Flo(w)coat Question

[DeeGee]

Boat builders often finish the inside of things on boats with flowcoat - which, as I understand it, is gelcoat with added wax. What is the added wax?

I am told that without the wax, the gelcoat will tend to stay tacky. Yet a friend says that if you cover it with cling film, it will set off properly. Anyone an expert in these things? I have had wooden boats for too long, and now I have plastic, I am a bit green on these matters. (A bit? read completely).

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[longjohnsilver]

All the answers you're looking for are probably covered in this thread

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ybw.com/cgi-bin/forums/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=mby&Number=248744&part=1>http://www.ybw.com/cgi-bin/forums/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=mby&Number=248744&part=1</A>

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[snowleopard]

polyester resin, on its own, is "air inhibited", i.e. the surface will remain tacky for a long time. Normal laminating resin has an additive which is wax dissolved in styrene; the wax floats to the surface forming a barrier against the air allowing the surface to set.

normal gelcoat resin does not have the wax so it will form a bond with the next layer of laminate.

1. if you want to add more laminate onto a cured surface you must get rid of the wax layer by sanding

2. to get a non-tacky surface when applying gelcoat resin as a topcoat you must keep the air out. either add some 'solution M/W 5% wax in styrene' to the mix (2%) or lay something over the top while it sets. heavy guage polythene is much better than clingfilm as it peels off cleanly.

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[DeeGee]

Yes, looks good. Also remembered 30 yrs ago talking to a company called Bondaglass-Voss in Beckenham. Surprisingly, they are still there, and just round the corner!


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[Avocet]

"Glassplies" in Southport sell the wax already disolved in styrene if you're interested. Haven't got a number to hand but they should be easy enought to find.

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[oldsaltoz]

G'day Denbigh,

Aint plastic fantastic, looks like your question on why wax is added to Flo-Coat has been well answered.

Thought you might like a tip to help you keep your bilges clean with less effort; before you apply the Flo-Coat, consider filling in the corners and right angle edges with some Microballoons and resin, mix to a thickness like toothpaste and apply with the back of a spoon. It sands down with very little rubbing and after coating will leave you with a bilge that is very easy to keep clean.

Hope this helps, and heres a bit of reading for you...

http://www.cyb-glassfibre.co.uk/





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[DeeGee]

Suffering from indigestion now. Thanks for all the info.

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[snowleopard]

keep the fillets of filler small, any flexing will crack them and let water in.

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[DeeGee]

"flexing"? /forums/images/icons/shocked.gif My boat doesn't flex /forums/images/icons/smile.gif.

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[Birdseye]

Of course it flexes. The only thing in this world that isnt the slightest bit flexible is the Inland Revenue!

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