Is the gelcoat I keep hearing about here an original finish on the fiberglass? If so, how shiny is it? I guess what some are saying is that if the gelcoat is good enough, some guys won't paint 'em?
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Is the gelcoat I keep hearing about here an original finish on the fiberglass? If so, how shiny is it? I guess what some are saying is that if the gelcoat is good enough, some guys won't paint 'em?
My 78 IM speedster had the original gelcoat red, and I saw no need to paint it. I polished and waxed it using fibreglass wax, and got quite a nice shine to it. I liked the original look of the car.
Joe,
Gelcoat is the first coat of resin they spray into a mold when manufacturing a car or boat.
Most boat builders mix in a colored pigment with the resin. When the hull is popped out of the mold, it's done, and isn't painted.
Most of the car manufactures don't color the resin with pigment because the shell will be "bodyworked",primed, and painted with automotive paint later.
Gelcoat is the first coat of resin they spray into a mold when manufacturing a car or boat.
Most boat builders mix in a colored pigment with the resin. When the hull is popped out of the mold, it's done, and isn't painted.
Most of the car manufactures don't color the resin with pigment because the shell will be "bodyworked",primed, and painted with automotive paint later.
Gelcoats are usually a different resin mix than that used in the fiberglass layup itself.
much thinner than regular resin, used to follow the mold better
They use mold release in the mold and this stuff gets into the pores of the gelcoat. It can continue to surface a year after the body comes from the mold. This might be a problem if you tried to paint it.
I have no experience with painting it, however.
I have no experience with painting it, however.