oxidized gelcoat

[Ralph 123]

Re: oxidized gelcoat

Not at all. Just want to set the record straight. Don't want people thinking I am shilling for Vertglas or Gelcoat for that matter.<br /><br />I went through this whole process last year and came real close to painting my boat which in my case would have been a mistake. Luckily I found a pro who specializes in this stuff and saw what he was able to accomplish. I know he did an excellent job on my boat anyway...

 

[boat doc]

Re: oxidized gelcoat

definatly was not my intention to say you were pushing for vertglass, I realized that was a cut and paste. somtimes writen words seem insulting, but if I could have spoke it It would have sounded un-offending........lol.<br /><br />I do hate to see people spend money on these to good to be true products, a project like this requires some grunt, and sweat. <br /><br />I did mention using a 1500 rpm buffer, but personally I use 2800 rpm buffer, just have to be a little more carefull of burning decals. I also said an orange/brownish red bar, but did not say buffing bar, it is like a big waxy brick.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: oxidized gelcoat

BoatDoc<br /><br />My guy I think used something from 3M and I thought is was blue. Have you ever heard of something like that?<br /><br />He too used a big high speed buffer and as i remember a big wool pad.<br /><br />It took him 3-4 days to finish the whole boat and I think he grunted more than once <br /><br />Also, why have some of the folks here had poor results? Were they not agressive enough?

 

[boat doc]

Re: oxidized gelcoat

I think that blue stuff in 3m diamond cut, which I heard was good, but I do not use it. And yes, if I may say so, you gotta put some *** behind that buffer to get it to work. Like I said, the main thing is watch out for decals, paint, pinstriping, you will burn those up. The best thing to do, is be ready to replace decals, and pinstripe. I have had boats in with glass repairs that are painted, and not re-geled, if some of you have used boats, and don't know the history, you may have the same.

 

[aspeck]

Re: oxidized gelcoat

Just looking at the boat today, and over a year after applying Vertglas, it is still shiny and looking almost like new. I am impressed with the stuff! Thanks for the tip!

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: oxidized gelcoat

If my reply duplicates someone elses, sorry, just got tired of reading. Your gell coat is many times thicker than an automotive finish....so please, throw out everything you have heard about "paints".<br />If you want your gellcoat to look new, or at least shine, you have to remove some of the gellcoat. Depending on how dull or bad it is, that may include "compounding" or even "wet sanding" and compounding.<br />If it is really bad, you may have to wet sand with 600 gritt paper, followed by 1000 or 1200 grit paper, followed by buffing or compounding with a power buffer and a very aggressive polish using a wool pad. Bottom line, if you wet sand, to remove the small "pits" and buff with a rather agressive paste or compound, the natural shine and luster will re-appear in your gell coat.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: oxidized gelcoat

Aspeck<br /><br />Congratulations if you've read this far!!<br /><br />You would pick maroon, wouldn't you! 'Bout the worst colour there is for fading.<br /><br />If the finish is evenly faded, or just dull, and you're getting problems keeping any shine you put on it - then it may be possible, like these guys have said - to restore it by sanding, buffing and waxing. (see the choice of words there - 'may be possible').<br /><br />Sometimes this doesn't last, depending on the substrate condition. If the fading is even, then cutting the colour back gently and spraying a clearcoat over the top not only brings the shine back as new, but it also prevents further oxidation of the gelcoat underneath.<br /><br />It's the old story - you pays your money and you takes your choice.<br /><br />Ciao

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: oxidized gelcoat

Aspeck<br /><br />Congratulations if you've read this far!!<br /><br />You would pick maroon, wouldn't you! 'Bout the worst colour there is for fading.<br /><br />If the finish is evenly faded, or just dull, and you're getting problems keeping any shine you put on it - then it may be possible, like these guys have said - to restore it by sanding, buffing and waxing. (see the choice of words there - 'may be possible').<br /><br />Sometimes this doesn't last, depending on the substrate condition. If the fading is even, then cutting the colour back gently and spraying a clearcoat over the top not only brings the shine back as new, but it also prevents further oxidation of the gelcoat underneath.<br /><br />It's the old story - you pays your money and you takes your choice.<br /><br />Ciao

 

[EliT13]

Re: oxidized gelcoat

I posted this yesterday and got some very interesting responses. I am planning on using this product this spring.<br /><br /> Vertglas Gel Coat Restoration System<br /><br />Here is the site http://www.lovettmarine.com/files/vertglas.asp <br /><br />I hear good things about it please let me know what you guys think.<br /><br />Here is a url to a forum where people were discussing it.<br /><br /> http://boards.trailerboats.com/cgi-bin/trailerboats/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=001292

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: oxidized gelcoat

This thread seems to have gone full circle!<br /><br />BF mentioned auto varnish - what we here call 'clear-over-base' - don't know what you guys call it. We use two-pack - mix in the gun and spray. True, it gives a great finish, and amazing hard gloss. Last for years, but has a downside. Get the hull scratched or abraded (bunks do it, for instance) and it not only looks a mess, but is real labour-intensive to invisibly repair. If you ever need to strip it off, you're in a heap of trouble.<br /><br />Cutting, buffing and waxing work well for most faded fibreglass, and even though you need to wax and polish often, there's not much of a downside.<br /><br />Vertglass - for which Ralph gave a big commercial up there somewhere - is a semi-permanent coating, which has a similar downside to auto clear.<br /><br />You pays your money ...<br />Me? I'd rather buff and wax.

 

[bounder4465]

Re: oxidized gelcoat

If you want to have a nice gloss on your gelcoat you must use the proper compound. Automotive compounds are not designed for gelcoat. If you can use a buffer, email me at bounder4465@yahoo.com and I will share the info with you, but will not post it on this forum. <br /><br /> http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/bound...=&.done=http://photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos <br /><br />The two boats in the photos were buffed only...no wax or magic restorer.