Fiberglass body panels: Why white or black?

[v9ff]

I've seen them raw from the manufacturers in white or black resin(sp?) I think.

Why are some white or black before painting?

Can you request that they be black or white or is it just part of the process of manufacturing?

For street use, can you use them without painting them or will they be unprotected?

[Joe Bob]

It's a choice of manufacturer's....fortunately my car is white and happens to match the white gelcoat. When I break down and paint the car...I will do the f/g pieces as well.....

[v9ff]

How long can you run gelcoated fiberglass panels? Will they wear down faster without the paint protection?

[Joe Bob]

Mine have been on over a year....no wear. Except for rock chips.

[widebody911]

Apart from the gelcoat not being impervious to moisture and not UV stable, there's really no reason you can't run it raw for a while. The color is completely the whim of the fabricator.

[rcwaldo]

I think a lot of f/g body panel manufactures use white gel-coat because black will amplify all the imperfections waves in larger panels..

Chris

[rfuerst911sc]

Fiberglass boats are generally white gelcoat and last for a long time with frequent washing and waxing and they don't have a paint topcoat.

[KevinP73]

Originally posted by rfuerst911sc
Fiberglass boats are generally white gelcoat and last for a long time with frequent washing and waxing and they don't have a paint topcoat.

Marine gel coat ( aircraft also) have a uv protection additive in them. It increases the cost of the gel coat, most automotive f'glass parts are painted shortly after installation which is why manufacturers don't opt for the more expensive material.

[v9ff]

Sounds like the waxing part helps keep gelcoated fiberglass in shape... that may be a better alternative than a multi thousand dollar paint job.

[Zeke]

Many molds are black (tooling gel) and the white gel is easier to spray on a contrasting surface. My favorite gel is primer gel which is gray. It is pretty much the same as polyester primer/surfacer. Hardly anyone uses it. I was in the FG business for a few years a long time ago. I never made any black parts 'cause all my molds were black. Red tooling gel lets you do both.

[Otto]

We can order them in either black or white and also I have had them gel coat to color. Otto