Clear gel coat for scratches?

[38special]

I've been sanding the oxidized gel coat on my boat and have been able to sand most of the scratches out followed up with buffing. I have about 4 areas where there are scratches too deep to sand. They're not down to the fiberglass but deep enough that it will show up as waves in the gel coat if i sand that deep to get them out. There are some in the white areas of the boat and some in the maroon. Can i build them up with clear gel coat then sand and buff to hide them?

 

[BWT]

Re: Clear gel coat for scratchs?

Re: Clear gel coat for scratchs?

Clear gel is simply that; clear. If there are any color differences or deep scratches that you're trying to fill they will still show; you just won't be able to feel them on the surface. If they are deep enough that you can't block them out (you'll only get waves if you sand the particular spot by hand) then you'll need to fill them with pigmented gel. However, be careful aggressively sanding dark colored gel, it has a tendency to become somewhat transparent in thinner films (much easier than white(ish) gel as the level of pigment in darker gel is much lower (sounds odd, but true). If you can post a few pics might be able to help a little more.

~BWT

 

[38special]

Re: Clear gel coat for scratchs?

Re: Clear gel coat for scratchs?

Thank you and i will post some pics in the morning. The scratches in the maroon paint look white. The others that i have sanded also looked white but they were not as deep and they did sand out and buffed nicely.

 

[38special]

Re: Clear gel coat for scratches?

The scratch in the maroon is about 2 inches long and the pit in the white about the size of a BB. Can i get by just roughing the area around them then shooting gel coat in those colors to build back up then block them out?

 

[BWT]

Re: Clear gel coat for scratches?

The chip in the white is a pretty simple color to get close. I would prep the chip and chatter by sanding with some 80 grit (but only work the damage; no point in sanding a larger area and making the repair bigger than it needs to be). After sanding clean with acetone and lay in some gel paste. You may need to add some pigment to get the paste color a little closer; you'll need a little brown, black and yellow. Be patient and add the pigments in VERY small amounts and thoroughly stir the gel to make sure the pigment is fully mixed into the gel. Catalyze with Mek-P roughly 12 drops per ounce of gel and lay it in with a stir stick. Over fill a bit cause you can sand it back down. After it tacks go over with a little PVA to seal the surface and allow full cure.

As far as the maroon, if you take a little water and dab it over the scratch does the white turn back to the maroon color? If so this can probably be blocked out. Start with 600 grit to get it pretty close to feeling flush, then work real well with 1000 and finish off with 1500 and buff with some compound. BUT, be careful and watch what you're doing as your sanding (particularly with the 600). If you start to see lighter shades of the color STOP!

Now, if you dab in some water and the white scratch stays white; then you're looking at tinting more gel to get the color close. For this color you'll have to start with a different gel base than you used for the white; have to use what's called a neutral base. But, from the pic it doesn't look that deep and I think you'll be able to sand it out. If not, we'll cross that bridge later.

Good luck!

BWT

 

[38special]

Re: Clear gel coat for scratches?

The chip in the white is a pretty simple color to get close. I would prep the chip and chatter by sanding with some 80 grit (but only work the damage; no point in sanding a larger area and making the repair bigger than it needs to be). After sanding clean with acetone and lay in some gel paste. You may need to add some pigment to get the paste color a little closer; you'll need a little brown, black and yellow. Be patient and add the pigments in VERY small amounts and thoroughly stir the gel to make sure the pigment is fully mixed into the gel. Catalyze with Mek-P roughly 12 drops per ounce of gel and lay it in with a stir stick. Over fill a bit cause you can sand it back down. After it tacks go over with a little PVA to seal the surface and allow full cure.

As far as the maroon, if you take a little water and dab it over the scratch does the white turn back to the maroon color? If so this can probably be blocked out. Start with 600 grit to get it pretty close to feeling flush, then work real well with 1000 and finish off with 1500 and buff with some compound. BUT, be careful and watch what you're doing as your sanding (particularly with the 600). If you start to see lighter shades of the color STOP!

Now, if you dab in some water and the white scratch stays white; then you're looking at tinting more gel to get the color close. For this color you'll have to start with a different gel base than you used for the white; have to use what's called a neutral base. But, from the pic it doesn't look that deep and I think you'll be able to sand it out. If not, we'll cross that bridge later.

Good luck!

BWT

Gel paste? And for all the makings I'll need a small can of neutral if i can't block out the maroon along with an asortment of tents for that and the white. A can of white base, acetone, Mek-p and PVA? Thanks for taking the time to explain. Your post will be my notes for when i start. I just did rub the scratch with a clean cloth and water and it darkend to a light maroon. If it's like the others it will darken as i wet sand. I will keep an eye on it as i sand to make sure i'm not getting into a lighter color. On the wet sanding i've been stopping at 1000 grit and buffing. The gel coat looks absolutly glassy. Is there a noticeable differance using 1500 and is there a good sealer to put on right after. I keep hearing wax. This last year i've been using synthetic spray on wax on my truck and it way out lasts any of the older type wax's.