DA Sander

You need a pretty big compressor to push a DA for very long. I've got a 30 gallon, 6 HP and it craps out pretty quickly under the load of a DA.

I would stop by a local Auto Body shop and see where they get their disks. It's been years since I've bought any, but my Dad used buy them all the time, and I'm pretty sure we had some very fine grits.

Edit. One other thing. Most of the hook and loops have holes in the pads. The stick ons tend to be an uninterupted surface.

BKH

I believe these are the specs for the compressor I have:
33 gal
130 max scfm
14.2 scfm @ 40psi
9.9 scfm @ 90 psi
It is a 6.5hp, 33gal twin cyl, 240V

I need to verify the above, but if the spec on the sander is ~ 4cfm, wouldn't that be adequate? Or am I going to be a victim of misleading label statements?

Just for the heck of it, I wet sanded three small areas on the SN yesterday. And WOW! I did it with a crappy little orbital electric. I am not really into the idea of wetsanding the whole thing with an electric sander. I have a lot of checking on the deck, and some waterline cracks and such, but it would make the boat somewhat presentable and let me put off the entire re do on the hull for a year or two. I have more time than money. I am not yet comfortable with the idea of doing the gel myself. That may change, but if you asked me today, the answer is no way!!
I used 100 and 220 dry, then 400/600/1000/1500 wet, buffed, waxed. I was amazed what the areas looked like in comparison. While I know this is how it works, I have never had to do it before. I did the "E" on the port side, about 18 inches of the port gunnel near the transom, and about a square foot of the bow deck.

So wait, you guys wetsand with actual sanders? Pardon my ignorance but I thought you had to do everything by hand?

I'm going to try and do the whole boat on the Ski Tique this spring since its got some yellowing on the hull and some funky accents someone added years ago.

If you sand or buff those stickers, they'll only get 'cleaner'! I just use a wet rag, but mine are shot out too. I'm going to have them made sometime this year...time allowing.

Chris,
Yes, I actually wet sand with a electric RO. Spray bottle in one hand and sander in the other.

Mike,
The specs on your compressor are telling me you have a true 6.5 HP. Even though you didn't give me the amps, the 230 is saying you're not just plugging it in to a 15 amp outlet. You should be fine running the DA but, tell me how much your next months electric bill goes up!!

EDIT:
Mike,
Get the amps off the motors nameplate when you get a chance. There's really no such thing as a 6.5 HP. 5 yes but some manufacturers in the HP race will push their compressors to the max. They do this by using the S.F. (service factor) of the motor. There should be a S.F. on the nameplate to. It will be anywhere from 1 to 1.25

TRBenj wrote: Chris, FWIW, I always wetsand by hand. I may try an electric on our junk Skier since the entire thing (hull and deck) needs serious attention... the paint will be coming off before long.

Im with you on this one Tim.

I have always wet sanded (cars and boats) by hand in a cross-hatch, X pattern. I think its the best way to fair something.   I have rubber sanding blocks 5" and 8" long. Sometimes,I even use a paint stir stick cut to about 4" or 5" long, wrapped with the sandpaper. Use your fingertips on each end of the stick to let it flex with the curvature of the hull.   Slower, but Easier to get the "feel" for what is cutting.

From what I have read when you use a DA like the Huttchens it doubles you sanding grit size ie 1000 becomes 2000. I DA'd my stern last year before GL,it turned out awesome. Here is one place Mike that has disc's Tip Tools
I never ordered these from them yet,but use them for sand cabinet supplies. If you find discs cheap with no glue,or cut your own, 3m makes a glue for that, #08051

For the purpose of simply cleaning up the Nautique and making it passable, I will be using a pneumatic sander. Obviously, I will have to hand sand the curves and corners. I will post a photo of what 20 minutes got me later.
Pete, I will try and look at the compressor motor tonight for the SF.

I did this in about 20 minutes with an orbital. 100/220 dry 400/600/1000/1500 wet. Meguiars 49, then wax.
I was just messing around seeing what it would look like. I did a couple other spots, too. Totalling a little over an hour.

Mike, looks great! I'd imagine your hands got pretty cold wetsanding out in the elements!

Mike, why you had to do so many steps. I thought wet sanding was only a few steps. Do think the 1500 was fine enough? I have a DA from HF and I cannot run it constantly. Not enough CFM from my little 20gal compressor. Looks great. I am getting motivated to mine this spring.

WakeSlayer wrote: if I can spend 50-60 hours sanding it and delay that expense for a season or two, I am going to do it.

I think the checks and cracks on the old boats give them character!

I'm sure you saw Roger's at GL?

I already did that with just a couple little spots. I can't wait to see it done.

Hey Mike,

I'm in cahoots with a couple of 3M guys here at work as they have a rep on site. I can talk em up for some info and prob even some samples. I'm also in pretty good with the supplier who supplies DAL all there sanding stuff. I might be able to pull a few strings for you. Give me a call if I can help.

I used to buy 3M stik-it film from 400-2000. Now, I've been converted to the interface/hook-it setup.