Carver Owners Forum

So for us in the frozen north, soon it will be time to compound/buff/wax hulls etc.
What is everyone using for cutting/compounding pads nowadays......anything out there that has turned out better than the lambs wool pads and the variable speed buffer.I have seen lots of these foam pads that are different colours but never used any of those. Seems the lambs wool pads grab a lot after a short time of use..

Try the chemical guys. They have buffer pads that are almost as good as the 3m pads but half the price. They seem to last about 2/3 or better as long as the 3m, so I believe it works out to be a bit cheaper.
They have videos and descriptions of the different color cutting and buffing pads to explain which ones to use for your application.

I am using a Makita variable speed buffer with lambs wool pads and it works well for me.

The first time I did this I used Meguiars 67 One Step Compound. The results were good but I found that I had to do each area twice to get the results I was after.

Last year I ran out of the 67 and found Meguiar's M49 Marine/RV Heavy Duty Oxidation Remover on Amazon for about $80CDN for 1 gallon. I have found it to be a much better and I did not feel I had to go over the area twice. I has a much more gritty feel to it. I will be using it on my hull this year.

For was I am using the Mequiars flagship wax. I goes on easy and after a long day of compounding..... easy is good......

Cheers
Fraser

I used 3m Prefect-it 1,2, and 3 to clean up all the chalking. Then 3m cleaner wax the last couple years.
This year used only an orbital and maxi-wax.
Came out great.

Only used 3M Restorer Wax and Cleaner Wax, pleased with my results. Found Bass Pro has the same stuff for less $$ than 3M and seems to perform just as well. Just getting into the sponge pads this year. Hopefully they will work better than the wool pad.

I have been using 3m cleaner wax, seems to work ok.....years ago meguiars had a one step that worked great,now that same stuff is not the same somehow........was going to buy some foam pads at the boat show but couldn't find any...I wonder about the buff magic, but then you have to wax.

Tom what colour pads work the best?? Seems the colour has something to do with how the pads work with the compound.........

depends on what you are doing and the manufacturer.
for hex logic, yellow is the coarse cutting pad for heavy oxidized surfaces using aggressive compound. Green for a compound wax combo, Black or red for final wax and polish. For 3m I believe the red is the heavy cutting pad. and yellow the mid range. Please confirm before you purchase.
I also use a Makita varible speed buffer with 6.5" pads.
I usually use 3m compound, then 3m finesse it, then 3m marine wax, but this year I am going to try some products from the chemical guys. A few people at the marina and one of the mobile detail companies gave them strong references. I will let you know what I think.

Here is what I am going to try this year. My hull is in good shape, just needs cleaned a quick polish and wax. Most of my topside areas will need all three steps again this year.

Tom , I have seen that , it will be interesting to hear how it works. So you say you go round the whole boat three times ?....that must take quite a while. If I could have found the pads at the show I was thinking to get around 7-8".....do you think there is any benefit to that or are the 6.5" pads just fine? I have the same buffer.