Strip the Wax Off?

brewster16

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2009
1,442
Long Beach Island, N.J.
Boat Info
'07 44 Sundancer
Engines
Twin Cummins QSC 8.3
First time attempting to do gel goat restoration on my 23' center console. Is it accurate that wax needs to be stripped off prior to use of rotary compounding? If so, best method to remove wax is Dawn dishwashing soap in hot water? I tried compounding a small area without doing any stripping, just a wash with my usual Orpine and the area (multiple passes) is kind of shmeared and kind of greasy although free of oxidation. Any guidance?
 
Last edited:
Ideally you would use a concentrated IPA to clean off wax, but dawn in hot water will suffice.
What product and pad are you buffing with? Generally you run your machine until there is little to no trace of compound left, then wipe it clean.
 
My life was changed 2 years ago when I was introduced to vinegar. It'll take off water spots, wax, stains, nearly everything. Everything except the hardcore scum line that needs some stronger acid.

I mix this stuff below pretty hot and it's been amazing. And cheap. Get a couple good spray bottles, spray on, wipe, spray water, wipe, be done. Welcome to the revolution :)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VVMTM14/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
Very interested in this also. Do you recommend stripping the wax off each season before compounding and waxing? Our hull had heavy oxidation when we bought her last year but I compounded and waxed and she looked great to start the season. Now at the end its coming back a little but not nearly as bad. Wondering what my approach should be for year two. Thanks!
 
Don't know why you think you have to strip the old wax off. If your hull is badly oxidized it might need wet sanded then compounded then waxed. After a season in the sun the wax is almost used up.
 
Very interested in this also. Do you recommend stripping the wax off each season before compounding and waxing? Our hull had heavy oxidation when we bought her last year but I compounded and waxed and she looked great to start the season. Now at the end its coming back a little but not nearly as bad. Wondering what my approach should be for year two. Thanks!
Not needed really. You should lightly compound the entire boat for year 2, and go at those returning spots with aggressive compound again this year.
 
Thanks guys! One less step for today!
 
If you only use Carnauba wax once a season there is a good chance that there isn’t much, if any, wax remaining on the surface.
You could wipe the hull down with a light spray of alcohol before compounding or polishing if you want, but the compound and rotary machine will remove whatever remnants might be there from last year anyway.
 
Just wanted to give a follow up report for those interested....there is definitely a learning curve to this process. I found:

1. Yes, a wash down of Dawn dishwashing detergent in a bucket of warm water took off the slickness/ waxy surface on my colored hull allowing oxidation cutter and then polish to do a better job.
3. Using a little bit of moisture in a microfiber cloth lifted off the cutter/polish residue really much better than a simple dry microfiber cloth, leaving a gleaming clean surface.
3. Multiple passes of cutter and/or polish with the machine may be required to eliminate all oxidation and haze.
4. Focusing on a small 2x2 area at a time rather than a huge area provided a much better overall result.
 
Last edited:
I think how to remove a wax/polish residue depends largely on what it is your are trying to remove and whetthere or not you waxed over oxidized gelcoat previously. It is just a waste of time to wax over an oxidized area.

The universal stripper here on the Gulf Coast is ammonia. I haven't seen anything it won't cut except perhaps a few of the newer polymer finishes, and then it just takes a couple of ammonia washes.
 
Yes, agree about waxing over oxidation. But in my case using Orpine wash throughout the season most certainly creates a wax overlay by nature of that superior boat wash product. And I believe that was what was confounding my initial cutter application. My opinion...Strip the surface then begin the polishing. Something to consider for those considering this project.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,950
Messages
1,422,862
Members
60,932
Latest member
juliediane
Back
Top