Gel Coating the Shroud

flmont · 11-07-2003, 09:17 AM

How do you gel coat the Fiber Gl shround is it easy 1 step or a long process...Thanks Frank

RoninLB · 11-07-2003, 09:34 AM

I never had to shoot a gel coat..

I'd rather shoot epoxy resin. I've shot a couple of shrouds with acrylic-urethane without primer.. I've also shot imron on boats over the gel coat without primer...Ron

RoninLB · 11-07-2003, 09:38 AM

Randy Webb · 11-07-2003, 11:52 AM

My shroud gotrepainted, but I actually prefer using a fiberglass polish -- then there is no paint to crack.

RoninLB · 11-07-2003, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Randy Webb
My shroud gotrepainted, but I actually prefer using a fiberglass polish -- then there is no paint to crack.

urethanes and acrylic-urethanes won't crack if shot properly on the shroud.. you would almost have to bend the shroud in 1/2 to "maybe" get it to crack.. And usually you can shoot urethane on the flex bumpers without a flex additive if your shoot is correct. Again a big wallop to the bumper that gets it to flex very big may cause a crack/whatever.......Ron

Zeke · 11-07-2003, 01:23 PM

Frank, there are definately substitutes for gel coating. But gel coat is polyesther and that's what the shroud is. However, the color in the shroud is in the resin and is all the way through. AFIK, they were never gel coated originally. So, if you go a simpler route, it won't make any difference because it's not original anyway. Epoxy and gel coat are two part mixtures and have to be cleaned out of the gun completely before hardening. PITA. Imron is a urethane base IIRC and is highly toxic to the user. So, none of these processes are a cake walk. On the red S shrouds, I've heard of a red leather (analine) dye from Tandy will fresshen up the fiberglass. Probably the same goes for the green. If all that is true, then black shoe dye ought to do the black. You still have the original factory look. Just some random thoughts.

Randy Webb · 11-07-2003, 02:03 PM

Thx Ron -- I can see that very few of the items I own were painted correctly by the PO's....

RoninLB · 11-07-2003, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Randy Webb
Thx Ron -- I can see that very few of the items I own were painted correctly by the PO's....

Hey Randy.. get a cheap touch-up gun to learn with.. then it's easy to use the big gun. Start with a couple of those $15 "speed shop" library books for motivation.. Elephant Man just shot his car with no prior experience, only a little help from his friends .........Ron