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Gel Coat Paste #828
07/16/01 10:02 AM
07/16/01 10:02 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 28
Maryland
DSievert Offline OP
newbie
DSievert  Offline OP
newbie

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 28
Maryland
Need to do some glass and gel coat work. In my experience, using west system epoxy or any for that matter cures with a yellowish color when dry. When you try using gelcoat, I find it is difficult to not have the color show through the gelcoat. I thought of using white pigment in the epoxy mixture to minimize this--does anyone know if this weakens the glass and have any other ideas?
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<br>Also, if I want to make a gelcoat paste for fixing small scratches and imperfections, what should be used to thicken the gelcoat. I've thought of using collida Silicone but find it discolors more quickly. Any thoughts?
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<br>Don S.
<br><br><br>

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Re: Gel Coat Paste [Re: DSievert] #829
07/16/01 10:48 AM
07/16/01 10:48 AM

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Don
<br>There are a variety of ways to do this. For simple cosmetic scratches and dings I find the easiest thing is to make a paste out of some white get coat. To do this you need to add colloidal silica to thickin it. Colloidal silica comes in a variety of different types and some do not change the color of the gel coat. I think the one you want is colloidal silica 406 from West marine. It's a white fluffy powder. You mix it in, add wax and hardener. Apply it with a small scrapper or tongue depresser.
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<br>As far as dying epoxy that is different. Most of the dyes available at places like west marine come in little toothpaste type tubes. They come in a variety of colors but they are designed for polyester resins not epoxy resins. I have used them occasionally with polyester and they work ok. Generally I now do non cosmetic repairs with resin and cloth and then worry about the get coat last. Once you get into these types of repairs though you will find that the cosmetic stuff is where it gets tough.
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<br>Personally I do not like marine tex and similar do it yourself repair kits as they don't match well. Many people certainly use them though.
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<br>Call me if you have any questions, you have the number.
<br>
<br>Rich<br><br>

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Re: Gel Coat Paste [Re: DSievert] #830
07/16/01 12:10 PM
07/16/01 12:10 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 160
Connecticut
Eric Anderson Offline
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Eric Anderson  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 160
Connecticut
Don,
<br>I would not try to pigment the epoxy. Do your repair with epoxy, but make sure it is at least 1/16 " below the gel coat. Get the factory gelcoat from performance for the color match. Saves you alot of trouble.
<br> You will need to build the gelcoat up in multiple layers if you are applying it by brush. This is easy to do as gelcoat tacks in about 15 min.
<br>Rough the surface with 80 grit then use acetone to clean it. Paint on the gelcoat with a brush. Wait 15 min or untill it tacks than put on another layer. I usulay put on 5-7 layers with a brush with each layer about 1/2" wider then the last. After the last coat, wait untill the last coat tacks and paint on PVA (the green stuff) so it cures properly. The next day grind it down with a DA sander and go 80-120-180-220-320-400-600 grit with the DA. Use 3M heavy duty compound and then 3M finesse compound and you are done.
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<br>For small scratches use the gelcoat, but apply it with a razor blade. This allows you to get a precise amount in the scratch. You can also buy gelpaste (pre thickened gelcote). It is hard to find in white though. I have not been sucessfull matching the color well using the clear gelpaste and then adding white pigment.
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<br>Good Luck,
<br>Eric<br><br>

Re: Gel Coat Paste [Re: DSievert] #831
07/16/01 01:16 PM
07/16/01 01:16 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 305
toronto, canada
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basket.case Offline
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basket.case  Offline
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Posts: 305
toronto, canada
it is hard, if not next to impossible, to get polyester gel to stick to epoxy. try doing a polyester repair. that is what the boat was built with in the first place.
<br> seeing the colour of the epoxy through the gel means that the gel is too thin or there is not enough pigment in the gel to start with.
<br> adding epoxy pigment to epoxy should not harm the matrix, but i doubt it will give you the result you want.<br><br>

Re: Gel Coat Paste [Re: DSievert] #832
07/16/01 02:00 PM
07/16/01 02:00 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 283
hobie541 Offline
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hobie541  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 283
I had excellent luck using some white gelcoat in a can that I bought from West Marine. I want to say it was Sea Skiff brand, or something like that.
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<br>I knocked the tip off of the bow of my Hobie 20 that had to be repaired. About a half an inch was missing. So, I made a mold out of clear packing tape, poured in the gelcoat, and voila! A little more sanding when I'm bored, and it'll look great. Couldn't believe how well it matched, either!
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<br>Good luck!
<br>
<br>Tim Johnson<br><br>Hobie 20 #541
<br>Bald Eagle Yacht Club, Fleet 52
<br>White Bear Lake, MN

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Tim D. Johnson Hobie 20 #690 Bald Eagle Yacht Club, Fleet 52 www.beyc.org
Re: Gel Coat Paste [Re: DSievert] #833
07/17/01 07:45 AM
07/17/01 07:45 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 778
Houston
carlbohannon Offline
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carlbohannon  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 778
Houston
For small repairs, dings and such, try using white gelcoat and then covering it with tape. This produes a fairly smooth repair with no drips or runs that is a lot easier to sand smooth
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<br>Clear packing tape or thinline 3M masking tape both work. The clear maskinging tape is cheaper but, the 3M masking tape does not leave a residue. Only the plastic like thinline tape will work. The paper masking tape will not hold well enough<br><br>

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Re: Gel Coat Paste [Re: DSievert] #834
07/17/01 04:27 PM
07/17/01 04:27 PM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 208
D
DHO Offline
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DHO  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 208
I have a problem with the porcelain in my bathtub rusting through in spots. Is Gel coat or epoxy usable to fix this??
<br>
<br>David Ho
<br>TheMightyHobie18 1067<br><br>

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Re: Gel Coat Paste [Re: DHO] #835
07/17/01 10:30 PM
07/17/01 10:30 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 283
hobie541 Offline
enthusiast
hobie541  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 283
I've read in the instructions that appliance repair would be an acceptable use for gel coat. You can also buy porcelin chip repair kits at Home Depot, or whatever your local equivalent store is.
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<br>I did a repair to the stove once with an epoxy based chip repair product, and it looks as good as new! The epoxy stuff for that application is probably easier, as you don't have to protect it from the air to get it to cure.
<br>
<br>Good luck,
<br>
<br>Tim Johnson<br><br>Hobie 20 #541
<br>Bald Eagle Yacht Club, Fleet 52
<br>White Bear Lake, MN

Attached Files
784- (19 downloads)

Tim D. Johnson Hobie 20 #690 Bald Eagle Yacht Club, Fleet 52 www.beyc.org
Re: Gel Coat Paste [Re: DHO] #836
07/18/01 08:37 AM
07/18/01 08:37 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 975
South Louisiana, USA
Clayton Offline
old hand
Clayton  Offline
old hand

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 975
South Louisiana, USA
I think the materials used to re-coat the tubs is an epoxy based material. I have one that was re-coated and I was given a two part repair kit for nicks. I'm not sure how the gel-coat woul adhere to the existing finish.
<br>
<br>clayton
<br><br><br>

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Re: Gel Coat Paste [Re: DSievert] #837
07/19/01 12:50 PM
07/19/01 12:50 PM

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Anonymous
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I use Solarez. It is available from Murrays or westmarine. It comes in a tube, and hardens when exposed to UV (sunlight). REALLY cool stuff. <br><br>

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