Gel coat spray systems

[Synapse]

Hello all

I am a tutor within the design department of London South Bank University; we are looking to expand our plastics capabilities;

We could achieve some much finer finishes to projects with a gel coat spray system.

Does anyone have any recomendations as to good air-fed gel coat spray systems?

Thanks

[tinhorn]

I presume you're brushing gelcoat into the molds now. Until you get your new spray system, you'll find that adding a bit of gelcoat to the first layer of laminate will hide the inevitable streaks. Doesn't take much - maybe 10% gelcoat to resin.

Your supplier could turn you on to new equipment, but I liked my cheap, home-brew system -- a 2-1/2 gallon pressure pot connected to a primer paint gun with about six feet of hose. Pressure regulators on both pot and gun. This allowed me to use one-gallon plastic milk jugs so that I didn't have to clean the whole pot. For larger projects, I just lined up gallon jugs (up to five or six) and when one ran out, I'd catalyze the next one, put it into the pot, and keep on spraying. This would work for dinghy-sized projects, but not a yacht.

[Synapse]

Thanks Tinhorn,

You're right, we are just brushing it on at the moment. Not ideal, especially with regards hairs falling out of the brushes and getting set into the coat!

We have a pressurised air line to run air tools off, so can use spray guns with that. Is any old air-fed gun ok to use with gel-coat, or do you need a particular type of nozzle? or a particular type of gel coat that sprays more easily?

[the1much]

they make cheap "cup guns",,many many different kinds,,,all it is , is a gun and handle,,,and you use a "paper" cup,,mix ya gel,,put the cup on the gun,,squirt,,then throw the cup away,,,google "gel coat cup guns",,this was 1 of the first places that popped up
http://www.fiberglasssupply.com/Product_Catalog/Gel_Coats/gel_coats.html
have fun hehe ;)

[tinhorn]

Cup guns are okay for touch-up, but to spray a mold of any size, you'd spend all your time replacing the cups!

You can use your current air line, but install a moisture trap so that water or oil won't get into the spray gun. You DO need a gun with a larger tip than is used for paint. I bought a primer gun with a larger tip and it worked beautifully. If my shop was too cold and the gelcoat was too thick to spray nicely, I thinned it just a tiny bit with acetone even though anybody worth their stir stick will insist you should never do this.

[the1much]

hehe,,,,we used ta spray out 55' and bigger,,,,bosses said it was cheaper getting an extra guy to mix for ya then it is to buy a spray systems themselves were worth,,,and i always like having "moral support" so is what i've always used,,hehe ;)

[waikikin]

Synapse, I use a Polycon "cup" gun, but the tubs it uses hold up to 2kg although wth 1.6kg it goes better(less weight to hold up), it has a 6 or 8mm tip & the gelcoat passage is only 25mm long & strait so easy clean in a small tin of acetone- the spray head dunks right in & a pipe cleaner or similar swipes the gel out. I've shot up to 25m2 using multiple tubs preped up before & catalysed as you go, about 110 grams of gel hangs back in the tub so you gotta factor that in your prep & I tag up the perimeter of the job to set the meters squared per tub. It cost about $300A maybe 10 years ago, also be aware that your gunna get heaps more styrene stink when you spray so there might be some issues there, if the jobs are small you can make a little gelcoat "puppy" out of an air blow down gun with a T on the front & venturi the gel up a short pipe(depth of cup)& hold the puppy & cup in syncronicity as you blow it at the job.You can also use a gravity style(cup on top) conventional spray gun, I got a Star brand(Asian Iwata copy) with 2.8mm tip, it goes good but slow & you gotta rush to clean before the gel sets inside it. All the best from Jeff.

[Landlubber]

Most any putty gun will spray gelcoat quite well for small to medium work. Thin with styrene.

[the1much]

i was thinking,,,,since their using a brush now,,,,they cant be doing anything with any size to it,,,,so maybe they should get a cup first,,(its better to ruin your first gun if its cheap) and try it all out,,and if it works for them,,,,move on to a bigger "system"

[tinhorn]

I developed a dislike for cup guns after dribbling over the top of the cup a few times. Nothing spoils a nice spray job like a big glob of gelcoat. If you don't need to be a contortionist to gelcoat the mold, they might work okay.

[the1much]

and not spraying the gel onto the project "last" helps,,,,,if you got a mould,,and spray first,,,then dribbles shouldnt be a problem,,,but he isnt very clear on his situation,,so i think he just wants us "guessing",,,hehe ;)

[SamSam]

Most any putty gun will spray gelcoat quite well for small to medium work. Thin with styrene.
What's a putty gun?

[the1much]

i was wondering same thing,,,but didnt want you guys throwing crap at the "old hippie" hehe ;)

[Roly]

"Most any putty gun will spray gelcoat quite well for small to medium work. Thin with styrene."

Hey LL,
Do you have any problem with gelcoat yellowing with Styrene?
We had a yellowing problem (clear resin & styrene) with surfboards years back. Is there any alternative?
Cheers

[Fanie]

Hi Roley, what's a putty gun ? Gravity feed spray gun with an oversize hole ?

The idea of gellcoat is to go on thick, if you spray it on you may not get the cavities (finer ones) filled better, I tried it once and I wasn't impressed. You get better results by giving more attention to the special areas.

[Roly]

Sorry Fanie, was quoting Landlubber.
I only have a sharp with a 2.4 tip gravity feed.
Dunno what a putty gun is. But I am blending gelcoat soon, where I marry deck to hull (rebate) , so I better find out.:D
Either that or spray with PU.

[the1much]

Sorry Fanie, was quoting Landlubber.
I only have a sharp with a 2.4 tip gravity feed.
Dunno what a putty gun is. But I am blending gelcoat soon, where I marry deck to hull (rebate) , so I better find out.:D
Either that or spray with PU.

if your just doing that small of an area,,,and your gonna have to sand no matter what,,,wouldnt it be easier and faster to just brush it on?

[Roly]

wouldnt it be easier and faster to just brush it on?

Yeah probably......but I never get to use my gun.....:mad:
68' x 4" wide = 22ft^2 is a bit of gelcoat??????? (34' boat)
F@(K hope I have enough left!!!!!!
22 /11 = 2m^2 Yup, i have enough (1L @ 0.5mm thick)
Thx, 1much, for getting my grey matter 2 work.

Guess i'm gonna be doin some cuttin 'n polishin.
Will I have to put some clear resin on top to get the same lustre as the molded gelcoat???

Will post some pictures (if this sounds like gibberish), as we pop the deck tomorrow.
Yahhoooo....oooooo

[the1much]

nope,,you'll need to wet sand it,,then buff it,,,then you'll wanna do the rest of ya boat to match hehe ;)

[Roly]

then you'll wanna do the rest of ya boat to match hehe ;)

With my fingers and toes crossed..... if I can get it as good as the deck I'll be happy! (I haven't seen it yet but we buffed the mold for hours and waxed 5 separate times.)

[fiberglass jack]

a putty gun is just another name for a primer gun with a large tip you can buy a gun with a 2.0 or 2.5 tip and will spray gelcoat, a dump gun with paper cups is best, they also sell a dump gun with a contaner that holds 8 litres and is feed with a tube you just have t hang the bucket of gel higher ie gravity feed,

[Landlubber]

fibreglass jack, yeah, thanks mate, and also the question about sytrene making resin yellow, yes that can happen, just don't thin too much! Not needed anyhow to be like milk, we are not spraying finish coats here, just gelcoat.

[Roly]

Came out pretty good all in all. A little imprinting of faults in a mold (that hasn't been used for 25 yrs). The odd void under gelcoat where the fancy cornice molding is, and styrene attack on the transome where gelcoat was too thin.Our block off of the mold (transom/coaming) was cheap & cheerful so gelcoat work to be done there as well.

[the1much]

im surprised it came out that good,,,,considering the dude in the picture has feathers comming outta his ass hehe ;)

[Roly]

Now that you mention it, he sounded a tad gay. Who cares, he was pretty good on the hiab and didn't "crack my deck." :p
BTW, check the deckmold b4 we got to it. Cow pats 'n all!

Thanks for all the help from you guys. Especially Waikakikin (jeff).I'm pleased with the transom mod.

[the1much]

now remember,,,,sounding gay is better then being,,hehe ;)
and you should frame the "before" pic.,and leave it hanging in the boat,,,and do i hear a boat name emerging??( cow mold) hehe ;)

[tinhorn]

Man, that is sweet!

(I always get a bit misty-eyed at birthings.)

[Landlubber]

Is it a Cavalier?

[Roly]

'69 Stewart 34
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=3AcuGzRozZOeA&emid=sharshar&linkid=link4

There is one in NSW somewhere. Googled gave ........ "Pendragon" 1996 Sydney- Goldcoast. built by Graham Fluery.
Otherwise a strong class following in NZ. They are now sponsored by Hyundai. (Was Canon for 25yrs)

[WorWilly]

Hi guy's you talk about small area spraying, what do you use with larger moulds, there appears to be many sytems on the market, internal mix, external mix, which is the best system. Also I agree gelcoat should never be thinned.

[Landlubber]

"gelcoat should never be thinned".......emmmm......NEVER?

Sometimes we do not do everything by the book my friend.

I do agree that it should not generally be thinned, but never...?

That is one nice looking boat too mate, good on ya.

[Landlubber]

I prefer external mix for a gel gun, I work in China, and the KISS system reigns supreme....oh, unless they forget to turn on the MEKP....yep, once saw a rep from a very reputable company spray a whole hull....funny to watch them washing the mould for the next few days.....such is life here.

[Landlubber]

Putty Gun....looks like that is lost somehow.

It is a gun with a pot that screws on underneath, there is no air bleed in the pot, so the pot is pressurised. Only used in small jobs of course.
They certainly do work well.