Gel Coat Prep

Wow 'Chelle.

You are amazing. I cannot believe your determination on this project.
I just don't think I could tackle that project. Good for you for putting your head down and just doing it.

It looks awesome, keep the pictures coming.
Love the Tyvek shot, too

Mike

BTW, Pete, I sent you a text yesterday. Did you receive or did I text a stranger? LOL

Michelle,
Congratulations on making it over another hurtle/learning curve. Which reminds me, you can learn something every day of your life and still die stupid!! Keep it up!

I feel you should start with more aggressive paper. I've started with 320 wet to knock down the orange peel. You'll be there forever with the 600. Just be very careful! Start on the bottom until you get the feel for it. Don't worry if you sand through the new gel in a spot. It happens! And you just have to shoot the spot again and blend.

On any surface close to flat, I find a hard block (wood) sanding block will level better. I also feel I can get more "feel" to stop pressure with the wood. IE: If you know you have a high spot, you can direct more pressure there. With a rubber block I don't get that feeling.

I think the wax has something to do with keeping the gel from being tacky so you can sand it.

Wet sanding...cant be in a hurry.. crank some tunes and enjoy!

OK, the magic "yuckytan yellow mix".
The neutral gel coat was from Fibreglast.
I noticed that different manufacturers supplied different colors of tint.As long as it was a poly tint, it was compatible with the Fiberglast gel coat.
For 1 gallon of neutral gel coat I used 1 oz. of Maize Yellow from US Composites, 1/4 tsp. of White from US Composites, 3 drops (from an eye dropper) of Red from Fibreglast, 1 drop of Blue from Fibreglast and 2 drops of Brown from Fibreglast.

I started at 12:30ish and did not finiah until 10:00. I wiped everything down with acetone again before I started. I made the magic mix, suited up and went to work. Being "neutral" gel coat, the first coat did not cover the areas where the repairs were made. I put 4 coats without wax and the 5th and final coat with wax. The gun needed cleaned quite a bit because I had to wait between sprays. By 7:00, the "waiting" for the compressor was frustrating. Then the breaker kept popping. God was testing my patience.

Final coat...wax coat. I took these this morning

Hey Steve!
OK, I'll get to the details. Let me finish with the pics then I'll tell you all the fun stuff!

cans with my magic mix

OK, so it was scary when I saw what the neutral gel coat looked like.

I had the Color sample on hand to match my magic mix.

The yuckytan match (my match) in a bucket and ready to gel

Pete, that's a great idea. There is a dehumidifier in the basement that the previous owners left. I never even plugged it in. Additional security!

we pray for rainy days, keeps the dust down even in the booth, Rainy days and Sundays always makes us frown (upside down) for painting
is that a song?

sanity wrote: Still waiting on the rain to go away.

Want to trade for the 4-7" of snow predicted tomorrow? Good thing, it cant last too long!


Cant wait to see "The Mix"! take those pics!

Sanity, I also am enjoying your 'get-after-it-ness'! You are an inspiration even to those of us who are as Pete might point out(and might be?!!?) a touch over the line!

I'm still waiting on the official definition of over the line...    LOL

Seriously, I have gel-cote in my future so please take lots of pics and post your notes!   

LOL...as long as there is a toll free number for special friends and family.
The "spunk" is called "INSANITY" and too much coffee.
Chelle'