Gel coat?

[TaperPin]

I’m familiar with automotive finishes and have sprayed a fair amount, but the idea of gel coat has piqued my interest and I could use some guidance and direction. What brands of gelcoat and colorant are popular? Two coats? One thick coat and dry it on a rotating stand like a fishing rod? No wax on base coat and then wax on second coat? Spray on a mold release on final coat instead of wax? What kind of sprayer? I have a decent 3mm cup gun, but it’s not pressure fed. When multiple colors of splatter are applied is that with a normal gun? Two guns?

 

[M60A3TTS]

Better off going to a marine forum. Something like the Boat Design Forums. Those guys build boats and has many professional contributors. Poly resin make the boat industry go round.

 

[Ggmac]

Or a RC boat forum .

 

[Jonnyofalltrades]

Yeah, gel coat is usually the first layer put down on the inside of a mold. Then do the lay-up.

 

[TaperPin]

I was under the impression stock makers commonly use gel coat as an exterior finish - for both high gloss competition stocks and earth toned splatter finished hunting/“tactical” stocks.

I use Akemi colorant for polyester resin granite joints, and usually have some Total Boat gel coat in both waxed and no wax, but I don’t know if that is even usable.

 

[Jonnyofalltrades]

Not sure about other applications, but all I know it for is lining the mold, up against release agent. Then when you open the mold, it's the exterior of the product.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Not sure about other applications, but all I know it for is lining the mold, up against release agent. Then when you open the mold, it's the exterior of the product.

Yes, built from outside..in.

 

[6BRA]

How do gel coaters repair boat hulls? There has to be a way to spray it...lots of boat repairs/scratch repair takes place.

 

[Bc'z]

Me thinks you should look at epoxies and polyesters..
Me don't think often!

 

[ronemus]

Automotive clear-coat may be a better solution - even available in rattle cans if you'd rather not mess with the gun for such a small job.

 

[LVLAaron]

I'm dumb but I'm interested in this... What commercial stocks use gel coats? Is my red/white/blue McMillan a gel coat?

 

[BoydAllen]

I'm dumb but I'm interested in this... What commercial stocks use gel coats? Is my red/white/blue McMillan a gel coat?

Yes. Here is a picture of one of mine.

 

[LVLAaron]

Yeah, that. I've always wondered what it was but never did any research...

 

[TaperPin]

Perhaps what I‘ve heard referred to as gel coat is actually just epoxy paint?

The references I’ve found of actual gel coat sprayed says one of the down sides to it is a wavy appearance requiring a lot of flattening prior to buffing. My plywood workbench is finished with gelcoat and it definitely isn’t as flat as automotive paint.

What has been interesting is the huge variety of two part industrial coatings. Gone are the days of simple.