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HOW TO ~ Wet Sanding And Buffing A Painted Surface To Remove Blemishes On Your Boat
14 September 2025 · 28 min · 8K views · Michigan
What this video covers
Removing surface defects like dust, pollen, or bug strikes from a painted boat requires wet sanding followed by machine compounding.1:35 For buffable paints such as Alexseal 501 or Awlcraft 2000, begin by wet sanding the affected area with a sanding block, starting at 1,200 grit to remove the majority of defects, then progressing through 1,500 and 2,000 grit.3:35 Use a variable-speed rotary buffer, as random-orbit or jitterbug sanders lack the friction and heat necessary to polish paint.8:41 When compounding, match the pad and compound to the paint hardness; Awlcraft 2000 requires a foam compounding pad and 3M Finesse-It white-cap compound, while the harder Alexseal film demands more aggressive materials.7:00 Maintain a buffer speed of approximately 1,000 to 1,300 RPM, applying light pressure to avoid burning through the thin paint film.17:28 Apply small dollops of compound to the perimeter of the pad, starting at a 45-degree angle before flattening the pad to finish.19:03 Proper heat management prevents burning the finish, which would necessitate further repair.16:48
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