cerbera
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| posted on 1/10/05 at 01:37 PM |
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Gelcoat
Generally, how thick is gelcoat?
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flak monkey
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| posted on 1/10/05 at 01:41 PM |
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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 
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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chrisg
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| posted on 1/10/05 at 01:44 PM |
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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]
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cerbera
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| posted on 1/10/05 at 01:53 PM |
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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]
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dave1888
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| posted on 1/10/05 at 02:07 PM |
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It could be that the pigment in the gel coat is thin
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Triton
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| posted on 1/10/05 at 03:36 PM |
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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.
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scotty g
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| posted on 1/10/05 at 04:33 PM |
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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!!!!!!!!!
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Hugh Paterson
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| posted on 2/10/05 at 11:51 AM |
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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.
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chrisg
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| posted on 2/10/05 at 12:00 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by cerbera
PS Nice avatar chrisg
Thanks mate - work of art ain't it!
Cheers
Chris
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NS Dev
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| posted on 19/10/05 at 11:48 AM |
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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]
speking from personal experience, you aren't the only one with that bonnet and that problem!!
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Alan B
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| posted on 19/10/05 at 04:54 PM |
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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.
Hmm..odd.....my gel gun was surprisingly reasonable, about $120 (70 quid?) IIRC....
That isn't too expensive is it?
http://www.fibreglast.com/showproducts-category-Gel+Coats+&+
Hardener-10.html
Mine's the gel coat cup gun near the bottom of the page..
[Edited on 19/10/05 by Alan B]
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