gelcoat question

[KJM]

Hi, i put some gelcoat on the inside of my new transom today. it is waxed and in a few places it seems a bit too thin, i can see marker lines and such thru it. I'd like to put on a second coat and am wondering about the wax. Is it ok just to wash it off with acetone and maybe a light sanding then apply second coat?

 

[chevymaher]

Yes that be fine.

 

[KJM]

It also is very flat, IE not shiny, I thought gelcoat would be shiny when cured. I don't really care about where i am now as nobody will see it but later when I do the outside and other things I'd like a nice shine. Is this something I need to do by buffing and waxing etc. or is there a shiny gelcoat that can be bought. I've never used gelcoat before so please excuse what may seem like dumb questions.....

 

[chevymaher]

Yep sand and buffer it will shine like glass.

 

[Scott Danforth]

there are two ways to make gel coat shiny......

use the duratec gloss additive when you spray - it will shine like paint, however have orange peel

start with 400 grit, work your way up to 1200 grit, then use aquabuff 2000 and then 3M finesse it. (this is how 90% of gel is made shiny)

 

[KJM]

Thanks for the info.