Why do you ask?
David
Generally, how thick is gelcoat?
It varies considerably depending on the 'quality' of the GRP. Anything from 0.5mm to 3mm+. Very difficult to tell without cutting into it as
well.
Why do you ask?
David
It's quite difficult to say as it's down to the maker of the 'glass.
It's brushed on, so it could be very thin indeed or very thick, particularly in the bottom of a mould, they aim for around 1 to 1.5mm. Gelcoat
it's self is very brittle and should not be too thick.
Some mass produced stuff is sprayed onto the mould, but again it's very much down to the operative.
Not much help I know!
Cheers
Chris
PS why do you ask?
edit: damn monkey beat me to it!
[Edited on 1/10/05 by chrisg]
The reason I ask is that the quality of finish of my bonnet is not very good, in that, when you look from the front, depending on the light, it looks
very uneven. If the gelcoat was thick enough I was hoping to try and flatten it so it would look better.
PS Nice avatar chrisg 
[Edited on 1/10/05 by cerbera]
It could be that the pigment in the gel coat is thin
All depends who made it as most stuff only has one gel coat....better quality will always be two coats to help stop the matt pattern showing thru...unless it's to be painted then it doesn't matter.
Personally i will always double gel and then add a drop of pigment to the resin for the lay up as well just in case my gel pigment is a bit weak, not
that any of this helps you though, sorry!
It doesn't much matter if your gel is too thin or if the pigment is too weak, there aint much you can do other than spray or replace. Again,
sorry!!!!!!!!!
As Mark has mentioned in hand lay up two thin coats is better than one to avoid the pattern of the Csm or cloth showing through the gel. Good quality
grp also benifits from the first laminate after the gel having a layer of surface tissue prior to laminates . U wanna get posh u can spray the gel but
u dont want to know what the Spray guns and the setup for that costs
Shug.
quote:
Originally posted by cerbera
PS Nice avatar chrisg
quote:
Originally posted by cerbera
The reason I ask is that the quality of finish of my bonnet is not very good, in that, when you look from the front, depending on the light, it looks very uneven. If the gelcoat was thick enough I was hoping to try and flatten it so it would look better.
PS Nice avatar chrisg
[Edited on 1/10/05 by cerbera]
quote:
Originally posted by Hugh Paterson............... U wanna get posh u can spray the gel but u dont want to know what the Spray guns and the setup for that costs
Shug.