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12
Oct
Are you a DIYer or hobbyist who loves to take on projects that involve gel coat? Both first time users and experienced professionals can face common problems such as cracks, fisheyes, pinholes, sags, and runs. These issues can not only be frustrating but also lead to subpar results. But fear not! In this blog post series, we will delve into the causes of these problems and provide effective solutions so that you can achieve flawless gel coat applications every single time.
| PROBLEM | CAUSE | SOLUTIONS OR ITEM TO CHECK FOR |
|---|---|---|
| Cracks- Spider cracks radiating from a central point or in circles. Or, stress cracks that are in parallel lines. | Excessive gel coat thickness, | Use a mil gauge and do not go over 24 mils. |
| Stress due to flexing. | Make sure not to use too much gel coat. Create a laminate that is not too thing. Make sure part is cured. | |
| Fisheyes | Water, oil or silicone contamination | Make sure not to use to much mold release, Drain air lines in spray gun. Check lubricating materials used with the equipment. |
| Gel coat too thin | Use +/- 2 18 mils in 3 passes | |
| Material gelled in container | Age and storage condition | Use within storage limits and store in cool, dark area. |
| Pinholes | Insufficient atomization | To high gel coat delivery rate. Not enough atomizing pressure. |
| Sags and runs | Excessive gel coat | Apply +/-2 18 mils thick, wet. |
| Low viscosity | Not enough styrene. Check viscosity and thixotropic properties. |
Click below for Part 1 and Part 2 and Part 3.
Dallin Leach
