Sandable Gel Coat
Has anyone ever used sandable Gel Coat
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Re: Sandable Gel Coat
Yes, I use gel coat often. Spray four or five coats,then spray with PVA ( Poly vinyl alcohol) let cure over night, wash off the PVA and sand. I then spray four or five more coats and repeat the process and then prime. -
Re: Sandable Gel Coat
I won't paint without it. It is the only thing I have found to hold out long term. Many other things might work but if you look close after a year or two you will see evidence of fiberglass shrinkage or repairs showing through. Just my opinion but it has worked for me for at least 20 years. I've tried all other options.Comment
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Re: Sandable Gel Coat
Tom, would you mind sharing with us a favorite or prefered brand and product number? Chip.Comment
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Re: Sandable Gel Coat
Interesting topic. Corvettes never were gel-coated from the factory. I've been repairing/painting them for 40+ years, have never used a gel-coat and have never had a single problem. The only real long term example I have is my 1960 that I painted 27 years ago in lacquer and it still looks great. I've seen several of my jobs 10 years later with the same results. If you don't mind the needless, extra work, then gel-coat it if it will make you feel better. If not, do what the vast majority have been doing since 1953 and go with the proven traditional methods.Comment
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Re: Sandable Gel Coat
The bodies were not gel coated because the glass was not 40 years old then. Lacquer products may work fine without gel coat but when you get into urethanes or epoxies the solvents are much more aggressive and soak into the glass quickly then tend to come out after 6 months or more. Today's materials create a whole new set of challenges. Remember I said this was my opinion based on my experience. Yours may be different. The product I have used is from Ecklers. This is probably not the only one available or may not even be the best in the market, I've just had a lot of experience with it. It is easy to work with and not hard to sand. I've had over 40 years experience also and have tried probably every method out there. I live in Texas where heat is an issue, what works in cooler climates doesn't always work the same in high temperatures. This is my opinion only I'm not trying to tell anyone how they have to do their car. Research carefully and do what you're comfortable with, just be careful cutting corners on paint issues as a re-do is a real heart breaker.Comment
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Re: Sandable Gel Coat
Hog wash. Lacquer thinner is waaaaaay more aggressive. I use epoxy directly on the glass as a sealer and have never had an issue. Like you said, use what you're comfortable with but for every person that gel-coats, there's countless thousands that don't and have never had an issue, even decades later.Comment
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Re: Sandable Gel Coat
I have never gel coated any of my Corvettes.
Strip, prime, bodywork, prime and block sand as needed, seal and paint.
No fiberglass show through, no cracking.
No nothing except a nice long lasting paint job.
Come look at my 55 year old Corvette with 6 year old paint, seeing is believing.Comment
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