Daydreamer
Well-Known Member
Is it a feasible proposition to spray gelcoat or more accurately, flowcoat. I have a suspicion that I may know the answer but I would be interested to hear informed comment.
Spraying Gelcoat
- Thread starter Daydreamer
- Start date
Stork_III
Well-Known Member
nigelmercier
RIP
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- 20 Jun 2007
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- Live in Kent, boat in Canary Islands
It will really mess up your gun if you don't clean it properly, and you still get orange peel. I used a foam roller.
Lakesailor
Well-Known Member
When I was making my bulge I read the Information sheets for flow-coats. The more you thin it the less it acts like flowcoat and the more it acts like ordinary resin, apparently.
If you thin it too much you risk it not hardening properly.
My limited experience of it is that it will never give a good finish.
If you thin it too much you risk it not hardening properly.
My limited experience of it is that it will never give a good finish.
Daydreamer
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the replies. Having some small vicarious knowledge of fiberglass spraying equipment its much as I expected, particularly about cleaning the gun.
Nigel, did you use a standard paint foam roller or do I need to locate something more solvent resistant?
Nigel, did you use a standard paint foam roller or do I need to locate something more solvent resistant?
William_H
Well-Known Member
Gel coat is polyester resin. Flow coat is polyester resin with white pigment and a thicker consistency. gel coat is applied to a mold and is allowed to "gel" before laying up fibreglass. Flo coat is made to be applied to rough fibreglass (other side to the mold, to improve appearance and smooth the rough glass. typically inside a dinghy hull.
IMHO once a hull has been molded and got old then while the gel coat is the bit we see and polish gel coat is not the best repair or recover material. It does not have good adhesive qualities. Adhesion in the first palce is not a concern becuase it is in gel state when more resin is applied to make it all one chemically bonded GRP.
Far better is a 2 pack paint which is a polyurethane resin which has great adhesive qualities and an excellent finish. Yes you can spray 2 pack paint though spray and fumes can be very dangerous. it brushes or rolls OK too. good luck olewill
IMHO once a hull has been molded and got old then while the gel coat is the bit we see and polish gel coat is not the best repair or recover material. It does not have good adhesive qualities. Adhesion in the first palce is not a concern becuase it is in gel state when more resin is applied to make it all one chemically bonded GRP.
Far better is a 2 pack paint which is a polyurethane resin which has great adhesive qualities and an excellent finish. Yes you can spray 2 pack paint though spray and fumes can be very dangerous. it brushes or rolls OK too. good luck olewill
yoda
Well-Known Member
Yes, it's done to quite a few motor boats from a well known stable when new where build problems require it. You will still need to go through a very time consuming and labour intensive process to flat it back and work through the grades to get the high quality finish required.
Yoda
macd
Well-Known Member
Whether it's possible to spray or not, the pros in Greece definitely roll it on, in many thin coats. Then they go through yoda's "very time consuming and labour intensive process to flat it back and work through the grades to get the high quality finish required" (which is even more laborious than described).
