New -Gel Coat spot repair

[Llunker]

Ok guys,

I have finally finished my gel-spot repair and it looks to be ok- I sprayed the last couple coats of just clear with a preval sprayer. Of course when gel-coat drys and cures it dry's do a dull finish(and when sprayed it also has an oprange peel to it as well). Now I know how to wet sand and i know what products are needed for it to come out looking good. Usually something like 320 or 400 to start and i finish out with 600,1000,2000 and then 4000.

Here is a sample piece i am working on now--you can't really see it(on the right) but from an angle you can see where the new gel coat has a line around it- now i have wet-sanded this thing to death to level out with the rest of the paint job and thought i might be doing something wrong--maybe i need to move up on cutting agent(to make the lines blend better???). Using a Meguiars #4 right now. might have to move on up to 3m super duty compound and follow that with some Meguiars diamond cutting compound. Then finish off any scratches with some Meguiars #2 fine cut glaze for the swirl-scratch marks from the sanding paper

Any help with cutting agents would be helpful or is there a step i am missing to make the lines blend together better.

Thanks Guys

 

[ondarvr]

Re: New -Gel Coat spot repair

If you're saying the re-sprayed area is higher than the surrounding surface, then it just needs to sanded more if you want it to look better.

Its not uncommon, more like typical, for there to be a halo, or visible line around a repair, I could go into the causes, but it would take too long. Depending on the color, age of the gel coat, repair technique, type of gel coat, etc, it may or may not be bad enough to create an issue. There is no way to sand or buff out a halo, but sometimes if you wait a few days for the gel coat to cure more thoroughly and then re-sand and buff, it will look much better.

As for sanding and buffing, you normally won't see an improvement when you go past around 1,200 grit paper, sometimes its 1,000 or less, it depends again on the type and brand of gel coat used. If the gloss is good, then the buffing compound is working well, if the gloss is too good, then it can actually look worse. It will make the halo stand out even more, plus you have 30 year old gel coat and one day old gel coat, they are most likely made by different suppliers and using different formulas.

 

[Llunker]

Re: New -Gel Coat spot repair

Ondarvr,

again you have come to my rescue. Thanks bud

I now know what your talking about now --with the "halo effect"(just didn't know it was typical or normal) and Yes i am talking about having the re-sprayed area LEVEL(not raised) with the surrounding area and you can't even feel a line. But if you look at if from certain angles you can see the halo effect(or i like to call it the blend line). Also using a swirl remover i am trying to be a perfectionist i guess for what the final ending will be.

Been using the US composites product along with Meguiars products with good results.

Its been three days now so it should be good to go for sanding out and buffing the rest of it.

Thanks for your help again ondarvr--you have been most helpful.

Llunker