Bob F Posted March 29, 2005 Report Posted March 29, 2005 I've been finishing off a few dinks and bumps in the gelcoat and in some places after sanding down with wet'n'dry there are some dark patches appearing in the white gelcoat. Is this where I have been over enthusiastic with the sanding and have got down to the fibreglass and started to polish it?? How do I get rid of these patches??? Spray over with white paint?? Drill into it and fill in with more gelcoat? Or just put another layer of gelcoat over the top? cheers BF Quote
Paul J Posted March 29, 2005 Report Posted March 29, 2005 Bob, Im no expert and im learning the hard way. Sounds like you rubbed off too much, you could try thinning the gel coat and rolling it on then sand with very fine wet and dry Dont put paint on your lovely gelcaot unless you don't have a choice Paul J Quote
Bob F Posted March 31, 2005 Author Report Posted March 31, 2005 Cheers Paul. What do you use to thin the gelcoat? BF Quote
shytalk Posted April 1, 2005 Report Posted April 1, 2005 overzealous sandpaper is good for thinning gelcoat specialy when used in conjunction with a heavy hand !!!!! Quote
Sinbad Posted April 1, 2005 Report Posted April 1, 2005 Bob I suppose the patches are above the water line - i.e. the nice and easily accessible bits where you can really get going with some pressure!!! I wouldnt hesitate to paint perfection 709, sprayed on, or with a roller - can produce a finish like glass, and can also change the colour of your beloved from off white to shiny blue. Also, its alot easier to clean, and burnish. Its also one of the few ways to prevent osmosis, I believe. Ive used it on fibreglass racing dinghys and epoxy wood, and always managed a good extremely high gloss finish. Worth a thought..... Paul Quote
Bob F Posted April 4, 2005 Author Report Posted April 4, 2005 Thanks for the tips, chaps. Appreciated. BF Quote
Paul J Posted April 5, 2005 Report Posted April 5, 2005 I have just put perfection on the hull, in fact it's still wet cause it went on about 5:30pm. So far it's has a primer of gelsheild 2000, one coat of perfection undercoat and 1 of two coats of perfection 709 in cream. 2nd coat tomorrow depending how well it's dried. Im hoping it'll be ready to flip back over late Saturday afternoon, soon im off to post an invite to the Boat Flip ( the sequel) Cheers Paul J Quote
Sam Posted April 5, 2005 Report Posted April 5, 2005 shes looking good paul soon be out fishing on her sam Quote
Afishionado Posted April 21, 2005 Report Posted April 21, 2005 Quote........ Is this where I have been over enthusiastic with the sanding and have got down to the fibreglass and started to polish it?? How do I get rid of these patches Plastic padding do a white gell coat in a tube. Although very nearly paste like it is thixotropic (move it around and it liquidises). Make up a small batch and using a pallet knife mix gently until it goes like cream, then using a very soft artists 3/8th" brush paint on a layer * . Wash the brush out in acetone and wait until the first layer sets. The stuff wont keep so mix another small batch and repeat. You are aiming to end up with a dried area of new gell coat a little proud of the origional gel coat. Leave for 2 days or so to realy harden off. Then with 600 grade wet and dry used wet with a little soap, start to flatten the new gell into the origional finish. STOP FREQUENTLY AND CHECK. When nearly there change to 1200 wet & dry used wet and finaly T cut to get the shine. * Wash the area with acetone and dry carefully with absorbant paper before painting. Mad Mike Quote
jack Posted April 22, 2005 Report Posted April 22, 2005 Glad to see lots of sensable advice re rubbing down boats,I should have asked before starting on mine,no matter how carefully I rub,or what grade of paper I use ,I always seem to get a "hairy" kind of finish,no shine at all. I am thinking of getting in touch with the Zodiac factory in france,to complain about it !!....[OK perhaps it should have been in the joke section,but I could'nt resist it.]...jack Quote
Paul J Posted April 23, 2005 Report Posted April 23, 2005 Jack, Are you covering the patch?(cling film) cause it does not set proprerly in air unless it contains wax ( top coat) Paul J Quote
Adam F Posted April 23, 2005 Report Posted April 23, 2005 Paul, I think youve missed the point matey! Jack cant get a shine on his Zodiac cause it is a rib, made from rubber! Quote
Bob F Posted April 23, 2005 Author Report Posted April 23, 2005 I think Paul's been breathing in too many fumes!! Quote
Afishionado Posted April 23, 2005 Report Posted April 23, 2005 Adam points out.......... Jack cant get a shine on his Zodiac cause it is a rib, made from a rubber! Is that safe sex at sea? Mad Mike Quote
Guest steve Posted April 30, 2005 Report Posted April 30, 2005 as boat builder i would tell you to leave it as it is or you will end up rubbing more down and making it worse. the dark patches that you see is actually clear resin which shows through as dark it the gelcoat is thin. you could try a tin of car spray and then polish it. Quote
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