I'm giving up with cleaning/restoration products and getting the roof wrapped next spring.
Pop-top gel coat maintenance
- Thread starter hunta
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- fibreglass pop top
Followed thread closely. Pop top was showing some odd matte patches.
Tried Polytrol, as per others. Worked amazingly it would seem for 12-24hrs.
Still much better than was but matte patches have returned. Not so bothere by aesthetic, but concerned re: long term.
Any wisdom? What could be the issue, will this cause long term degradation? Any solutions found?
Tried Polytrol, as per others. Worked amazingly it would seem for 12-24hrs.
Still much better than was but matte patches have returned. Not so bothere by aesthetic, but concerned re: long term.
Any wisdom? What could be the issue, will this cause long term degradation? Any solutions found?
That looks like it's a body coloured paint finish though?
It looks like its been painted and the clear coat is starting to oxidise. Get to it swiftly and a careful machine polish may well revive that. Could do it yourself if you have the gear, or else a proper car valeter/detailer could do the panel for you. Probably not too expensive.
Once the clear coat starts to fail and peel then you're stuffed, you'd need to get it repainted or possibly rubbed down and wrapped. While the surface is still physically intact there's a chance it can be revived.
Once the clear coat starts to fail and peel then you're stuffed, you'd need to get it repainted or possibly rubbed down and wrapped. While the surface is still physically intact there's a chance it can be revived.
If you attack a small part of that matt area with a bit of T Cut, Farecla G3 or similar and preferably use white cloth to show if the cutting compound fetched off any of the paint pigment indicating single stage paint ie. cellulose or if the cloth stays the colour of the compound then you've got a clear isocyanate coat finish over a colour base coat.
As @Sasquatch says if the clear coat has gone porous then the Matt base coat underneath will discolour/oxidise and all bets are off but if your clear coat is intact you can probably fetch it back to life with the cutting compound and a wax polish. Also, again if the clear coat is intact, you could give it a light flat with 400 wet and dry and get some 2k aerosol clear coat (expensive) and respray the affected area, don't use a single stage clear coat as that's nowhere near as long lasting.
As @Sasquatch says if the clear coat has gone porous then the Matt base coat underneath will discolour/oxidise and all bets are off but if your clear coat is intact you can probably fetch it back to life with the cutting compound and a wax polish. Also, again if the clear coat is intact, you could give it a light flat with 400 wet and dry and get some 2k aerosol clear coat (expensive) and respray the affected area, don't use a single stage clear coat as that's nowhere near as long lasting.
I’ve inquired for a couple of quotes with detailers locally.
I don’t have a machine (orbital type thing) for polishing. So prob best leaving to those who know.
Thanks both
I applied Polytrol to the roof back in Jun. Achieved a matt finish but given the state if the roof before, I was perfectly happy with that.
We are now into Sep and there are no signs of the roof returning to its previous chalky state, so it gets my thumps up.
We are now into Sep and there are no signs of the roof returning to its previous chalky state, so it gets my thumps up.
Guy spent 15mins with machine polisher. Thinks it will sort but ‘may come back’, hypothesis maybe something previously penetrated gel coat.
Asked me to go away for a week with small patch he has polished. See if maintains.
Quoted approx £100-150 for full machine polish.
Quoted approx £600 for respray as would require some careful sanding of damaged areas.
Discuss…
Asked me to go away for a week with small patch he has polished. See if maintains.
Quoted approx £100-150 for full machine polish.
Quoted approx £600 for respray as would require some careful sanding of damaged areas.
Discuss…
If it polishes out OK keep with well waxed or sealed with a good quality ungent. That'll keep the dirt off the actual surface when it won't be able to react with UV light and damage the finish.
Leave it untreated and as sure as eggs is eggs it'll return, the only question being how quickly.
Leave it untreated and as sure as eggs is eggs it'll return, the only question being how quickly.
I’m no expert but I’m presuming after a machine polish - the guy added some kind of protection on top ie sealant/wax?
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