fiberglass relic restoration

Scott Chinsota

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 18, 2011
Messages
216
Re: need advice...

Re: need advice...

thanks z, roll and tip is the plan. found 3/8 nap mohair rollers at sherwin williams and 1/4 nap rollers at wal mart. west marine sells a sprayer with propellant cartridges but i thought id try some other rollers first. too late to try them today. gunna go shoot some pics before i get ready for work.
 

zopperman

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jun 22, 2011
Messages
1,551
Re: need advice...

Re: need advice...

I found less nap to helpful... but I used a fuzzy roller for some texture...
 

Scott Chinsota

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 18, 2011
Messages
216
Re: update...

Re: update...

here's a few for now...dec 6 pics 001.jpgdec 6 pics 002.jpgdec 6 pics 003.jpgdec 6 pics 007.jpgdec 6 pics 005.jpgthe gelcoat didn't cover using a foam roller. the wells went in ok. more pics to post but i'm outta time.
 

Scott Chinsota

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 18, 2011
Messages
216
more pics...

more pics...

dec 6 pics 008.jpgbow seat stand, set in pb, filleted and tabbed in. used the battery for weight.
dec 6 pics 009.jpgsame stand from the inside. gunna mount brackets to strap battery in.

dec 6 pics 013.jpgother stand with lots of holes drilled and filled...dec 6 pics 012.jpgpatched and covered with csm. it'll go in later.

dec 6 pics 015.jpgchanged the flat. looks significantly less trashy not sinking into the yard.
 

Scott Chinsota

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 18, 2011
Messages
216
gelcoat woes...

gelcoat woes...

short nap roller didn't cover much better. tried to sand the first attempt and wipedown with acetone to remove wax...gelcoat wiped off. i prepped the surfaces by sanding with 100 grit and wiping down with acetone but didnt get a strong bond. figured if it didn't stick, might as well wipe it all off and try again. maybe i over did it with the acetone. sure wiped off easy. don't know why.
i'm just experimenting at this point. i using a qt of gelcoat with wax i bought for the final coat. i'm gonna have to go buy some without wax. don't look like anything will give me one coat coverage. i did the roll and tip thing and it works. the brush knocks down the orange peel leaving a smoother surface. should mean less sanding. next attempt will be unwaxed with the mohair roller.
 

Scott Chinsota

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Apr 18, 2011
Messages
216
sprayer advice...?

sprayer advice...?

i was talking to a buddy at work about spraying gelcoat. i told him my compressor is an oiler. he told me i can buy a filter for it and to buy a spray gun from harbor freight. i told him it's only a ten gallon tank and i didn't think it had the cfm needed to deliver consistant pressure. he disagreed and told me a low volume low pressure set-up would do the trick. i looked at the most recent hf ad and saw many different types of guns. some gravity fed, some not. i have no idea which one to purchase or if my little compressor can handle the job. i wasnt gonna spray because i thought i would need a differrent compressor but if all i need is a $5 filter and a $15 gun then all i'm really missing is knowing which sprayer to buy. if anyone knows what i need to know, please take a minute and point me in the right direction.
Thanks,
Scott
 

mark1961

Ensign
Joined
Apr 30, 2007
Messages
940
Re: fiberglass relic restoration

A HVLP (high volume low pressure) gravity fed type might do the trick, they usually need about 12cfm though.....you will also want a small drying filter in the line near the gun to remove moisture from the air before it reaches the gun.....
 

Scott Chinsota

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 18, 2011
Messages
216
compressor specs

compressor specs

what i have is a 10 gallon oiler rated at 5.6cfm @ 90psi, 7.2cfm @ 40psi. i still doubt it will do it. maybe with the perfect gun in small batches but i'll waste a little every time i clean cuz it's so thick and clings to everything. stuff has the consistancy of elmers glue.
 

Scott Chinsota

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Apr 18, 2011
Messages
216
progress?

progress?

got the right gelcoat, got the right roller, got a 30% chance of rain, got a 4 ounce test batch on the boat...looks great...sprinkle? got two tarps over the boat in 27 seconds flat! got soaked hooking up all the bungee cords.

looked at some spray guns but i'm not gunna shell out the cash unless i have to. the roll and tip method is working well and i like the mild texture. might help tone down the reflection of the sunshine. aint got enough on the boat to take pics but i'll post some soon. goin out to make some blocks for the live well drain tubes. gotta fix the rot in the helm for the steering re-install too...if it'll quit raining.
 

Scott Chinsota

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 18, 2011
Messages
216
Re: pics...

Re: pics...

bow seatstand and wells are in,started gelcoat. pulled bow eye out for replacement.patched alot of bolt/screw holes.
2012_0106boat0016.jpg2012_0106boat0017.jpg2012_0106boat0019.jpg2012_0106boat0011.jpg2012_0106boat0022.jpg
 

Scott Chinsota

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 18, 2011
Messages
216
Re: more pics

Re: more pics

2012_0106boat0024.jpg2012_0106boat0030.jpg2012_0106boat0034.jpg2012_0106boat0035.jpg2012_0106boat0041.jpg
more gelcoat...draintube turned out nice. bilge and cap has final coat. interior almost ready. sole gets textured last.
 

Scott Chinsota

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 18, 2011
Messages
216
Re: pics...

Re: pics...

blocks i put in wells for draintubes, cap finished and the draintube from the outside. well draintubes are done and the wells are ready for final coat inside and out. haven't shot pics yet. still lots to do. goint through alot of gelcoat to cover the green it looks much better in white. more soon.
2012_0106boat0028.jpg2012_0106boat0029.jpg2012_0106boat0033.jpg2012_0106boat0043.jpg
 

Scott Chinsota

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 18, 2011
Messages
216
Re: pics...

Re: pics...

so far so good on the gelcoat. i like the texture of the csm showing through and the orange peel. i have no plan to sand it smooth. might not be everyone's cup of tea but it's my boat and i like it. sanding it would make it smooth but thinner. maybe the cap...someday but not now. i tried cleaning up a spot on the rub rail and it will look near new when done. steel wool and mineral spirits did the trick. gotta go shopping for ss bolts and other hardware. need a pop rivet gun to remount the well lids. more soon
 

kfa4303

Banned
Joined
Sep 17, 2010
Messages
6,094
Re: pics...

Re: pics...

Lookin' great Scott. I kind of like the rough texture too. Are you going to bolt/mount a seat on the stand up front, or just leave it flat so folks can stand on it like a casting platform? Keep up the good work. Cheers!
 

Scott Chinsota

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 18, 2011
Messages
216
Re: pics...

Re: pics...

thanks and seats go on, just not yet. got a dozen irons in a dozen fires. grit textured most of the sole today. almost got the best of me but i prevailed. new pics of the progress tomorrow. re-studded my old cleats...$4, new cleats...$40. had to re-mount most of the old hardware. just ain't in the budget to replace them yet.
 
Last edited:

Scott Chinsota

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 18, 2011
Messages
216
Re: pics...

Re: pics...

2012_0310card10001.jpgstuds were beyond rotten
2012_0310card10002.jpgnew screws, toilet bolts wouldv'e worked, jam nut at desired length, cut, dress threads, screw into cleat and remove jam nuts. ready for install...even if they are blistered and peeling chrome.
2012_0310card10004.jpg3 more to go. yes it's sitting on a white fiberglass patio table. no i didn't make it.
 

jbcurt00

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 25, 2011
Messages
25,110
Re: pics...

Re: pics...

None of those photos attached. There has been some problems posting pix since you were last on, try using a photobucket acct & the
 

Scott Chinsota

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 18, 2011
Messages
216
Re: pics...

Re: pics...

2012_0310card10015.jpglower unit oil, not milk and honey. time to...
2012_0310card10007.jpgdo this. 3 feet of threaded rod, nuts washers and a steering wheel puller...pb blaster and a torch may be necessary.
 
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