Splatter Paint Question

Discussion in 'Boatbuilding' started by Barred label, May 16, 2012.

  1. Barred label
    Joined: May 2012
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    Location: Saraaota

    Barred label Junior Member

    Hello all,
    I'm new to this forum but i've been lurking around for a bit. I'm currently in the process of restoring a 1973 center console and i'll have a thread up shortly to track its progress. At this point in time i'm gelcoating the interior. (Yes i already understand there are better alternatives to gelcoat).
    I plan on splattering black and yellow paint throughout the interior similar to carolina skiffs. What i'm wondering is this:
    Do i need to use a tinted gelcoat for this or will an enamel or acrylic paint work?
    Also do i buff and polish the gelcoat before or after applying the splatter paint?
    Thanks in advance for the help!
    -Justin
     
  2. philSweet
    Joined: May 2008
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    Location: Beaufort, SC and H'ville, NC

    philSweet Senior Member

    Not really my thing, but since nobody else answered, I'll give you a bump.

    There are several ways of doing this. You can sling tinted gelcoat off a wooden stick. It leaves stripes. I made a pair of nifty camo sit on top kayak/gunning boats for some guys in Louisiana this way and I got a decent camo by stick slinging into a mold.

    You can take the same gelcoat and a blowoff nozzle and pour the gel into the airstream. Messy but effective.

    You can use webbing compound. Not too much. In paint, not gelcoat. Some shops will sell it by the ounce. Need a cup gun.
     
  3. SamSam
    Joined: Feb 2005
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    Location: Coastal Georgia

    SamSam Senior Member

    You might want to move it to the fiberglass and composite section. Either that or keep bumping it up so it doesn't get lost.

    What do you mean by restoring? Are you splattering just the sides or the floor too? Did you use waxed gelcoat?
     
  4. Barred label
    Joined: May 2012
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    Barred label Junior Member

    Thats really helpful information and certainly appreciated. The first two methods you discussed sound like something i can manage.
    So tinted gelcoat is the way to go? Thats what i suspected.
    Thanks again,
    Justin
     
  5. Barred label
    Joined: May 2012
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    Location: Saraaota

    Barred label Junior Member

    Yes i am indeed using gelcoat with wax in it for both the interior sides and deck.
    You can check out my other thread in this section titled "boat restoration project" if you're interested.
     
  6. tunnels

    tunnels Previous Member

    splatter or speckle what ever !!

    Ok dont know if you got this sorted or not !! I saw it a while ago but lost it till now . Ok gel coat is the best thing to use !! its durable and its more consistant to use than paints of any sort . dont know what you have for a gun but a pressure pot is the one and only for me . I mad my own system in every place i have worked , This pot od either 1.? litre or a 5 liter just unplug and fit one to the other . The small pot i use plastic containers with the gel coat in them , Catalyze and mix and into the pot have everything turned off !!First is air supply to the pot when its comng out at a slow dribble then its adjust the air to to the gun its self about 2 psi and have a big something to spray onto and adjust to the desired finish!!!, remember as you raise or lower the air pressure , Low pressue =big spots , slightly higher pressure = smaller spots . So its your choice as to what you use or can have combinations of each . Do what you want with one colour then completely clean the gun and spray the next colour.straight away !!. Thing to remember is spray ighter colours first and dark colours last as its the hardest to flush out when you clean the gun and hoses and pot !!.
    The speckle pictures were for a demo for the guys i work with to make some bench tops!!. Can mask and create patterns when you use differant colours !!. i use just gel coat straight from the can , add a little liquid styrene wax and dont thin or play with it just catalyze and spray same as normal 1.5% and its cool !! clean up and keep away till the next day . :D
     

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  7. Barred label
    Joined: May 2012
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    Barred label Junior Member

    This is great information however (and i should have been more specific in my original post( i meant the splatter style involving long "strings" of paint as if you slowly threw it with a paint brush but not as sloppy. I will keep what you said in mind for future reference
    Though
     
  8. SamSam
    Joined: Feb 2005
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    Location: Coastal Georgia

    SamSam Senior Member

  9. tunnels

    tunnels Previous Member

    That is called cobwebbing not splatter !! always say what you mean !! people cant read your mind !! we used to use laquare straight from the tin unthinned and like it or not it cobwebs !! and boy you have to be quick !!!, its not as good as Gelcoat !!
    I see SAM SAM HAS SOMETHING BETTER you can mix WITH THE GELCOATso would look into that for sure :):)!!
     
  10. Barred label
    Joined: May 2012
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    Barred label Junior Member

    Sorry tunnels, i know now what to call it correctly so thankyou.
    That additive seems like exactly what im looking for! Inexpensive too! I'm guessing it makes the gelcoat congeal. I noticed on the site it didnt specify any certain size sprayer tip to use but i'd suppose to larger the better.
     
  11. tunnels

    tunnels Previous Member

    A pressure pot is the answer ! nozzel size dosent reall mater to much unless you are doing a really big spray job ! A gun might have to be gravity feed or one of those guns with a pressurised bowl !!
    The pressure pot you have total control over everything !, the others are pretty hit and miss unless you find a dedicated gun for that purpose . :D:p
     

  12. Barred label
    Joined: May 2012
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    Location: Saraaota

    Barred label Junior Member

    I see. I havent ever used a pressure pot but from the research i've been doing they seem really handy and not too expensive either. I might need to upgrade my air compressor first (something i've wanted to do for awhile anyway) as most of them are just outside of its scfm rating. Thanks for the tips and i'll keep an eye out for one of those
     
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