Is a wooden boat, with proper maintenance could last a hundred years. Gelcoat needs to be applied relatively thin. Read on for another quiz question. Let the polyester filler cure until material is firm and tack free, about 10 minutes. wikiHow's. Dry the surface with paper towels, or rinse well and allow it to air dry. Inspect the boat's finish to see if it is still shiny or has imperfections. Gelcoat requires Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide or MEK-P to activate the hardening process. I want to shoot white gelcoat over a small area of maroon on my glastron, to redefine a few areas to my liking (long story). Thanks, P.s. Wear gloves and eye protection. How much of the gel coat? Oils, grease and road grime from trailer rides accumulate on the hull, where they quickly break down the protective boat wax, and strain and pit the gelcoat. Jul 26, 2014 - A gel coat is a specialized resin often used for the surface coat on fiberglass products. Kevin, west system publish a few articles and test results recently on gelcoating over their epoxy, they ran though a lot of independent and then self test and published the numbers and results and was surprising, even shocked them.. unlocking this staff-researched answer. As hard as it is to get up and going, it can be even harder to go and gelcoat or work with Epoxy. Not exactly! First you would apply a release agent to the mold, then brush on the gel coat. Next, you want to clean the surface. This is what a sanding aid will do. To apply the gelcoat with a brush, dip the brush in the gelcoat so there’s a liberal amount of gelcoat on it. If you want reflective gelcoat, consider using wax instead. Even though fiberglass was invented more than 100 years ago, it didn’t become commercially viable until around World War II. Start by sanding the surface with 150 grit or lower sandpaper. You can make your own gel coat using fiberglass resin and Bondo auto body filler. Why is gelcoat sticky after applying to fiberglass? At 70 degrees, you get your 15 minutes, but at 90 degrees, you only have about 5 minutes. Pick another answer! Clean the area with water and use a dry towel to wipe. This will help in removing the oxidized gelcoat on the boat. Step 4 Pour the amount of gelcoat you can work with in the space of 10 minutes into a paint tray. Clean with soap and water and wipe with a rag damp with acetone to remove old wax, oil or grease. Add color tint drop by drop according to manufacturer's directions. I have a couple of questions to ask to better help you. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. "Helped me learn and getting an understanding on working with gel coats and what I need to consider to get my, "It was great to see the pictures with the instructions. Can You Roll Gel Coat . Once the surface is clean, you want to get going pretty quickly; if the surface sits for any extended amount of time, you will want to re-clean the surface. We recommend 18 mils thick, to properly cure. You can get rid of this stickiness with one more coat of wax. of coloring agent per quart of gelcoat. If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to comment, message or call! With gelcoat, we recommend at least 2 coats. I am an architect designing and building geodesic moduled vehicles, but a novice with fiberglassing, so I am gonna need help. Properly applying gelcoat is the key to a good finish. Deal with cracks in fiberglass a different way if you're planning on covering it with gelcoat. The important one here is wax. Make sure that you give your boat a thick layer as a thin layer may not give a complete seal. A good wash will ensure that your fiberglass has a smooth surface, and therefore that the gelcoat will pour or spray evenly onto the boat. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. It is thicker than standard resin, allowing you to build up a solid shell before adding layers of fiberglass. When resin starts to gel before getting harder, is it still good to use? Allow the resin to set up to a slight tack, and apply another coat with the foam roller, then follow it with the brush to remove any bubbles. Before you apply gelcoat, sand down cracks. The amount of MEKP you’ll need to use will depend on how much gelcoat you’re using and what brand it is. We also sell a Brushable Gelcoat that can be applied with a brush. Unlock staff-researched answers by supporting wikiHow. Will fiberglass resin adhere to the gelcoat? Click on another answer to find the right one... Did you know you can read answers researched by wikiHow Staff? Last Updated: August 4, 2020 Continue rubbing until the surface gets a glassy shine. Applying gelcoat to fiberglass is simple if you have the right tools and take care to mix your gelcoat properly. If the surface is paint, then the paint would have to be removed before applying the gelcoat. How To Apply Gel Coat Over Fiberglass . Refer to the catalyst chart on the side of the can, or you can find one HERE. Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. Then use small circular motions to rub the polish into the gelcoat. It will bond and be of similar hardness. And lastly, did you brush, roll, or spray the gelcoat? Our technicians recommend using Dyekum Steel Blue to be very thorough. Can gel coat be applied over epoxy resin??? ", "Gave me a good basic understanding of gelcoat.". Dust and dirt particles are your enemy here, so be thorough on the cleaning. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Apply gel coat in 4-5 layers at approximately 5 mils each, allowing 15-20 minutes between layers for a total thickness of 20-25 mils. Fiberglass Repair – Using Gelcoat Over Epoxy. It contains wax, and cures tack-free to form a hard, clear finish on fiberglass, metal, and wood. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. If the repair is above the waterline, high-gloss paint or gelcoat are often used to reproduce the original appearance.