  Gel Coat Compounding Pads
These are the pads
used at the factory!
These compounding pads
are designed specifically to restore gloss to dull, chalky gel coat surfaces.
This gel coat wool pad is the result of over 20 years of in-the-field research
and development. This is the actual, oem pad used by major aircraft, marine
and RV manufacturers in the U.S. and Europe.
This gel coat wool pad features a proprietary type of wool, a
proprietary type of twist and a propriety, thermal-formed backing. It has been designed for minimum linting and uniformity of cut over prolonged usage.
More importantly, it restores an absolutely brilliant finish on dull, chalky
gel coats when used with a circular machine polisher and Gel
Coat Heavy Cut Compound and
Gel Coat Fine Cut Polish.
We offer a foam and a wool
gel coat compounding and polishing pad:
Our
experience has shown us that wool pads do not work for gel coat compounding and
polishing with dual-action polishers like the Porter Cable 7424. Because the
pads do not rotate on dual action polishers (they jiggle in a random action),
these machines do not create enough motion to break down the polishing agents in
gel coat compounds and polishes. The best pad we have found for compounding and
polishing the standard and painted gel coats on boats and RV's is the CCS
technology, Cool Foam, Constant Pressure Gel Coat Orange Power Pad.
For dual-action polishers (Porter Cable 7424):
Use this 7-1/2 inch, CCS technology, Cool Foam,
Constant Pressure Gel Coat Orange Power Pad. This pad requires your polisher be equipped with 6
inch VelcroŽ Backing Plate. This plate is not included with the foam pad
and may or may not have come with your polisher (see below).
Dual-action polishers
are excellent for maintaining newer gel
coats with minor dullness and chalking but can not restore excessively dull, oxidized gel coats. Restoring
neglected or severely dull gel coats is best accomplished with a wool pad
on a professional
circular polisher.
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For Professional Circular Polishers:
Light to moderate chalk
can typically be removed and gloss restored by polishing only with a Gel
Coat Polish like Gel
Coat Fine Cut Polish
using our Avenger Wool Pad or Orange Gel Coat Power Pad
Neglected or excessively
dull gel coats should be compounded first with a Gel Coat Compound like Heavy
Cut Compound using our Aggressor Wool Pad on a circular
machine polisher. This first step cleans the gel coat and removes the
majority of chalk but does not restore surface gloss. After compounding,
you must polish the gel coat with a polish like Fine
Cut Polish using a wool pad on a circular
machine polisher. Polishing restores the gel coat to a like-new, glassy
finish but offers no protection.
After polishing you need to protect the gel coat with a
sealant such as One-step,
Gel Coat, Micro-polish & Sealant.
NOTE:
The Aggressor Wool Pad and the Avenger Wool Pad are called 7-1/2 inch pads within the industry but the
actual overall size is 8-1/2 inches. All three of these pads require your
machine polisher be fitted with a 6 to 7 inch backing plate. The back of
the pad is designed for a 7 inch backing plate. If using a 6 inch or 6-1/2
inch pad, take care to center the pad on the backing plate.
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| The Aggressor
Wool Pad is our heaviest-cut, gel coat compounding pad. This pad requires your
circular polisher be equipped with a 6 to
7
inch Velcro Backing Plate.
The Aggressor is an
7-1/2 inch pad with a 1-1/2 inch pile of nylon and 100%, twisted, 4-ply
sheepswool. This pad is highly recommended for use with Bow to Stern
Heavy Cut Compound. Use only on a circular machine polisher.
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| The Avenger
Wool Pad is a fine-cut, gel coat polishing pad. This pad requires your polisher be equipped with a
6 to
7
inch Velcro Backing Plate.
The Avenger is an 7-1/2
inch pad with a 1-1/2 inch pile of 100% twisted, 4-ply wool yarn.
This pad is highly recommended for use with Bow to Stern Fine Cut Polish.
Use only on a circular machine polisher.
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Note:
Wool pads become caked with residues especially during compounding.
Wool pads can be fluffed using a stainless steel brush to remove residues
but at some point the pad will become so dirty that it must be replaced
with a fresh pad. Compounding a 28ft boat or RV usually requires two wool
pads. Polishing after compounding produces much less chalk and typically
requires only one pad.
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| To fluff a
wool pad on a circular polisher, place the
machine on the floor (or ground) with the pad facing up. Set the speed
control to the lowest speed setting. Hold the machine down with your
foot.
Use
one hand to turn the machine on and your other hand to hold this stainless
steel brush against the pad's surface. It only takes a few seconds for the
wool pad to fluff up so you can continue polishing. |
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Pad
Care:
Spray dirty foam and wool pads with Bow to Stern All Marine Cleaner
and place in a bucket of water with a pad cleaner such as Snappy
Clean.
Let pads soak for 5 to 15 minutes. Fluff up pad with your fingers then
hand squeeze out excess water. Spin dry by putting pad back on machine,
hold machine upright, away from your body, set the machine to the highest
speed setting and turn the machine on. When water has spun out, remove pad
and allow to air dry, preferably in the sun. Do not polish gel coats with a damp or wet pad.
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Allow pad to soak for
5-15 minutes, fluff
pad using your fingers, and rinse. |
Spin out excess water
at a high speed. |
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