The fiberglass exterior is sorta' faded and a bit chalky all over. Is there a technique or tool or compound that will help restore the gloss? An electric buffer, maybe? Rubbing compound?
John
An electric buffer is certainly a necessity to make the job easier and less time consuming.
Automotive compound is good to remove the oxidation, but there are numerous fiberglass polishing products which both remove the oxidation and polish/coat the surface with a protective layer.
I will be the very first to admit i detest buffers and everything they stand for. So cheap is the word...and they do last for yrs. Another rule...foam pads, for some that is dirty word....they work fine and cut quite well...easy to clean with a water hose on the fly and cheap...Wool pads cut heavy very heavy be warned.
https://www.harborfreight.com/automotive/auto-body-trim/polishers-buffers/corded-7-in-10-amp-variable-speed-polisher-62861.html
https://www.harborfreight.com/7-in-polishingsanding-set-5-pk-69589.html
Just the one foam pad in that kit, it will finish the job for one RV....if you stay away from the sharp metal trim that is. Sharp metal fragments foam pads.
As an ex employee of a sailing boat broker I've polished a lot of boats.
With me the damage must always be deep before I started polishing.
As I hear your complaints I would advise you to go to a Marine store and get a good boat cleaner and then use a heavy duty wax. As bigger (Sailing) boats made of fiberglass mostly live in salt water I yielded remarkable results with non aggressive products:
As I live in the netherlands I used a Dutch product from "Gele merk" I doubt if it's available in the USA but no doubt there are simulair products out there.
https://www.watersportaanbieding.nl/reinigings-producten/1197-gele-merk-shampoo-GR001006.html
https://www.watersportaanbieding.nl/reinigings-producten/1197-gele-merk-shampoo-GR001006.html
Car wash/polish/wax is NOT the same as these product especially made for fiberglass boats nor the lacquer used on cars or on fiberglass.
The Results:
Ahh yes boats, that is where my contempt for buffing comes from. I spent many yrs tinkering modifying boats, keeping them shiny and clean is a rather boring part of boating and or expensive. Marine hull cleaners are quite impressive if one gets the right kind, if you look at any good hull cleaner active ingredients you will find Oxclyiac Acid. That is a secret ingredient...the stuff is truly incredible. It has the abilty to chemically melt away oxidation be it fiberglass or metal. The amazing part is it does not affect the base material...say from Gelcoat to iron and on to aluminum.
It can be hard to get in its raw form but one can find it if you look around....Woodbleach is a highly concentrated product that can be had readily at the local hardware store. Always investigate as to how to use it...there are many applications it can be used in making no mistake..and some precautions as usual...Below to the topic at hand...I like this example for many reasons...most of all just how simple and effective it is. The sad part of the video would be...had he only sprayed the trailer. All the rust would have been removed as well and leaving the paint clean and undisturbed...
https://youtu.be/IER1gzjLizM
Carbs: https://www.google.com/search?q=oxalic+acid+carburetors&rlz=1C1RXQR_enUS969US969&ei=AhyxYenMOaO90PEP8a2e0Ac&oq=oxalic+acid+carberators&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAEYADIHCCEQChCgAToHCAAQRxCwAzoFCAAQgAQ6BggAEBYQHjoFCCEQoAFKBAhBGABKBAhGGABQ2ApYwR9gtSloAXACeACAAYcBiAG0BpIBAzQuNJgBAKABAcgBCMABAQ&sclient=gws-wiz
Paint restoration: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=431463
Radiators: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/radiator-flush-cemicals-question.16278/
Yep,
This was the first and directly last motorboat I've polished :D
Sailing boats are pretty straight forward as are most of our rigs, but this one..... W%
as for your information, there's nothing I can say against it :)ThmbUp It was more that I think that it's not wise to use car polish on fiberglass bodies.
Using the search feature is a great tool. This is a common question. Just one topic about it among others:
https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/index.php?topic=4857.0
Using auto polish on Fiberglass body is not recommended for long term use
You're actually polishing the gel coat layer, which has different properties than automotive paint. There's polish available specifically for gel coat, both through RV and Marine suppliers.