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Author Topic:   Gel Coat Resin Application

Stokes889 posted 03-20-2012 06:44 PM ET (US)
My boat has been coated using a roller with no-wax white gel coat. I don't like how bright the white is so I got some off-white gel coat resin. The coat I put on is thin and I plan to sand it with 220 grit on an orbital sander. I plan to wipe it down with acetone before rolling on another layer. I have a bit of wax a marine worker gave me to put in the gel coat: should I add a bit of this wax into the top layer of gel coat?
tom976 posted 03-21-2012 08:56 AM ET (US)
I thought the whole point for wax in the gelcoat is to help it setup since gelcoat does not harden right when it is exposed to air. That is [why] [gel coat resin] is normally covered or has a wax additive.
Stokes889 posted 03-21-2012 11:23 AM ET (US)
I believe the wax does indeed allow the gel coat resin to set-up and harden more than it would without. The wax also remains on the surface as a nice barrier and and extra layer of film to work with when sanding smooth buffing and waxing. I just don't have experience with this so I want to hear from someone who has done stuff like this before
whale posted 03-21-2012 01:28 PM ET (US)
[S]ince you used un-waxed gel coat resin, you [do not] have to sand it down for the next coat. [J]ust give couple of the new color coat and just for the last coat, add the wax. [T]he surface of the unwaxed coat stays tacky for the next coat to stick.
Stokes889 posted 03-22-2012 02:56 PM ET (US)
Whale--thanks for your advice. Describe "tacky." Sure, I can stick my fingernail into it if i tried, but it has been a few weeks since it has been coated.
whale posted 03-22-2012 07:11 PM ET (US)
[The resin] will stay tacky forever. [I]f you do want to sand it down, [I] recommend [polyvinyl alcohol or] PVA; give [the uncured resin] a coat [of PVA to] let the gel [coat resin] harden; [then] peel or wash off [the PVA], then sand. [In] this way you do not go through tons of sand paper.

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Author	Topic: Gel Coat Resin Application
Stokes889	posted 03-20-2012 06:44 PM ET (US) My boat has been coated using a roller with no-wax white gel coat. I don't like how bright the white is so I got some off-white gel coat resin. The coat I put on is thin and I plan to sand it with 220 grit on an orbital sander. I plan to wipe it down with acetone before rolling on another layer. I have a bit of wax a marine worker gave me to put in the gel coat: should I add a bit of this wax into the top layer of gel coat?
tom976	posted 03-21-2012 08:56 AM ET (US) I thought the whole point for wax in the gelcoat is to help it setup since gelcoat does not harden right when it is exposed to air. That is [why] [gel coat resin] is normally covered or has a wax additive.
Stokes889	posted 03-21-2012 11:23 AM ET (US) I believe the wax does indeed allow the gel coat resin to set-up and harden more than it would without. The wax also remains on the surface as a nice barrier and and extra layer of film to work with when sanding smooth buffing and waxing. I just don't have experience with this so I want to hear from someone who has done stuff like this before
whale	posted 03-21-2012 01:28 PM ET (US) [S]ince you used un-waxed gel coat resin, you [do not] have to sand it down for the next coat. [J]ust give couple of the new color coat and just for the last coat, add the wax. [T]he surface of the unwaxed coat stays tacky for the next coat to stick.
Stokes889	posted 03-22-2012 02:56 PM ET (US) Whale--thanks for your advice. Describe "tacky." Sure, I can stick my fingernail into it if i tried, but it has been a few weeks since it has been coated.
whale	posted 03-22-2012 07:11 PM ET (US) [The resin] will stay tacky forever. [I]f you do want to sand it down, [I] recommend [polyvinyl alcohol or] PVA; give [the uncured resin] a coat [of PVA to] let the gel [coat resin] harden; [then] peel or wash off [the PVA], then sand. [In] this way you do not go through tons of sand paper.