gel coat that would be the way to go.

 

[jtellor]

The deck is looking good!!! I was going to suggest a DA to remove the clear off but wasn't sure how comfortable you were with one. Did the 800 grit remove the clear coat? I used a white foam pad for Meguires no.7, you probably could use the green pad and I don't think it will hurt to buff with no.7. If you could remove the clear coat without damaging the gel coat that would be the way to go.

Thanks...im going to do the other side ..clean it up and probably go over it again with this chroma polish. Then I will probably go over it with the #7. I definitely have learned there are alot of differences between clear coat and gel coat. That cutting cream was really harsh on the clear but could almost be used as a final stage on the gel. It is far from perfect but is better looking than it was. I was able to feather back the clear a little by hand...but like i said it would take forever by hand. I will give it a shot with the DA after the summer is over. I'll post somemore pics up when i get her looking a little nicer.
On a side note....what kind of wax to you prefer? I use almost all meguires products on my autos...but im learning quickly that what is good for one...may not be for the other. I think i read in your other thread that you used a meguires flagship wax. How did you like that? Also i hear alot of guys using that collinite wax..any thoughts there? Thanks for all the help

 

[Rob B]

Thanks...im going to do the other side ..clean it up and probably go over it again with this chroma polish. Then I will probably go over it with the #7. I definitely have learned there are alot of differences between clear coat and gel coat. That cutting cream was really harsh on the clear but could almost be used as a final stage on the gel. It is far from perfect but is better looking than it was. I was able to feather back the clear a little by hand...but like i said it would take forever by hand. I will give it a shot with the DA after the summer is over. I'll post somemore pics up when i get her looking a little nicer.
On a side note....what kind of wax to you prefer? I use almost all meguires products on my autos...but im learning quickly that what is good for one...may not be for the other. I think i read in your other thread that you used a meguires flagship wax. How did you like that? Also i hear alot of guys using that collinite wax..any thoughts there? Thanks for all the help

I use both the meguires flagship and the collinite, don't really have a favorite I like both. Also Mother's finest.

 

[Don's89 Senator]

I ran into the same problem. Some Yahoo did the same to my boat. So I brought to a body shop and had them look at it. He said, well DA it but it will take time. He told me to back it close to the door. Tried sanding. Then came out with a high preasure air nozzle and started blowing the clear off in flakes.Then came back with a razor blade on a handle and just peeled the crap off. In 5 mins.he had clear off in a 2' section. I went home and finished the flat parts in a hour and a half. Sanded corners and stuff . I wet sanded and buffed. Still working on it. Might have to wet sand again. But that's later. I have to get this thing in the water. I'll work on the side edges over the summer. That's how I did it. Just a thought.

 

[jtellor]

I ran into the same problem. Some Yahoo did the same to my boat. So I brought to a body shop and had them look at it. He said, well DA it but it will take time. He told me to back it close to the door. Tried sanding. Then came out with a high preasure air nozzle and started blowing the clear off in flakes.Then came back with a razor blade on a handle and just peeled the crap off. In 5 mins.he had clear off in a 2' section. I went home and finished the flat parts in a hour and a half. Sanded corners and stuff . I wet sanded and buffed. Still working on it. Might have to wet sand again. But that's later. I have to get this thing in the water. I'll work on the side edges over the summer. That's how I did it. Just a thought.

hmm..thats not too bad of an idea. It doesnt appear that it adhered that well as i had a bunch blow off on the corners and nose when i power washed it. So a razor blade just might work. On a side note it makes you wonder why they even clear coated in the first place. On my boat at least they didnt clear the dash...or the splashwell and both were able to be buffed out like new. Who knows...

 

[saxmanbrad]

Thanks so much for this thread! I have an 83 Enchanter that has a crappy, peeling clear on top on the nice sparkly blue. I had no idea how to get rid of the clear and start from scratch...thanks!

 

[Don's89 Senator]

The reason someone clears gel coat is to hide the fad. It's a quick fix for a quick sale. Just watch the level u have your blade. You just want to skim the clear off. I wet sanded after but also found in spots rubbing compound did a great job. Just remember you must polish all summer to keep it pretty. I need to buy a full cover.

Don

 

[jtellor]

The reason someone clears gel coat is to hide the fad. It's a quick fix for a quick sale. Just watch the level u have your blade. You just want to skim the clear off. I wet sanded after but also found in spots rubbing compound did a great job. Just remember you must polish all summer to keep it pretty. I need to buy a full cover.

Don

This is true...and probably the reason that mine was cleared. I was told by the PO that he had bought it right after it had been cleared. Which is probably why it looks so nice under the clear...as it probably wasn't prepped at all. Was the razor blade scraper thing homemade or something that they actually sell??

 

[Don's89 Senator]

This is true...and probably the reason that mine was cleared. I was told by the PO that he had bought it right after it had been cleared. Which is probably why it looks so nice under the clear...as it probably wasn't prepped at all. Was the razor blade scraper thing homemade or something that they actually sell??

The one I used was one I scrape inspection stickers off windshields.The blade folds in to itself and locks in 3 positions on the outside.

 

[jtellor]

The one I used was one I scrape inspection stickers off windshields.The blade folds in to itself and locks in 3 positions on the outside.

I was going to ask if that would work. I have a couple of those kicking around the garage.