Polishing with RO125

[Kent Builders]

I need to do some compounding and polishing on my boat this spring. I was looking at buffers and realized I might already own something that will work. Can someone offer me some guidance on polishing sponge types and felts? Also, what size sponges? I’m assuming the RO150 and RO125 both use the 150 size sponges? I will probably not be using the festool polishing compounds.
Thanks,
Nick.

 

[Kent Builders]

Or maybe the RO 125 is kind of useless for polishing as the sponges and sheepskin aren’t the right size?

 

[Cheese]

[welcome] to the FOG Nick... [smile]

I've polished out several cars with a RO 125, you just need a green polishing pad and 125 size sponges. Unfortunately I just noticed that Festool no longer offers 125 size sponges.  [sad]

But that's ok, for a boat with large flat areas, I'd definitely use the RO 150 instead.

It really depends upon the condition of the gel coat. I'd probably start with a blue or white sponge. The black sponge is a non-abrasive finishing product for applying sealants.

[attachimg=1]

 

[Kent Builders]

Well, I don’t own the ro150 and not buying it just to do boat. Wonder why they don’t offer them anymore.

 

[Cheese]

If you're going to use the RO 125, you need the Festool pad 492128 and here are some good quality 5" foam pads from Lake Country.

https://www.autogeek.net/lakecountr...ms_per_page=24&sort_method=_score/desc&page=1

Here's some tips on prepping your boat.
https://www.autogeek.net/geek-cente...cks/prep-your-boat-for-spring-with-marine-31/
https://www.autogeek.net/prep-your-boat-for-fall.html/

 

[leakyroof]

Once upon a time there was a Woman who polished her Family's boat with her RO 150, with lots of pictures and a video at the now defunct talkFestool site.  I forget the size of their boat, I think it was in the lower 30 foot range, but it's been a few years... [embarassed] [embarassed]
The RO 125 will still get the job done, just takes longer due to the smaller pad size of the RO 125.

 

[guybo]

Once upon a time there was a Woman

hasslefactor/laurie member of the fog also.https://web.archive.org/web/20160928171127/http://www.talkfestool.com/vb/

 

[GoingMyWay]

Here's hasslefactor's video:

 

[smorgasbord]

I don't have a boat and don't plan on getting one, but I'm curious if the ceramic coatings that have become so popular for cars have found their way into the boat world as well.

I ask because some of the best clear wood coatings for house/outdoor have come from the boat world (eg Smith & Co), so maybe thing are going the other direction here? Just curious.

 

[leakyroof]

Once upon a time there was a Woman

hasslefactor/laurie member of the fog also.https://web.archive.org/web/20160928171127/http://www.talkfestool.com/vb/

Ah, yes, that takes me back... [smile] [smile]