spraying gelcoat - need some advice
 

my latest project is my very first boat - a 1976 8' Eli Laminates dinghy...it's been sitting in the woods behind my parents house for the past 10 years and is in need of refinishing.

The keel had a hole in it which I patched with cloth and resin...came out pretty good if I do say so myself...considering it was my first time using the stuff... :)

so now I intend to spray the boat with white gelcoat and need some advice...can anyone point me in the direction of a decent spray gun?

I've heard that you need to thin the gelcoat in order to get it to lay down for easier sandin later...what do i thin it with and hwo much do i use?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Re: spraying gelcoat - need some advice
 

Sean I gelcoated my magnum and it is a huge project, but in the end looks so much better than paint. You need to contact minicraft. They have the gel, guns, thinners, hardeners, and everything else you will need. Ask for Roger, he is a great help and will tell you what to do. The formula that I have been using is

16 oz. of gel
2 oz. of reducer
1 oz of styrene
4 cc's (mils) of hardener

The spray gun will need to have a 1.8 needle and tip to spray the gel.
I also strongly recommend the 3m PPG paint system which makes the gravity cup on the gun into a pressure pot so you can spray it upside down and sideways. It is HIGHLY worth the extra money. I believe that there website is www.minicraft.com
If you have any questions about it you can call me either at
(423)332-9900 ex 151 days
or
(423) 847-9175 home #

Good Luck
Travis

Re: spraying gelcoat - need some advice
 

Oops, The 3m paint system is called PPS, minicraft has a little video on their website to view and show you how it works.

Re: spraying gelcoat - need some advice
 

travis,

thanks for the info...do you think this gun would work?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...917225265&rd=1

Re: spraying gelcoat - need some advice
 

Sean...

For God's sake. Don't breathe the stuff. Get a good fresh air respirator.

That stuff will lower your IQ permanently.

Re: spraying gelcoat - need some advice
 

And it aint a good buzz either.

Re: spraying gelcoat - need some advice
 

Maybe if you can get a 1.8 needle and end cap for it. Many guns on the market do not offer this big a size for their guns. Make sure it you can get the proper size or it won't. I have two guns, one similar to that one that I use for primer, and I bought the Jaguar gun from minicraft. It is a very nice piece of equipment. But it is also very expensive.

Re: spraying gelcoat - need some advice
 

Sean call up MINICRAFT in Florida www.minicraft.com They are the MOST knowledgeable guys around for this and they will spend some time with you. They offer a reducer that is unreal for gel coat. Sprays on with little orange peal and sands super nice.

Re: spraying gelcoat - need some advice
 

...he he he he he :D

Re: spraying gelcoat - need some advice
 

Yes look at Puders posts if you want to know what it will do to ya :D:D