Spraying Gelcoat and Awlgrip?
 

I have more boat problems.....two boats twice the problems!

My bay boat was involed in an accident over the weekend. It was tied up minding it's own business when a 40,000lb bay fishing barge crushed it up against a soild bulkhead and the front casting platform cracked away from the gunnels on both sides. One crack, with a palm size section of glass falling out, is about 3 feet long and the other is about 1 1/2 feet long. It has a carpeted front and rear casting platforms and I have been thinking of pulling it up anyway. Too many cat sleeping on it!

My question is;

What type of spray gun do you use for gelcoat and awlgrip? I have painted fiberglass hoods with enamel and wanted to know if that gun would work ok?

Re: Spraying Gelcoat and Awlgrip?
 

Ouch! [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

CaptC, sorry but I have no knowledge in this area, but I can offer you my sympathies! Good God, was anyone injured in the collision?

Hooper

Re: Spraying Gelcoat and Awlgrip?
 

No, The barge is brand new and belongs to a long time friend of mine. It was the first time he had ran the boat. My boat was tied up and we were all on his boat boat. A 2000lb fiberglass boat doest hold up well against a 40,000lb metal boat!

Lastest Damage
 

Charles

I think we can re-name you at this point from "Capt C" to "Capt Crunch" [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] I feel for you guy and I'm sorry to hear about this lastest fiasco to your list of boating problems [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]
Maybe you should think about Nascar [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Re: Lastest Damage
 

I think I do need a new hobby....fly airplanes or sky diving will not be on the list though.....I think I'll skip bungie jumping too. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Can I spray gel coat in a regular painting gun?

Re: Lastest Damage
 

The gel coat is easiest to spray from a disposable cup gun with a large tip. Awl Grip sprays best from an HVLP gun. I bought my HVLP from a discount tool supplier called Harbor Freight for $69 and It worked great. The gel cup gun you may have to get from a fiberglass supplier.

Re: Lastest Damage
 

Spraying gelcoat correctly requires a pressure pot gun. Those cup guns just slobber all over the place and are only designed to use with small molds for producing new parts.
Spraying Awlgrip or similar paints you can use any gun sutiable for automotive paints.
Bill

Re: Lastest Damage
 

There is always using Duratec as a 'thinner' added w/ the gelcoat. However, I am not that familiar with it. A lot of the pros use it around here..

It helps the spray lay down smoother.

Re: Lastest Damage
 

Even with the use of Duratec as a thinner, a pressure pot sprayer should be used. Getting gelcoat down to a viscosity suitable for conventional spray equipment is risky. Many problems can be caused by over thinning gelcoat.
Bill

Re: Spraying Gelcoat and Awlgrip?
 

is it true you should not wax awlgrip?

Re: Spraying Gelcoat and Awlgrip?
 

Awlgrip
Recommends you “just use their soap, and cleaning liquids”, as for wax I can’t see why you would need to wax a awlgrip paint job that stuff always has the wet look to it and if it doesn’t it probably is over 10 years old and needs painting again.
FellowShip [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Re: Spraying Gelcoat and Awlgrip?
 

I have used "Gary's Cleaner Wax ( West Marine ) on awlgrip and it cleans it great - when nothing else does, and leaves a little wax on too. It is GREAT stuff!

Re: Spraying Gelcoat and Awlgrip?
 

NoankBill - when spraying gelcoat with a presssure pot sprayer . . . how much sanding is involved to knock off the orange peel?

Re: Spraying Gelcoat and Awlgrip?
 

That subject will take me too long to answer here. PM me and I will give you my phone number and I will tell you what I have found to be the best way to use a pressure pot.
Bill

Re: Spraying Gelcoat and Awlgrip?
 

Thanks Bill

Re: Spraying Gelcoat and Awlgrip?
 

how durable is awlgrip? thinking of repainting the interior of the boat but concern with how it will wear on awlgrip. ie spots that would show through. any experience on this?

Re: Spraying Gelcoat and Awlgrip?
 

For small repairs like you are talking about, we use a siphon gun (SATA gun is what we have) with a large tip to spray gelcoat without problem. Pressure pots are great and do work better, but they are not practical for the hobby guy to own and use. With either gun you will have to sand, so it is really no big deal how the spray job comes out. We get some pretty nice finishes with this method, and generally start sanding with 320.

Mix:
Gelcoat, 20% Duratec Clear High Gloss Additive (not the clear high gloss finish, which is thicker), and then thin with MEK 5-10% to get a nice spray consistency.

Method:
Spray 1 light coat without wax and let kick until firm. You can then pinhole your surfaces-we use a foam brush stripped of the foam cover, leaving the flexible plastic undercore which you use as a squeegee. Mix a small batch of kicked, unthinned gel and swipe it into the pinholes. You can be pretty neat with this tool, so don't make a mess.

Once pinholed, go back and spray 2-3 more thin coats over the area, adding wax to the last 1-2 coats so that the surface will dry. Wait 10 minutes or so between coats (kick separate batches of gel from one "master" batch that you mix at the beginning.) We get nice results with this method and often do not sand the surface in non-critical areas.

I am planning on gel coating the inside of my project 20 with this method, and will likely not sand any of it.

You can also use the same method for great non-skid application. Spray your surface so that the color is down and you have good coverage, then mix gel as above, thin it a touch more, and add your non-skid (we use Awlgrip particles) and then spray one SUPER LIGHT pass over the area. Too much spray and you will just bury the particles under the gel, so go light and you will like the results.

Good luck and email if ??
Peter

Re: Spraying Gelcoat and Awlgrip?
 

Wouldn't a single edge razor blade work easier for filling pinholes?
I've been doing it that way for a long time.

Re: Spraying Gelcoat and Awlgrip?
 

The single edge razor works well, but the gel/paint needs to be fully cured or you will scratch the surface with the edge of the razor. With the foam brush core, it is very flexible and allows you to work quickly on a slightly green surface.

Both work well, but I generally use the foam brush core on gelcoat jobs and the razor on epoxy/Awlgrip jobs.

Good luck!
Peter