Cruisers Forum
Main Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: Bruce on July 19, 2016, 06:56:54 pm
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We recently needed to temporarily store our rig in a lot surrounded by evergreen trees and next to a metal fabrication shop for three weeks. As I cleaned the coach to get ready for the camping trip that we’re currently on I was horrified to see many small stains (most about 1/8” to 1/4" size) all over the unpainted gel coat and decals on the driver’s side that I’ve not been able to remove with any product that we have with us now. These stains are smooth, dry to the touch. They are level with the surrounding surface and appear to be absorbed into the gel coat.
No stains can be seen in the adjacent painted surface.
I assume that the stains were caused by sap falling from the trees or by some type of spray coming from the fabrication plant. I suspect the latter because I’ve never seen tree sap leave such a mark and only the side next to the plant has any (even though the tree line goes across both sides of the PC).
Another thread here mentions using a light bleach mix to remove stains from caulking, so I plan to try that on these stains when we return home next week.
Has anyone here experienced such staining?
--Bruce
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bruce...I am sorry but I have no quick and easy solution. I think I would try a very light marine gel coat restorer or very fine rubbing compound. Best of luck I do not envy the work your are faced with.
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I don't have any direct experience cleaning the Phoenix gel coat but have successfully used Barkeepers Friend Cleaner on an unpainted molded fiberglass gel coated travel trailer. It is a common cleaning agent to remove stains and is used by many owners of these type trailers.
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Being a boater there are many stain remover products for gel coats. Just visit West Marine or Defender websites. For my sailboat gel coat or any other coating I would recommend FSR (fiber glass stain remover). I have used this product for years. It's active ingredient is oxalic acid with is used in many of these stain removal products.
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Chuck is right on with stain removers . Stay away abrasive cleaner they wil leave a dull finish that will be hard to get the gloss back like the other finish.
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Thanks to each of you for your suggestions on removing the stains in the gel coat.
I doubt that the work will be as easy as the reviews of FSR suggest, but this gives me hope that removal is possible. We’ll give that a try sometime after we return from our camping trip.
--Bruce
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A scratch remover or polish, each with such small abrasives that restore a "Shine" when complete, might remove the spots. The trouble is that the shine will likely mismatch the rest of the rig. Like others say, if you can remove with a cleaner that won't change the shine, that will be best.
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On July 19th I started this thread by describing the small stains in the gel coat on one side of our rig.
Yesterday I finally removed the stains and am happy to report that the job was almost too easy to believe. The gel coat in question is now as white and shiny as it was three years ago.
I’d purchased two types of Fiberglass Stain Remover, but didn’t start work until yesterday for fear that the job would be too time consuming to fit in with other commitments.
The bottom line is that both of the products worked, but
Starbrite Ultimate was much easier to use than the FSR.
In case you’re interested in the details, here is a summary of the work:
I first started with Davis FSR because it is a thick gel that could be used without fear of it spreading too rapidly to control.
I applied some gel with a small kitchen sponge to a 12” square area, rubbing it into the surface, letting it sit for a few minutes, and then wiping the area with a clean wet towel. This removed some of the stain. I repeated this on the same area and the stain was gone.
After using the above procedure with the same results on two other 12" square areas, I decided to try the other remover—Starbrite Ultimate. The product label says it is also a gel, but it is much more fluid and comes in a spray bottle.
I first used the product on an area that included a small amount of decal and painted surface. There was no resulting damage and the gel coat was as white as the previous sections after just this one try.
I immediately recognized that this process could move much faster, so I continued spraying and wiping on areas of about twenty square feet until the entire side of the coach was clean. This required about the same amount of effort as hand washing the coach.
The rear cap had been developing some stains for unknown reasons over the last six months that I wasn’t able to remove in the past. There is also some “yellowing” there. Since the Starbrite label states that the product will remove yellowing, I applied this product to the rear cap and it now looks almost new. The yellowing is not completely gone, but perhaps a few more applications will help that too.
That’s all for now.
--Bruce
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Thanks for the update and the info.
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Thanks for the update. I know how relieved you must be with the results. Hope we don't need it but glad to know what worked.
Gail
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I decided to try the other remover—Starbrite Ultimate.
I googled Starbrite Ultimate and find they make 4 different products with similar names.
Which one is it? https://www.amazon.com/Star-Brite-Ultimate-Xtreme-22-Ounce/dp/B0000AYBS9 (https://www.amazon.com/Star-Brite-Ultimate-Xtreme-22-Ounce/dp/B0000AYBS9)
Also do you think you need to re-wax after using the cleaner?
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John,
I purchased the remover from Amazon Prime for $14.99. It doesn't have the word "Xtreme" on the label.
It is called "Star brite Ultimate Fiberglass Stain Remover - 32 oz. Sprayer."
Yes, I think a re-wax is in order.
By the way, I've not been able to determine what caused the staining in the first place--overspray from the fabrication plant, droppings from the surrounding trees, or whatever.
--Bruce
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Great info for many PC owners! Thanks Bruce for the update. 2o2