Sanding hull down to glass

[jordanh]

What are you guys using to sand your hulls down to bare fiberglass? I'm currently using a DA with a 60grit pad and it's taking forever. On top of it my hull was painted by the previous owner so I have 5 hrs of sanding in and I've only got through the top coat down to the original blue. I'm sure I am just being impatient but if I'm going to get it to bare fiberglass I have to be looking at another 10+ hrs. I haven't even touched the bottom deck yet... Can a guy get a flat sanding disc for a side grinder?

 

[IS0LD0UT]

The tiger is dead

 

[jordanh]

Sorry, yes, fitz tiger has been put to rest

I was going to ride it as is... But the foam was wet and poop escalated in a hurry with my saw

 

[IS0LD0UT]

Your using the multi tool to sand? I think 60 grit will be too abrasive. 180 on a random orbit sander might be better.

 

[jordanh]

No I'm using a da sander. I'm trying to get it down to bare fiberglass to do the glass work.

 

[Yami-Rider]

With paint, you could use paint stripper. For the gel-coat use a air powered da, I can get down to fiberglass in no time with mine. I have a 3" and a 7" da. 24-80 grit is what I normally use

 

[Quinc]

Die grinder. Just be careful.

 

[yamanube]

The tiger is dead

FINALLY!!! You even cut down those terrible gunwales, nice work.

These work awesome on a grinder.

 

[Vumad]

If your da is taking forever to cut down the gelcoat with 60, then there is probably something wrong with your equipment or your patience. You can get through the material faster with a grinder and flap discs but you will get into the glass too quickly. Taking your time with a da and 80 is going to lead to less need for repair.

 

[jordanh]

I tried a flap disc for a small area. I knew right away that was going back to lead to more work in the end. I know it's a combination of my equipment and patience. I was just checking if there was a better way. I'm going to try a die grinder and see how that goes. I'll have much more control with that than a flap disc.

 

[OCD Solutions]

I did a hull the same way a few years ago. It had 3 layers of paint so I wanted to get it back down to bare fiberglass and start fresh. It took days with a DA sander but it was the safest way to do it. Bang the dust out the sand paper regularly and use a good quality paper meant for hard surfaces.

BTW, that was several years, a different country and three garages ago and I am still finding tools with yellow paint dust on them. That was my first and last hull build where I started with an old hull. That experience led me to the conclusion that a new hull was definitely the way to go for future builds.

 

[jordanh]

I can't stand dust. That's why I built that plastic enclosure you can see in the pics. It's worked well so far

 

[Vumad]

Id only use s die grinder to prep the tray for turf. Even a high grit paper will do heavy damage in a short time.

On the topic of dust, be sure to use a respirator, not a dust mask.

 

[OCD Solutions]

I can't stand dust. That's why I built that plastic enclosure you can see in the pics. It's worked well so far

I built a dust enclosure in the center of my shop and had a shop vac pulling off the back of the sander and it still got everywhere. I suspect the filter media wasn't small enough and the shop vac did more to spread the dust than contain it.

 

[Mike W]

Don't use an angle grinder. You might remove a lot of material fast but one false move and you will dig too deep and cause more damage you will have to fix. Use 150-220 grit on a da sander. I found that wet sanding goes a little faster and keeps your disk from build up.

 

[jordanh]

Thanks for the replys guys. I'll just stick with the 60 grit and DA for now and keep pressing on. I don't know how you guys are getting down to fiberglass in any reasonable time with 150-220 grit. Unless the discs in using suck but they seem to be holding up great so..

I will need to pick up a respirator. As of right now
I've been using those cheaper 3m dust masks that have the little built in filter that's not replaceable.

 

[jordanh]

If you guys look at the pictures I posted....To get from the first picture to the second picture it took me 3 hours. That's only the right side of the top deck down to the original blue gel not including the hood... So I still have another 3 hours on the other side, plus going back and getting through the gel coat on both sides. Then I still have the bottom deck... Dang

 

[OCD Solutions]

I was looking back at my build pics and believe that I gave up after 2 layers.

 

[Vumad]

Thanks for the replys guys. I'll just stick with the 60 grit and DA for now and keep pressing on. I don't know how you guys are getting down to fiberglass in any reasonable time with 150-220 grit. Unless the discs in using suck but they seem to be holding up great so..

I will need to pick up a respirator. As of right now
I've been using those cheaper 3m dust masks that have the little built in filter that's not replaceable.

Good. The masks you have been using are inadequate for the job you are doing.

 

[ajmps1]

Hahaha this is the fast part, wait till you have to cut out all your 60grit marks and so on to get to a point that won't show through paint...