Glass and gelcoat compatability

[///M5]

I have a question that I'm sure a bunch of people here can answer. Will Polyester Gelcoat adhere okay if applied to glass work that was done with epoxy resin?

 

[Vumad]

It may stick, but my understanding is that it will not work right. Gelcoat is polyester based and poly resin will delaminate from epoxy.

 

[ticega306]

Epoxy over poly is ok but not the other way around. This is what ive been told.


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[///M5]

So no order will work, and If I decide to do repairs in epoxy, then I can't use polyester Gelcoat.

Correct?

 

[tomski]

If you are using West Systems brand they have done testing to prove it works http://www.westsystem.com/ss/

Read here; http://www.westsystem.com/ss/assets/Uploads/Ew22Polyester.pdf

And I have done a few this way myself.

But I would use a vinylester resin to repair the damage. Then spray the gelcoat to finish the repair. I'm not fond of using epoxy when the original lay up is polyester or vinylester.

 

[smdubs]

I've gelcoated over west systems repaired areas many times with perfect success. However I have had tons of issues gelcoating over us composites epoxied areas.

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[///M5]

I ended up doing my repairs with west systems polyester resin and thickened white polyester Gelcoat for filling in low spots. I am using SeaHawk (Gloss Black) Polyester Gelcoat to cover the whole thing when I'm done prepping.

My next question is about the wax additive. I have never done Gel before and the guy helping me has never used wax additive. He wants to use the old school method of spraying wax/ mold release over the top when done. Will this affect the job in any way? My Seahawk Gel shipped with the wax additive and he wants to use the spray over method instead. Do both have the same affect on curing, and are they interchangeable?

Thanks,

 

[smdubs]

I recommend the duratec high gloss additive. You wont need the wax and it makes the gel spray much smoother which will reduce wet sanding. Spraying the pain top can be tricky.

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[smdubs]

The wax additive put in your last coat. This seals the gel so you get a full cure just like the pva method.

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[///M5]

I recommend the duratec high gloss additive. You wont need the wax and it makes the gel spray much smoother which will reduce wet sanding. Spraying the pain top can be tricky.

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Im way out here in Guam, and it will take at least 3 weeks to ship any kind of hazardous material out to me so thats a no go on the Duratec additive. Sorry but I'm not understanding your message about the wax and PVA. Will the PVA method work just fine, or do I have to convince my guy to use the wax additive instead?

 

[smdubs]

Pva will be fine. Just wash off when done and start wetsanding

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[///M5]

Thanks, I'll post up my results when done.

 

[///M5]

The wax additive I that came with my shipment crystallized in the gel causing the gun to spatter. We strained it out an added some generic stuff found locally. It worked, but I have a crapload of sanding to do now.

 

[ChadGnarly]

Id like to see more pics of that hood.

 

[///M5]

Id like to see more pics of that hood.

Pics are here
http://www.pwctoday.com/showthread.php?t=390944

 

[///M5]

Id like to see more pics of that hood.

 

[///M5]

What the heck is the seat base made of? I sanded that thing down past the purple in some areas and the gel reacted bad! All the other parts are ok, but the seat base is crap.

 

[ChadGnarly]

That hood is sweet, is it heavy?

 

[///M5]

That hood is sweet, is it heavy?

It's really light and feels like half the weight of a stock hood. That's why I robbed it off the mod hull. The hull I pulled it from is bad;$$, but I didn't want to deal with the laminating issues right now. Right after that pic I removed the hardware with a mini impact and blew the serts to crap. Now I have to epoxy them back on AND wetsand a bunch.

 

[///M5]

Does anyone know if the seat-base is made of something different? it has a bad reaction to gelcoat. Also, I just found out this hood is carbon anyone know who made it?