Original Cylon Armor Project/Gelcoat Question

[womo68]

Greetings Gentlemen,

I started a little project when I got permission from a buddy to make some molds of his Cylon armor. After finishing my R2 I was looking for something else to occupy my free time and was really interested in learning how to mold/gelcoat and fiberglass. I had done little r2 parts in resin but had never attacked such a large project of this type. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to do some glassin’!

So I got all the molds done (except for the backpack, also using rebound 25 from smoothon for the master molds) and proceeded to do a test pull of the helmet. The finish is...let’s say...less than acceptable. It's not bad...but I was expecting a much cleaner pull.

I gave the mold two coats or gel then two more of glass but the helm would need an hour or two of bondo and such to get it up to my standards. The glass is fine…it’s the gelcoat that’s giving me issues….with indentations and uneven application in some places.

Sooooo..... My question is...what are others using for gelcoat and fiberglass on their projects. I'm using a black gelcoat (don't remember the name right now) and I know that I have the mixture of hardener to gel just right.

Any tried-and-true gelcoat recommendations from the old-timers out there??? Is there a perfect temp for the gelcoat and application method? I'm using a small brush to apply my stuff but some of the spots look like I hardly appled any at all. I also let the first coat dry completely before adding the generous second coat. The helmet is stationary...should I rotate it at all before the gel dries???

I'll post pics tonight of the pulls.

Any advice and methods/personal experience with gelcoat and such would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

womo

 

[Koda Vonnor]

I'd expect you'll get more replies if peeps can read the post. Black text on dark gray BG is a bit rough on the eyes. :lol

I just completed a set of armor myself. It was my first attempt at fiberglassing so I'm no expert, but after having my gelcoat shrink and pull away from the mold twice, I have some opinions.

Next time I will most likely forgo the gelcoat entirely, or liberally mix bondo with the gelcoat and/or use color tints with bondo to make my own gelcoat. My guess is the temperature was much too high for gelcoat. Also, I believe you have to start laying the glass asap after applying the gelcoat (pre-tack even), so it doesn't have a chance to shrink.

All in all I was very disappointed in the pre-mixed marine gelcoat I used.

~ Vonnor

 

[exoray]

Humidity and temperature play all sorts of havoc with fiberglassing resins...

Keep notes and use precise measurements on your mixtures, find what works best with your specific products...

I believe you will also get best results spraying the gel coat, several thin coats until you get a good build up...

I hate fiberglassing, in fact I hate it so much I am currently in talks with a local fiberglassing shop to just sub out what I need done... To get good results it's simply finding out what works for you and practice...

 

[JtotheP]

My best attempts at Gel cote have been to either (1) Kick the holy hell out of it and spray it on--something about airating it and more catalyst helps it stay put along with a consistant thickness by spraying it. If you brush it on the thicker areas kick faster and pull the thinner spots. OR (2) Kick your fiberglass resin at the same time and apply your glass immediately after the gelcoat before either kick. here your gelcote can be applied by a brush.

Adding the bondo to the gelcote is a good idea as kodda vonnor said above.
It's important to use both the catalysts from the gelcote and bondo and you need to kick the mix with the MEKp first then the bondo hardener second--And look out--you need to work fast because that stuff hardens faster than you'll ever anticipate.

I believe you'll get a lot of responses on this thread because everyone has found a secret nitch that has worked with this before.

 

[womo68]

I'd expect you'll get more replies if peeps can read the post. Black text on dark gray BG is a bit rough on the eyes. :lol

LOL! I use the general template on the board...easier for me to read

Nice job on the armor....I get what y'all are saying on the gelcoat stuff....it's been over 100 degrees here for the last month or so. I guess I just need to fiddle with it to get the right mix down.

Thanks for the replies!

womo