Gelcoat Process

[McDog]

I ordered the polyester primer today. $50 freaking bucks for a 1 inch by 3 inch spot. If anybody wants some, I'm gonna have plenty left over.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

Like I said the learning curve is steep.

 

[2006superjet]

sand the hull good with like somthing under 200 grit.
clean good with acetone
tape areas you dont want to get touched
brush on finish gel coat mini can from west comes with hardener
brush it think it will level off for the most part clean smooth
sit it out in the sun for about 5 hrs
then wait a day
then wet sand id did like 300 to 400 500 to 800 1500 something like that
the buff it will a heavy cut compound
then wax polish. it comes out a lil less shiney than the oem sides
rode it a few times havent beached it yet been in and out of the truck a few times.

 

[2006superjet]

pics

 

[McDog]

Mine looks pretty good after application. It's just the very bottom of the hull since I taped off the sides. Is there anything wrong with just leaving it and not sanding/buffing it?

 

[WFO Speedracer]

Like I said earlier thin it 20 percent with styrene,mix in smoothie ,find the cheapest paint gun you can and shoot it,that way you can start sanding at 400 to 600 grit and the job will come out so much nicer,if you really want it smooth mix in duratec clear 50/50 with the gelcoat on the final coat,it will actually dry with some gloss and you can start sanding at 800 to 1000 grit.Also with duratec you don't need wax addative or pva it will fully cure with gloss.Personally I think my time is worth something and I am all about less sanding and more shine.:bigok:

 

[Pablo]

does anyone know if i can mix some dye in with white gel coat without messing up the curing properties of the gelcoat? secondly, will gelcoat cure over high temp, enamel paint with some scuff sanding?

 

[Mark44]

does anyone know if i can mix some dye in with white gel coat without messing up the curing properties of the gelcoat? secondly, will gelcoat cure over high temp, enamel paint with some scuff sanding?

You can use these pigments http://www.shopmaninc.com/pigments.html

Why spray gelcoat over paint?

Mark44

 

[Pablo]

gelln'

after talking with mcdog...i'm afraid the engine bay paint may look like shiot after i spill fuel on the enamel and make all my work this winter be a wash...here's what i've got now.

 

[Mark44]

I would probably just spray clear over the paint or leave as is. Gelcoat goes on quite rough and requires a special gun to spray.

Katie’s engine compartment it painted white with a rattle can and holds up just fine but then we don’t spill fuel in there for any reason.

 

[McDog]

With internal fill, I wish I was good enough not to spill any gas. I brushed the gelcoat on and it smoothed out pretty good. I brushed the primer on first though. I'll post pics later.

 

[Mark44]

o

With internal fill, I wish I was good enough not to spill any gas. I brushed the gelcoat on and it smoothed out pretty good. I brushed the primer on first though. I'll post pics later.

O ok got ya internal fill.

We do not have internal fill so we don't spill gas in there, that would be like a bomb!!!!!! BOOM!!!!!

Mark44

 

[Pablo]

who makes a good urethane paint for the bottom of a smc hull?

 

[McDog]

I'm not planning on spilling gas, but I'm sure there will be a inadvertant drip or splash every once in a while.

 

[#ZERO]

who makes a good urethane paint for the bottom of a smc hull?

Dupont Nason makes a great urethane paint that is fairly inexpensive.

The also have the two-part epoxy primmer in that brand that will stick to the SMC.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

I would probably just spray clear over the paint or leave as is. Gelcoat goes on quite rough and requires a special gun to spray.

Katie’s engine compartment it painted white with a rattle can and holds up just fine but then we don’t spill fuel in there for any reason.

Ok GELBUSTERS has to chime in here,no special gun is required to shoot gelcoat,actually for what we are doing any elcheapo gun will work,harbor freight is my gun of choice,if it kicks off in the gun throw the whole thing in the trash and buy another one,no problemo.If you mix it correctly,thin it 20 percent with styrene and shoot it, it will be fine.Another gelcoat myth busted courtesy of GELBUSTERS.No thanks are necessary.

 

[Mark44]

e

I use one of these Gelcoat guns but then again I sparay gelcoat on molds

Mark44

 

[Pablo]

attn GELBUSTERS...
will gelcoat cure without adding anything but hardner to it? I am planning on doing a second coat of gelcoat on bottom of ski, but adding wax to that coat so that i can sand it smooth. should i have added wax to the first coat for any curing benefit or just sanding ease?

 

[WFO Speedracer]

It is easiest to add wax to all coats of gelcoat,you may also add patchaid or spray the gelcoat over with PVA to facilitate a cure or my favorite add duratec clear 50/50 with the last coat or if you want to do it the hard way add nothing,wipe the surface down with acetone and remove as much uncured material as possible,then sand,sand,sand,sand,sand,sand,sand,sand,sand,sand,sand some more and buff.

 

[Pablo]

well i'm down the sand path, but is it gonna be extremely long for the cure so i can sand and add a second coat or just add the second coat with wax, wait for the cure and then sand the top coat? Mcdog has some PVA i could steal if need be to help cure time. US composites said i could add a second coat without waiting for complete cure (1-2 hrs) but no sanding until end. whadyathink?