Best finish with Toplac???

[bootscooter]

Hi, long time reader.... first post!

I've repainted the topsides of my Tempest with 2 coats of Precote, and am on my secvond top coat (flatted back in between coats.)
To get the best finish possible, should I just be hopefull with my final layer, or should it be finished with very fine wet&dry, then given a good T-cut and polish?

Many thanks, Jon /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Lakesailor]

Depends on the weather. If you paint when it's too hot the paint will start to skin and drag before it flows properly. You can thin by 10% to help. If it's too cold the paint will not flow anyway. You can warm the paint tin in a bowl of warm water, whilst you are painting. Clean down the surface with white spirit or the dedicated thinners. Use a Tak Rag to get rid of remaing dust (available from automotive paint suppliers). Wear clean cotton clothes to avoid fibres and dust falling on the paint finish. Paint away from the wet edge and lay off with a brush to lessen brush marks. Use a good, used brush to avoid bristles shedding.

If all else fails, flat, compound and polish, but I've found that works better with automotive finishes than boat enamels.

If you're on a pontoon it needs to be better than if you're on a swinging mooring. (cos people can't see it as easily)

Just my opinion.

 

[burgundyben]

Top lac is polyurethane I think? such paints contain a UV filter which floats to the surface so wet flatting not a good idea.

make sure the prekote is very flat, then coat with 50/50 prekote/toplac mix, then final top coat with thinners, use a top quality brush. You should get a fab finish.

 

[david42]

I flatted down the precoat, used a 50/50 precoat/toplac coat and then 2 coats of Toplac. I put the gloss on with a small foam roller followed immediately (and very gently) with one of those foam pad brushes to smooth off the bubbles. Looks great.

David

 

[PeteMcK]

I agree with the top quality brush suggestion, rather than a pad or roller. International used to publish tips on how best to lay off etc. I've always found that you have to do a fairly small area at one time, and that how and when you move on to the next section (very quickly!) is crucial in determining whether you get runs, brush marks or join marks. Toplac can have a tremendous gloss and smoothness if applied properly. It can be compounded back but it won't have the same brilliance as the fresh finish.

 

[Joe_Cole]

[ QUOTE ]
Top lac is polyurethane I think? such paints contain a UV filter which floats to the surface so wet flatting not a good idea.
.

[/ QUOTE ]

Rubbish.....but it does contain a UV filter. The wet flatting comment is poppy cock.

 

[Joe_Cole]

All will be revealed here Follow it through to Toplac then download the Product Data Sheet.

It's much better, quicker and easier, to aim to get the finish from the brush (or whatever you are using). You could flat and 'T' cut but you would have to wait for it to fully cure; you'll be better off putting all that effort into the prep work.

 

[Lee_Shaw]

Hi, I did my topsides with this and I used roller and jenny (foam) brushes which can just be thrown away after each use. These seemed to be more about getting the bubbles out than to "tip off".

Like all finishes it's the preperation, number of coats and what you do between coats that is gonna make it look good (assuming that this is a priority). I faired and faired my topsides until I was sick to death of it and then cleaned with boat cleaner and then cleaned with acetone.

I applied one coat base coat, two coats half and half (base/top) and then I think 4 coats of top. Sanding with wet and dry and cleaning with acetone in between coats. The finish is really deep and looks very good and I'm glad I took the extra effort, which wasn't that much extra with hindsight. I didn't do anything to the final coat, but a light polish with something or other wouldn't really hurt I spose.

I also reckon you should go for a colour that is about the same as the gel coat ie if it's white paint it white. In a few years time, if it's a well used boat, you'll probably be glad you did this.

I had a lot of time to do my boat up (a year) and so could afford to do this. I honestly wouldn't have thought from 20 yards you would be able to tell the difference to if I'd just slapped it on with hardly any prep at all, just to put things into perspective.

 

[bootscooter]

Thanks for all your replies.... greatly appreciated /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Here's some pics of the work in progress, origional prep, precote, and penultimate top coat.

 

[Joe_Cole]

I didn't read your caption, saw the first picture, was thinking to myself "there's something wrong here".....then I scrolled down!

That's coming along very nicely!

 

[Talbot]

Good article on just this subject in the brand new PBO that has just crashed through the letter box.