hrsailor
Well-Known Member
My daughter has an Albin vega at Wareham nr Poole and need some help/advice about repairing the gel coat. Does anybody know of a local person who might be able to give some advice or help please.
Brian
Brian
Glass fibre help please
- Thread starter hrsailor
- Start date
Searush
Well-Known Member
With a bit more info, us know-it-alls will be able to solve all her problems directly.
hrsailor
Well-Known Member
Thx Searush,
she is trying to deal with some hairline grp cracks. She has rubbed them down and filled them. Then the gel coat paint has failed to set so is still "tacky" - as I understand the problem. Brian
she is trying to deal with some hairline grp cracks. She has rubbed them down and filled them. Then the gel coat paint has failed to set so is still "tacky" - as I understand the problem. Brian
Bajansailor
Well-Known Member
Gelcoat might stay 'tacky' if special liquid wax is not added to it prior to applying.
srp
Well-Known Member
I've used cling film instead of the wax additive and it seemed to work. It was a bit fiddly to apply it, trying to get rid of the air bubbles but not squashing it down too hard and spreading the gel coat too far outside the repair area. I think the idea is to exclude the air for the gel to cure properly.
ningcompoop
Well-Known Member
Cellotape works, sticky side down as usual, and is easy to apply, providing you can find the end of the roll.
snowleopard
Well-Known Member
Wax in laminating resin comes to the surface as it sets and forms a film to exclude air which inhibits setting. Gelcoat has no wax in the resin so the surface remains tacky for a long time which is what you want when you are going to laminate on top of it. For applications where the surface needs to go hard you must exclude air. One way is to stir in some 'wax in styrene'; the other is to cover it with a layer of clingfilm, polythene etc.
It may be possible to retrieve the situation, i.e. get the surface to harden, by sealing the surface for a few hours. Polythene or clingfilm won't work for this as you wouldn't be able to squeeze out all air but applying a coat of wax should work. Melted candle wax would do it or possibly beeswax furniture polish (never tried that, test on a bit first).
It may be possible to retrieve the situation, i.e. get the surface to harden, by sealing the surface for a few hours. Polythene or clingfilm won't work for this as you wouldn't be able to squeeze out all air but applying a coat of wax should work. Melted candle wax would do it or possibly beeswax furniture polish (never tried that, test on a bit first).