Refueler
Well-known member
Good luck ...
Repairing GRP topside - lots of small holes and imperfections!
- Thread starter Eccles291
- Start date
Ian_Edwards
Well-known member
sorry, yes, a missplaced post.
i don't know how that happened, I was waiting in Glagow Airport, must have got distracted.
PaulRainbow
Well-known member
I would not use gelcoat filler, use ordinary filler. Run a drillbit through all of those small holes to make sure they are clean. For bigger holes a Dremel would work well.Thanks for all the replies.I think, having read all the suggestions, going with filling, sanding and painting will probably be the order of the day. The entire boat needs repainting so to begin with I'll probably just fill the holes for now and then paint everything all at the same time. Time to order some gelcoat filler and get busy!
Refueler
Well-known member
I have to admit that Plastic Padding was my go-to or Devcon for small jobs like this ... but now I use Osculati Gelcoat ...
Eccles291
New member
Oh bugger, I've just ordered some from East Coast. Is that the wrong stuff then?!
Refueler
Well-known member
Eccles291
New member
Ah okay. I’ve got a random orbital sander so hopefully that might help.
Refueler
Well-known member
Gelcoat usually has a Wax in it - to allow the surface to set and also create the final look .... that and the fact that Polyester resin is not easiest to sand ... is why many use a polyester or epoxy type with filler powder in ... Plastic Padding etc.
You will find the sander will clog quite a bit ...
PaulRainbow
Well-known member
Nigel, Gelcoat doesn't have wax in it, it's Flowcoat that has the wax.
PaulRainbow
Well-known member
What exactly did you order ?
Refueler
Well-known member
You sure ?? Not so long ago - I recall quite a heated thread on this ....
PaulRainbow
Well-known member
Positive : Gelcoat & Flowcoat
Refueler
Well-known member
OK .. doesn't change fact that Gelcoat tends to clog sanders ...
And just to be correct :
Finishing grade Gelcoat DOES have wax .. parafinic wax ... this is to create a barrier to allow the surface to cure fully.
Gelcoat without wax does not cure fully on the surface due to action of oxygen and is usually used in layups.
Here's a product line offering with and without wax - as well as wax separate for user to add :
TotalBoat Gelcoat With or Without Wax | Marine Gelcoats.
Quote from the site :
"
Gelcoat With Wax (for Finishing) Details
- Contains wax so additional patch aid additives are not required.
- Cures properly without PVA, wax paper, or special tools.
- Non-sagging formula fills superficial scratches. Deeper scratches require a filler such as TotalBoat Silica Thickener added to the gel coat.
- Gel coat can be mixed with coloring agents made specifically for polyesters (sold separately).
- Catalyst: MEKP (methyl ethyl ketone peroxide), included
- Colors: Available in Neutral, White, Black, Light Gray, and Moon Dust.
- Sizes: Neutral is available in Quarts only; White gelcoat is available in Quart and Gallon sizes; Black, Light Gray, and Moon Dust are available in Gallons only.
- Does not contain a wax additive, making it ideal as the first layer when building a boat hull or composite part on a prepared mold.
- Non-sagging formula can be mixed with coloring agents made specifically for polyesters (sold separately).
- Catalyst: MEKP (methyl ethyl ketone peroxide), included
- Colors: Available in Neutral and White.
- Sizes: Neutral gelcoat is available in a Quart size Kit only; White gelcoat is available in Quart and Gallon size Kits.
- Note: Wax Additive is available to add to Gelcoat Without Wax so it cures to a tack-free surface."
White GELCOAT
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PaulRainbow
Well-known member
Of course Gelcoat clogs sanders, because it doesn't fully harden. Flowcoat, when fully cured and de-waxed does not.
Either way, neither Flowcoat or Gelcoat are the correct product for repairing minor holes etc and then over painting. OP should be using filler of some sort, as you say.
rogerthebodger
Well-known member
The difference between gelcoat and flow coat is the flow coat has was so the surface sets fully where as gelcoat will cure with a tacky surface so will allow the following laminated layer to adhere better as inside a mold so flow coat is IMHO is the correct resin to fill imperfections on the gelcoat of a GRP molding like the body of my lotus Europa
The difference between Gelcoat and Flowcoat
The difference between Gelcoat and Flowcoat
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Refueler
Well-known member
Guys ...
Gelcoat as I linked to as examples - comes in both Wax and Non Wax forms ....
Just because some Youtuber decides to highlight Gel vs Flow - does not mean that is the total sum of all .... go back to the links I provided and read ..... Repairing GRP topside - lots of small holes and imperfections!
Gelcoat as I linked to as examples - comes in both Wax and Non Wax forms ....
Just because some Youtuber decides to highlight Gel vs Flow - does not mean that is the total sum of all .... go back to the links I provided and read ..... Repairing GRP topside - lots of small holes and imperfections!
PaulRainbow
Well-known member
You are being silly now. You no doubt scoured the internet to find an incorrect website that agreed with your incorrect statement.
I posted a link to the supplier that the OP said he ordered from : Gelcoat & Flowcoat
They state : "
Gelcoat is the first layer added to a mould when making a fibreglass part - It is a thixotropic resin which forms the outer layer of the finished part. With the addition of a wax solution, gelcoat becomes flowcoat which will cure in contact with air and thus is used on boat surfaces , GRP roofs etc
Here's a video that explains the difference between gelcoat and flowcoat (topcoat) and whether you can flowcoat on top of flowcoat!"
A Google search comes up with a zillion examples gelcoat or flowcoat difference - Google Suche
Refueler
Well-known member
Far from it ... just posting and it wasn't scouring the internet to agree with xxxxx ..
I have used particularly Osculati ... Totalboats was a source I referred to ages ago to get some info .. forgive me for quoting them !
You may wish to continue - but I have posted what is easily verifiable .... what each calls it - is up to them and their marketing ..... as you show - Flowcoat is actually Gelcoat with Wax ...
I am sure all are very happy now.
WoodyP
Well-known member
Stop it you two. It never ends well
KevinV
Well-known member
@Eccles291 - you get used to this ^^^, it's an arcane process by which this forum yields much heat, and, occasionally, a glimmer of light