Metal Flake Gelcoating Series

[Woodonglass]

I found this while "Surfing" today. I watched the entire series. While I don't think I'd do this Outside in the Elements like this guy did, I do think his process is fairly decent. I've never done it so I can't speak from experience. I offer this just for instructional value based on his techniques.

 

[gm280]

I found this while "Surfing" today. I watched the entire series. While I don't think I'd do this Outside in the Elements like this guy did, I do think his process is fairly decent. I've never done it so I can't speak from experience. I offer this just for instructional value based on his techniques.

I think I stumbled on this same video myself but didn't finish watching it yet. I'd certainly like to shoot some metal flake accent areas on a nice Bass Boat. And I can easily see metal flake being an option to try. Obviously metal flake from the original factory layup is the best way. But I often wonder why it couldn't be shoot on any refurbishing effort being how cars are metal flaked without too many problems. I guess the real secret is to get the base coat on and then the flake on next, and then fill up the area with a sandable clear or lightly tinted top coats. We'll see. :thumb:

 

[gm280]

WOG, I managed to watch a few parts now and I can tell you , he doesn't have his stuff together at all. He isn't fluid enough with his ideas, setup, measuring, mixing and basically anything. I will continue watching, but only to see what his final results are. But he doesn't offer much confidence in his abilities. I can't believe how haphazard he does things. Nothing precision and even lack of PPE when shooting the Gel Coat. He might pull this off, but I won't be mimicking his methods. JMHO thus far.

 

[Woodonglass]

Like I said His Process Is OK, but...Probably NOT the most precise. His final product looks good on camera but...Who knows if it will last over time. I wanted to post this just to show the members that spraying gelcoat can be a DIY'r project IF you have the right equipment.

 

[gm280]

Like I said His Process Is OK, but...Probably NOT the most precise. His final product looks good on camera but...Who knows if it will last over time. I wanted to post this just to show the members that spraying gelcoat can be a DIY'r project IF you have the right equipment.

Ha Mike, I understand. I am not blaming you in the least. I will continue watching his efforts and finished results. I honestly have a boat in mind that I would like to do after this silly tri-hull project is finished............and all the inside home projects as well.

 

[harleyman1975]

I honestly feel that painting would be easier than gelcoating and if you do it right and take just a little care with it paint will last a long time. Remember the gelcoat is done in reverse of a paintjob as it is sprayed into the mold in the following order clear gel, metalflake, base gelcoat color, csm or chooped fiber, light woven mat, chopped fiber, heavier woven mat more chopped fiber, heavy woven roving, ect...

 

[gm280]

I honestly feel that painting would be easier than gelcoating and if you do it right and take just a little care with it paint will last a long time. Remember the gelcoat is done in reverse of a paintjob as it is sprayed into the mold in the following order clear gel, metalflake, base gelcoat color, csm or chooped fiber, light woven mat, chopped fiber, heavier woven mat more chopped fiber, heavy woven roving, ect...

harleyman, Yes you are correct. Problem is, when you shoot paint with metal flake. you have to put your base color coat down first, then the metal flake and then tint coats followed by a lot of clear coats and a heck of a lot of wet sanding to get the finish to look amazing. You have to shoot enough clear coat to fill all the metal flakes to the point that when you wet sand, you don't break through to the metal flakes before you get the smooth finish. So it is a lot of work, but it can be done and look great. I am thinking about trying a graphic section with metal flake on the next boat just to see if I can. But I will use PPG paints myself, not Gel Coat. JMHO!

 

[Chadomosis]

Is this dude still alive??? Spraying a catalyzed material without a fresh air mask, a tyvek suit AND outdoors?? Holy Health Risk Batman! Can you say isocyanate poisoning?? There is a gaping hole in the ozone right above this guys house...

 

[gm280]

Is this dude still alive??? Spraying a catalyzed material without a fresh air mask, a tyvek suit AND outdoors?? Holy Health Risk Batman! Can you say isocyanate poisoning?? There is a gaping hole in the ozone right above this guys house...

Yea, I made comment about the lack of PPE previously. Notice his dog is right there sniffing in the Gel Coat dust as well. I love how he precisely measured the Gray Liquid Pigment to the Gel Coat mixture. A few drops off the plastic spoon. I can easily see how duplicating that mixture will go. :facepalm: But that is only part of his problems. But I have to continue watching to see how it comes out anyway. :noidea:

 

[Chadomosis]

His mixing technique is the least of his problems. I'm not a tree hugger, but watch for this dudes address and send somebody over there... If you don't care for yourself, that's one thing, but I'd assume he has a family, and pets obviously and don't forget neighbors. That's some downright dangerous behavior right there! I still wanna see what it looks like when he's done though.

 

[Woodonglass]

AS I stated, I wouldn't advise doing this in an uncontrolled area like he is doing. All painting should be done in a controlled environment, especially two part paint systems. It's NOT that hard to build a temporary spray booth from PVC Pipe and Plastic.
Here's just one example

http://chris66dad.tripod.com/id24.html

 

[gm280]

AS I stated, I wouldn't advise doing this in an uncontrolled area like he is doing. All painting should be done in a controlled environment, especially two part paint systems. It's NOT that hard to build a temporary spray booth from PVC Pipe and Plastic.
Here's just one example

http://chris66dad.tripod.com/id24.html

Mike, when I painted that old '96 Geo Metro (seen at the beginning of my boat thread), I actually bought a couple very large plastic drop-clothe like sheet from the PPG paint store. They sell them so cheap it is a given. Then I attached it to the ceiling area in my breeze way on both sides. Some bricks and cinder blocks held the bottoms in place and we wore Tyvek suits and 3M 6700 air respirators. It worked out perfect and the cost was so little, I can't see why anybody wouldn't buy such items to protect themselves and everything else around them.

This guy on the Gel Coat videos, seems oblivious to any of those issues. But I have to continue to see how it work out. I won't be mimicking his methods. but I can tweak the process to do it the correct way.

 

[Woodonglass]

Yeah, I Plasticized my Garage walls and Ceiling when I painted my boat. I close the garage door down to sit on 3 box fans and had an oscillating fan blowing air out towards the door. Total Cost was less than $50 bucks. (fans cost $12 bucks each at Walmart) and then the plastic. I still have a Ton of plastic left on the roll. I guess if you lived on an acreage out in the country It MIGHT be acceptable to shoot outside but even then it's not the way to do it.

 

[gm280]

Well Mike, I managed to watch the entire Gel Coat project. Even the mundane talking parts where you couldn't make out what he was saying because of the wind. I think his Car, Camper, House, all the Shrubbery, the Dog and even his lungs are now all metal flaked. I couldn't believe he sprayed that back enclosed area without any respirator what so ever. It looked like the fog rolled in when he was spraying that area. How could he not smell that stuff? I was told that if you can smell the paint or whatever you are dealing with or spraying, you need the proper air respirator. Seems a full cover Tyvek suit and gloves and of course a quality air respirator would be the minimum PPE for that stuff. JMHO!

His final results looks nice, but his color scheme is not to my liking. The colors looked too muted and not a stand out layup. But it is his boat. The metal flake was what I was interested in mainly and it looks like that can be accomplished. Touch up is a totally different story though.

I have to wonder if he is going to have future lung issues. I've seen my neighbor go through such lung issues and finally die because of it and it isn't pretty.

 

[ondarvr]

We can back down a little from sending an aid car to his house.

There are no isocyanates in gel coat, so forget about that worry.

Polyesters (that includes gel coat) can be detected by your nose in very small amounts, far less than what a person not familiar with it would joy being around, so the chances of a non pro being overcome is sort of low. At the workplace allowed 50 parts per million the normal person would be running out of the room from eye and nose irritation, and this is the level allowed for working around it all the time. People do this for decades at a time and don't exhibit health issues.

And while the dust isn't good for you, it's not the type that will cause issues from short term exposure, the correct paper mask is all that required.

Am I saying to not wear PPE...no....just don't over react to someone working outside with plenty of fresh air.

I only watched the first video, it had enough mistatments for me to not even look for the rest of them.

 

[Woodonglass]

Yeah, I wasn't concerned about the breathing as much as I was the overspray going onto everything. I had a Dodge Minivan back in the seventys that was painted silver and red. I kinda like that Ohio State color combo. Like Momma always used to tell me "Nothing is totally worthless, It can always be used as a bad example and we can all learn from that"!!!!! I kinda figure if HE can do it, ANYBODY can. Again, I'm not sure how long it will last based on some of his technique. Lipstick on a Pig doncha know.

 

[Dangerwil]

Metal flake gelcoat isn't really that hard. It's just 5 times more work than a standard gelcoat. First you have to get your base coat applied and smoothed out perfectly. Then flake it, then bury that flake in clear. Once cured the color sanding, polishing begins. Better hope you put on enough clear because burn through and you have to do it all over again.

 

[sphelps]

OK Dw .... I'm pulling my ski boat over to your place to help me with the m/f !
Did you spray that with a dump gun or an hvlp ? Looks great !

 

[gm280]

Dangerwil, nice work there. I figure metal flake is very similar to doing a real quality auto paint finish. The same techniques are used. However, you have to apply a very thick coat of clear (or multiple coats) so, like you stated, you have enough thickness to sand it down for a smooth surface before sand through. It is always the smooth surface that make that glass-like shine. So metal flake can be done, but again like you stated, with a lot more work. If I try it, I am going PPG auto type paints and not Gel Coat. But we will see when that time comes around. JMHO!

 

[Chadomosis]

"Lipstick on a pig"... I'm using that one! I really hope this guys project is successful and I really hope he doesn't have to wear an oxygen mask at an early age... I personally, wouldn't take that chance. I read the MSDS sheets on stuff...