cleaning up GRP plastic

[domsz4]

So hwats the best way to detail GRP. The westy has a bright red gelcoat grp body and its in a shocking state covered in crap and worse spray dust.

i was wondering if i could clay bar it after a wash and then maybe wax or use a quick detailer thingy on it?

 

[inkey$]

No idea, but a quick search on Detailing World and this link looks like it may have some good crossover with your requirements.

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=27388&highlight=polishing+westfield

 

[domsz4]

super, i always forget about that forum. im not sure i would want to go near it with anything more abrasive than a feather duster. the gelcoat layer is not uniformly thick at all and once you've cracked thought it thats it screwed and it becomes a ball ache to fix back.

but i will give it a clay and then a polish i think. i just didnt know if claying was worth it as a few people have said to me they havnt seen any benefit from doing that.

 

[Russ59]

Wet and dry any rough spots down then use a polisher with G3 compound then finer compound. Just as you would on a painted surface.
GRP is more durable than paint because the gelcoat is thicker.

I have worked with fibreglass all my working life and have buffed many a mould up to a mirror finish.

If you have any star cracks in the gelcoat though its not quite as easy.

 

[domsz4]

Thanks, must have had a proper Friday afternoon job on my nose cone then as he red layer was super thin. I had a go at fixing it after I hit a pheasant and all I did was make a mess.

Where the dn thing cracked it I reinforced the back with new matting and resin and then filled the crack in with new gell coat but every time I tried to same it flat I just broke through the red layer onto the matting underneath