shiny like a new dime

[Carl V]

Originally Posted by Borrego Dave

As posted use the Zep stripper. When you do go to strip it, use it full strength. I use a quart spray bottle and a blue double sided kitchen sponge with the rough side down. From the top down, in 3 or 4' sections. Spray it on and wait 10/15 seconds, sponge and rinse. Takes 2 hrs to strip my SD17 with a beer break. BTW, it's never hurt the factory decals either. The rewax, 5 coats, is about 2 hrs also. Be sure to use a white micro fiber cloth for wax. Using a colored one has left some members with a slight color tinge of the cloth.

Great info.
I've read pretty much everything I could find on the application of Zep and surface preparation, but very little on removal. Some saying it's a pain to remove, even using the stripper, some saying it isn't much harder than the application itself.

Our renos are almost done, we will give the Zep a try for sure. Looks so nice!

[GMike A]

I bought mine in Lowes. Did the same cleaned it and about 6 coats later it was awesome. 6 months later minus the dirty rain drops it still shines.

[Mike Magee]

Originally Posted by Borrego Dave

As posted use the Zep stripper. When you do go to strip it, use it full strength. I use a quart spray bottle and a blue double sided kitchen sponge with the rough side down. From the top down, in 3 or 4' sections. Spray it on and wait 10/15 seconds, sponge and rinse. Takes 2 hrs to strip my SD17 with a beer break. BTW, it's never hurt the factory decals either. The rewax, 5 coats, is about 2 hrs also. Be sure to use a white micro fiber cloth for wax. Using a colored one has left some members with a slight color tinge of the cloth.

Any job that only takes one beer can't be too hard!

[Borrego Dave]

Originally Posted by Mike Magee

Any job that only takes one beer can't be too hard!

It really is an easy job and I only said a break.....I didn't mention numbers .

[StephLeach]

At what point is the gel coat too far gone to do this? Mine is so thin in places you can see where little chips have come out and you can see the blue/green of fiberglass. I was pretty much resigned to doing a paint job in the fall. We also have some fiberglass repair to do so painting was going to happen anyway buuuttttt....if I can put it off.... Thoughts?


I can post a pic tomorrow if needed for evaluation. It's dark right now.

[Mike Magee]

Exposed fiberglass (minus gel coat) is susceptible to UV degradation. I do not think that a wax will provide protection from UV. Those chipped spots need to be touched up, at least.

[StephLeach]

Thanks Mike. I probably just need to face the music.

Here's a picture. AA battery for scale...because it was around.

[Kai in Seattle]

Very good chip picture, battery and fingers give perfect sense of actual size of chips.


At some point you may want to paint; be sure to fill / fair in the chips / holes beforehand. LOTS of good painting threads on FGRV. Read as many as you can. Watch some YouTube vids, too, if you like.


It's a big job but it's not impossible.


BEST
Kai

[StephLeach]

Thanks Kai!