Use Gel-cote with cloth?

Discussion in 'Fiberglass and Composite Boat Building' started by massandspace, Aug 14, 2022.

  1. massandspace
    Joined: Sep 2017
    Posts: 53
    Likes: 0, Points: 6
    Location: Salt Chuck

    massandspace Junior Member

    Hello

    Can one use polyester gel-cote to wet out/laminate with 6 ounce cloth?

    I ask as I am repairing a very very small area (very tip end of small rudder) that would use less than an ounce of resin…..probably a half ounce…..I really don’t want to buy 16/32 ounces of laminating resin, use a few drops, then have to store something toxic that I probably won’t ever use again….

    Again…can I embed 6 oz. cloth substituting gel-cote for resin? (Then a few more layers of gel, sand up the grits, then buff in)?
     
  2. ondarvr
    Joined: Dec 2005
    Posts: 2,929
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    Location: Monroe WA

    ondarvr Senior Member

    It works and is frequently done on cosmetic repairs. Or, if that's all you have on hand.

    It's a bit tougher to use because you can't easily see how well the glass has been wet out, plus you can't see any air.
     
    rwatson likes this.
  3. Tops
    Joined: Aug 2021
    Posts: 218
    Likes: 68, Points: 28
    Location: Minnesota

    Tops Senior Member

    LOL I just got a new quart of laminating resin and now I need a few oz of gelcoat for a utility-grade repair.
    Trade? :)
    Would the inverse situation work: tint lam resin 3% (white resin-specific pigment) and do three or four 5 mil (.12mm) thick wet coats? OK to thin with acetone up to 5%?
     
    Scuff likes this.
  4. ondarvr
    Joined: Dec 2005
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    Location: Monroe WA

    ondarvr Senior Member

    It will work, but the color and gloss may not hold up long term.

    Resin starts off with a very low viscosity so thinning it probably isn't needed
     
    Tops likes this.
  5. Tops
    Joined: Aug 2021
    Posts: 218
    Likes: 68, Points: 28
    Location: Minnesota

    Tops Senior Member

    Thanks Ondarvr, I appreciate the candid answers you give on these topics. This will be to get the patches from pea soup resin and pigmented filler to a more uniform color ahead of bottom prep.
     
  6. massandspace
    Joined: Sep 2017
    Posts: 53
    Likes: 0, Points: 6
    Location: Salt Chuck

    massandspace Junior Member

    Thanks to those who helped….

    To clarify: I would embed the cloth with gel, wait for cure, sand, and then still add several coats of more gel. So I am a bit confused on the statement about the color and gloss not holding up…..won’t the final coats of gel (over the repair) hold the color/gloss?
     

  7. Tops
    Joined: Aug 2021
    Posts: 218
    Likes: 68, Points: 28
    Location: Minnesota

    Tops Senior Member

    I think that specific comment was more for my homemade gel coat question.
     
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