Gel plane rental in the uk ???

[Restoration man]

Ok I’ve already asked this on the motorboats forum but not one reply that I was surprised by so I thought it was worth an ask on this site instead????

Does anyone know of a place that will rent you a gel plane in the uk ?? They are stupid expensive I could buy one and sell it back on after use, but I would prefer if possible to rent one , anyone done this ? Or if not possible my other option was to buy one and rent it out when I’ve finished with it ??? Anyone think there might be a market for gel plane rentals??? I know I can get people to do it for you but I like the hands on approach,
Thanks Nick

 

[Poecheng]

There is one for sale in the 'For Sale' section - Steve1963 selling one

 

[Martin_J]

I knew I'd spotted one for sale earlier in the week.. I just didn't go that far back (Monday) in the for sale section..

To save Restoration Man the search.

Virutex CE123N gel coat stripper.

 

[Martin_J]

Ah.. subtle difference. It might be a curved sander...

 

[rogerthebodger]

Could a hand TC wood plainer be used to plain off the gel coat to the required depth

My festool well plain 3 mm thickness at a pass

 

[Restoration man]

Thanks guys I’ve had a look at The one for sale but I was really after a proper gel plane , also I don’t think wood plane would work in my hull either

 

[Neeves]

I don't know what a gel plane is.... . how about a router.

You don't say why you want one.

Jonathan

 

[Daydream believer]

I don't know what a gel plane is.... .

You don't say why you want one.

His barber over did the brylcreem?

Surely the best way to remove gel coat from a boat is to sand blast it.

 

[Elessar]

Ok I’ve already asked this on the motorboats forum but not one reply that I was surprised by so I thought it was worth an ask on this site instead????

Does anyone know of a place that will rent you a gel plane in the uk ?? They are stupid expensive I could buy one and sell it back on after use, but I would prefer if possible to rent one , anyone done this ? Or if not possible my other option was to buy one and rent it out when I’ve finished with it ??? Anyone think there might be a market for gel plane rentals??? I know I can get people to do it for you but I like the hands on approach,
Thanks Nick

You must get a proper one. They are only an electric wood plane but with a bespoke front end/depth guide.

The rotating barrel is exposed at the front. Then there are two guides, one deeper than the other.

The one sits on the gelcoat and the other sits on the planed surface. You plane off in stripes half the width of the rotating barrel.

It’s exhausting. You have to keep the plane at 90 degrees to the boat and push it hard onto the boat or your cut depth will vary.

Getting the guide right so that you cut off an even stripe not one slightly deeper on one side is hard too.

And the gel bits get everywhere. Ears, nose, down your pants, up your bum, everywhere. You’ll itch for weeks.

It’s a job I’d pay a pro to do and they can come along with loads of experience and an airfed mast and the sort of suit asbestos removal guys wear.

And anyway if it’s osmosis you need to blast it after you’ve planed it. The plane seals the surface and you need to open it up again.

So I’d pay someone to do it if I were you.

 

[Paul06]

I made this a few years back to attach to a grinder.

 

[Paul06]

Another pic

 

[Elessar]

I made this a few years back to attach to a grinder.

Wow. You can sell that for £2k or more. Super impressive.

 

[Restoration man]

You must get a proper one. They are only an electric wood plane but with a bespoke front end/depth guide.

The rotating barrel is exposed at the front. Then there are two guides, one deeper than the other.

The one sits on the gelcoat and the other sits on the planed surface. You plane off in stripes half the width of the rotating barrel.

It’s exhausting. You have to keep the plane at 90 degrees to the boat and push it hard onto the boat or your cut depth will vary.

Getting the guide right so that you cut off an even stripe not one slightly deeper on one side is hard too.

And the gel bits get everywhere. Ears, nose, down your pants, up your bum, everywhere. You’ll itch for weeks.

It’s a job I’d pay a pro to do and they can come along with loads of experience and an airfed mast and the sort of suit asbestos removal guys wear.

And anyway if it’s osmosis you need to blast it after you’ve planed it. The plane seals the surface and you need to open it up again.

So I’d pay someone to do it if I were you.

When you were in the trade do you remember what type of blasting media to use after planing? I’ve heard some say to use jblast and some say to use glass , and some say to blast it dry and some say blast wet ? Thanks

 

[Elessar]

I used glass but I don’t think it matters. It’s just taking the glaze off caused by the plane. It’s a light blast.
Wet good and you dry a boat after this by jet washing often so it saves one of those. Dry ok though.

 

[Restoration man]

I used glass but I don’t think it matters. It’s just taking the glaze off caused by the plane. It’s a light blast.
Wet good and you dry a boat after this by jet washing often so it saves one of those. Dry ok though.

Thanks Mark