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surfnc Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2006 Posts: 948 Location: OBX, NC
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Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 7:55 pm Post subject: Rolling Gel Coat |
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After the MOTB I had a large re gel coating project that I had to do at my parents rental house. The pool had been there for 18 seasons and with all the sandy feet "sanding" the bottom of the pool the gel coat had worn off to the underlying fiberglass in places. The gel coat was also faded and "chalking" over all.
This is also what happens to a fiberglass body that has sat out in the sun for decades or been "worked" on by previous owners over the years.
I had originally thought I would spray the pool shell, but realized that it would be brutal trying to mask off the deck over 3 days. I decided to roll the gel coat on with a thin foam roller made for rolling gel coat/resin.
I figured that it could also work if someone wanted to re gel coat their buggy. If you spray or roll gel coat you will still have to sand and polish at the end. Since most buggy surfaces are basically flat it should be no problem rolling. You can get rollers in 3", 7", and 9" lengths so cutting in the edges should be fairly easy.
The process I used went like this:
-Sand the shell with 80 grit paper on a DA or 6" polisher/sander.
-Vacuum/sweep up dust.
-Wipe down area with styrene, let dry.
-Dilute gel coat by 10% (by volume) with styrene. This makes it flow better.
-Roll out first coat(unwaxed) (this first coat will act like a primer and will get sucked into the more porous areas) Let cure till tacky, not wet.
-Roll out second coat (unwaxed) Try to keep a wet edge as you go. Let cure till tacky.
-Roll out third coat(waxed diluted 5% styrene) Let this cure over night and it should be ready for sanding and polishing.
Here is what the pool looks like now after 7 gallons of gel coat, 100 rubber gloves, a gallon of styrene, 2 gallons of acetone, 25 paint tray liners and about 30 quart mixing cups.
Hopefully it will last another 18 seasons.
On the buggy body you could do more coats so you could sand it mirror smooth and polish it out to a better than new shine. (the good thing about the pool is that I will not have to sand or polish it at all) With my experience of spraying gel coat it may be easier to roll and it is definitely a cleaner process.
**Make sure you wear solvent resistant gloves when using styrene and acetone. ALWAYS wear a chemical rated respirator when using any of the materials I have mentioned here.
Vince _________________ LOOKING FOR VINTAGE MEYERS MANX STUFF!!!
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1105228
Last edited by surfnc on Fri Nov 16, 2012 10:48 am; edited 1 time in total |
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didget69 Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2004 Posts: 4927 Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
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Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 8:08 pm Post subject: |
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As always... beautiful work, Vince!
bryan _________________ I never found the need to impress people with any mechanic certifications, trophies or track wins... unless it was for Mom to post on the refrigerator door. |
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crack monkey Samba Member
Joined: March 12, 2004 Posts: 267
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Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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wow! What a result! |
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Roys_Big_Toys Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2011 Posts: 225 Location: Richmond, VA
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Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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Another fine piece of work. Maybe I will send you another "project" to try rolling the gel coat one. _________________ I'd rather be an hour early than 5 minutes late. (Mine)
"It's not a hobby, it's an addiction" (My wife)
"Socialism only works in two places: Heaven where they don't need it and hell where they already have it." -Ronald Reagan
Original Meyers Manx
Berrien LKD Warrior Ecotec 2.2 w/ Bus 091 Trans
Original 2 sided Meyers Manx Dealership sign
Meyers Manx Surf Board #1 0f #100
Custom Meyers Manx Cornhole game |
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Letterman7 Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2004 Posts: 3198 Location: Downingtown, PA
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 1:00 am Post subject: |
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And how did you manage doing all that while keeping the initial coats tacky? from the deck with a long handle? |
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didget69 Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2004 Posts: 4927 Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 8:19 am Post subject: |
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Roys_Big_Toys wrote: |
Another fine piece of work. Maybe I will send you another "project" to try rolling the gel coat one. |
Dude... I'm in line next!
bryan _________________ I never found the need to impress people with any mechanic certifications, trophies or track wins... unless it was for Mom to post on the refrigerator door. |
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CodeMonkey83 Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2011 Posts: 29 Location: St. Paul, MN
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 8:35 am Post subject: |
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*brain exploded into tiny bits* |
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CoryN Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2008 Posts: 403 Location: DFW
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 8:54 am Post subject: |
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How much gelcoat would you expect to use to recoat a buggy? |
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frizzardking Samba Member
Joined: May 09, 2011 Posts: 575 Location: BUFFALO N.Y
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 10:23 am Post subject: barn find manx 2 |
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Vince thats exactly what the manx two needs done plus some small fiberglass work so il give you a call to talk about it and your time availability. How long did that job take you. Nice job! |
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frizzardking Samba Member
Joined: May 09, 2011 Posts: 575 Location: BUFFALO N.Y
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 10:32 am Post subject: barn find manx 2 |
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Vince thats exactly what the manx two needs done plus some small fiberglass work so il give you a call to talk about it and your time availability. How long did that job take you. Nice job! |
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bim55 Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2005 Posts: 438 Location: Dennis Port, MA
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 10:46 am Post subject: |
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I can smell the resin all the way over here on the east coast,, nice job!
Did you actually walk or stand ont the tacky gel coat on the 2nd and 3rd layers, , or did you do it from the deck? _________________ Boston Bob E.
www.bimelliott.com www.deserterownersgroup.org |
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RickS Samba Member
Joined: May 05, 2005 Posts: 430 Location: Speonk, NY
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 11:07 am Post subject: |
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[quote="bim55"]I can smell the resin all the way over here on the east coast,, nice job!
Last time I looked, North Carolina was on the east coast! LOL |
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didget69 Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2004 Posts: 4927 Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 11:19 am Post subject: |
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[quote="RickS"]
bim55 wrote: |
I can smell the resin all the way over here on the east coast,, nice job!
Last time I looked, North Carolina was on the east coast! LOL |
...the winds from the Frankenstorm may be blowing the fumes northward.
bryan _________________ I never found the need to impress people with any mechanic certifications, trophies or track wins... unless it was for Mom to post on the refrigerator door. |
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surfnc Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2006 Posts: 948 Location: OBX, NC
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 12:59 pm Post subject: |
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Bryan
Thanks for the kind words.
crack monkey
Thanks for the kinds words.
Roy
Thanks for the kind words, would that project be a Tow'd?
Rick
I let it cure out over night and it was barely tacky, so I was able to walk on it lightly as long as I kept moving. If I stood too long in one place my sandals would start to stick.
CodeMonkey83
Reference to respirator, without it my brain would have exploded.
CoryN
I would say 1 gallon and a quart of styrene. If you had pods I would go a gallon and a half.
Marc
Yours will be different since it is metal flake and clear gel coat which I would definitely spray. Unless you are talking about your Manx 1.
The job took a total of 3 weeks. One week to dry everything out. The next week for sanding and prep. The last week (3 days really) was for rolling the gel coat. (about 1 coat per day) The first coat took the longest since the weathered fiberglass sucked it in pretty well. It really needed 3 coats to give it full solid coverage. I would be tempted to do 4-5 coats on a buggy since you will sand at least one layer off to get rid of the "orange peel".
bim55
I can still smell it on me. Since it cured over night and was 75F during the day it was not too bad to stand on it lightly. Are you still making Deserter parts?
The steps and seat area were the biggest pain since they had 90 degree angles. But with a little time and practice they went better and faster by the third coat.
Vince _________________ LOOKING FOR VINTAGE MEYERS MANX STUFF!!!
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1105228
Last edited by surfnc on Fri Nov 16, 2012 10:49 am; edited 1 time in total |
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FarmerJohn Samba Member
Joined: December 16, 2007 Posts: 417 Location: Long Island NY
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 5:10 pm Post subject: |
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That looks amazing Vince _________________ Now I Drive A Hard Top Buggy ! |
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joescoolcustoms Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2006 Posts: 9054 Location: West By God Virginia
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 7:20 pm Post subject: |
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I wonder if that pool is going to get filled back up in the next couple of days. _________________ Bad News Racing 2018 NORRA 1000 3rd in Class
Best Day Ever Racing 2022 NORRA 1000 2nd in Class and first All Female team to complete the race
Everyone is gifted. Some just do not open the package.
Looks like it was painted with a live chicken,polished with a brick and buffed with a pine cone |
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Roys_Big_Toys Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2011 Posts: 225 Location: Richmond, VA
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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Yep, I am going to look at one tomorrow. I am trying to convince my wife that I "need" another buggy and a Tow'd would complete my collection. For some reason she don't think so. (Complete my collection) It would be an easy project. LOL _________________ I'd rather be an hour early than 5 minutes late. (Mine)
"It's not a hobby, it's an addiction" (My wife)
"Socialism only works in two places: Heaven where they don't need it and hell where they already have it." -Ronald Reagan
Original Meyers Manx
Berrien LKD Warrior Ecotec 2.2 w/ Bus 091 Trans
Original 2 sided Meyers Manx Dealership sign
Meyers Manx Surf Board #1 0f #100
Custom Meyers Manx Cornhole game |
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VolkswagenGerry Samba Member
Joined: February 02, 2010 Posts: 220 Location: San Rafael Ca.
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Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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Funny to see this thread today as I just rolled on a gel coat on my buggy today. This will be a base coat for the carbon fiber I will be applying to the buggy.. (I do not want the giltter to be seen through any of the space in weave in the carbon fiber)
I used a 3" roller and this took only 20 minutes to do including mixing time.
I used a 3" low pile solvent resistant roller to apply the black pigmented gel coat.
This is two coats so far, I will wet sand with 220 or 400 before appling the next coat as I experinces some pin hole bubbles (very small bubbles) that gelled over. this will knock down the bubbles light oarnge peel and also even out any "stepping" from the roler.. howeve it did lay down pretty even.
I did use surface curing agent (wax) in each coat as I know I will be sanding before final coat.
I mixed the resin rather cool with 75% ultra clear surfboard resin and 25% UV cure resin, I added some catalyst to insure it will kick as the black pigment will hinder the UV resin from full cure.
I will go to my local fiberglass suplier and see if they have the foam roller, I am wondering if this will prevent the tiny bubles.. Or I wonder if thinning with styrene will do this??? or both..
I do professional surfboard repair and glassing.. I have never used a thinner in resin before.. I understand it works well as a tack coat for laminating around curves...
Great post surfnc!! I hope my chim-in will help someone who is thinking about gel coat rather than paint.. Even tho I am doing this as a base coat for carbon fiber, it looks pretty good so far.. a few more coats and some sanding/polishing I could call it done... but Im not stopping there, its gonna be 2x2 carbon (evil laugh)
Even with my fiberglass experience I feel the average joe can do this no problem.. besides fiberglass buggys have turned many with no fiberglass experience what-s0-ever into experts!! gotta love it..
This is my buggy after two coats so far: a little over a half a pint of resin, under a teaspoon black pigment, a pinch of surface agent, two 3" rollers, 2 pairs of rubber gloves and the same mixing cup
[img]
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buggytime Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2011 Posts: 32 Location: United States
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Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 9:38 am Post subject: |
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Put some wheels and a motor on the pool and lets go! |
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didget69 Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2004 Posts: 4927 Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
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Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 10:02 am Post subject: |
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Vince:
On a buggy body, would you use a primer-sealer coat, then a primer-surfacer coat before top-coating? I know that you seem to like the Duratec primers - this info would be good to know for those doing major bodywork/repairs.
regards,
Bryan _________________ I never found the need to impress people with any mechanic certifications, trophies or track wins... unless it was for Mom to post on the refrigerator door. |
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