Getting gelcote to flow ??

[steveinak]

OK so the visor came out of the mold nice now after rolling on the first coat of gelcote it looks like it had a tide change right before it kicked and the gelcote is not smooth it has all ripples in it. I sanded down most of it so now for the second coat what do i do to fill in all the divits ??? Thin the gelcote ? Thicken it ?? or just leave it as is and roll on another coat ?? I'm not a good painter, i tried to roll and tip on the split house addition and seemed to do more bad than good when i tipped the gelcote. SO what do i do now ???

 

[googinhater]

Lay it on thick wet sand and buff

 

[captainlarry84]

The dips are called orange peal. just roll another coat or two and wet sand it until smooth. Are you using waxed or un-waxed gelcote? In either case the final coat must be un-waxed so it dries tack free.

 

[steveinak]

The dips are called orange peal. just roll another coat or two and wet sand it until smooth. Are you using waxed or un-waxed gelcote? In either case the final coat must be un-waxed so it dries tack free.

I'm using no wax for the first 2 coats, I thought the last coat needed wax added to it to dry tack free.

 

[steveinak]

Lay it on thick wet sand and buff

OK its going on like whipped cream !!!

 

[Raider Ronnie]

I prefer using all coats gelcoat with wax if sanding between coats (sanding tacky/gummy gelcoat sucks)
Put 2nd coat on heavy, sand 220 - 320.
Final coat mix 50% gelcoat with was & 50% Duretec clear, spray on or roll, I prefer spray as there will be minimal sanding & buffing that way.

 

[benenglish76]

Got to wax that last coat or the product will be sticky and miserable

 

[MDI45]

The dips are called orange peal. just roll another coat or two and wet sand it until smooth. Are you using waxed or un-waxed gelcote? In either case the final coat must be un-waxed so it dries tack free.

This is good advise but.......make sure you use WAXED for the last coat....or it will stay tacky

 

[steveinak]

Last coat will have wax thats for sure !! Second coat came out much better so i think one more coat and i'm going to call it good. Thanks for the help guys.
Stuck it on yesterday with the first coat on

 

[MDI45]

Man that's a good job....you should come back east and start a work boat building shop

 

[steveinak]

Man that's a good job....you should come back east and start a work boat building shop

Ya you betcha !!! I'm happy here working in my hovel of a shop. If the plan comes together i'll be back there for 1/4 of the year choking green eyes and eating pork roll and egg sammies for breakfast, good pizza's for dinner with a big greasy cheesesteak sub thrown in every once in awhile. As for boat building I've got a old buddy that wants to build a garvey ???

 

[MDI45]

Ya you betcha !!! I'm happy here working in my hovel of a shop. If the plan comes together i'll be back there for 1/4 of the year choking green eyes and eating pork roll and egg sammies for breakfast, good pizza's for dinner with a big greasy cheesesteak sub thrown in every once in awhile. As for boat building I've got a old buddy that wants to build a garvey ???

Would it be the fall or spring

 

[steveinak]

Would it be the fall or spring

Fall, just can't bring myself to leave alaska in the summer and early fall.

 

[steveinak]

pinholes ???

sanded the entire visor with 220 paper today, came out quite nice but i've got a lot of pinholes in the gelcote so what do i do to fill them ??? dab on more gelcote to fill each one and sand them all to match ??? or do i roll on another full coat and take a chance on making more pinholes ??? I'm stuck.

 

[MDI45]

If its possible....try to get Patch Aid.....it will thin the gelcoat and make for a smoother finish

 

[steveinak]

If its possible....try to get Patch Aid.....it will thin the gelcoat and make for a smoother finish

Thanks Mike,
Where do i get it ? fiberglass supply or maybe auto paint supplier ?? and then do i roll one another coat over the whole visor or just patch up the spots with the pinholes.

 

[Sailorgp]

If it's not too late, I suggest you follow Raider Ronies method using 50% duretec clear with 50% gelcoat. It will spray on like paint. There was a guy over on THT that did some unbelievably good gelcoat work on a swim platform and a bow pulpit using the 50% duretec in his mix.

 

[steveinak]

If it's not too late, I suggest you follow Raider Ronies method using 50% duretec clear with 50% gelcoat. It will spray on like paint. There was a guy over on THT that did some unbelievably good gelcoat work on a swim platform and a bow pulpit using the 50% duretec in his mix.

I don't have the gear to spray it.

 

[TwoRivers]

Bottom Paint Store has Patch Aid. It is a Seahawk product.

Patch Aid for Gel Coat Patch Aid for Gel coat [SH-8185] - $49.99 : Bottom Paint Store

 

[Raider Ronnie]

Pinholes

What I would have done from the start.
I would have sanded visor prior to 1st coat of gelcoat.
Probably hit it with a DA w/40 grit 1st then 80.
Next would skim coat it with a fairing compound like Poly Fair.
Sand that down to 180 or 220 Then coats of gelcoat would have gone down a lot nicer with a lot less peal & pinholes.

Steve, you not have air & a paint gun ?
I've got probably about a pint- a quart left in a gallon can of the Duretec clear I'll ship it to you, it's probably going to go bad before I do another project anyway.