Sparkle gel coat question

[Darren Nemeth]

A while back someone posted a link to a site that sold sparkle gel coat. The company offered the flakes in different sizes. I'd be darned if I can't find the thread and site!

Anyone know what I am talking about?

They illustrated the size of flakes in the paint.

 

[72SideWinderSS]

Re: Sparkle gel coat question

Have a look at this:
http://www.tcpglobal.com/kustomshop/

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Sparkle gel coat question

Darren..... most automotive paint stores can get metal flake for you in many many sizes. My only concern would be what specific coating are you intending to use?

Some metal flakes are plastics that may dissolve in gel coat but most are made to be mixed with automotive paint. The key to metal flake is aggitation. You MUST geep the paint aggitated while spraying to keep the coverage even.

When I used to paint motorcycles I would just contiually shake the gun in a circular motion then spray and shake again. Google it!

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: Sparkle gel coat question

Darren..... most automotive paint stores can get metal flake for you in many many sizes. My only concern would be what specific coating are you intending to use?

Some metal flakes are plastics that may dissolve in gel coat but most are made to be mixed with automotive paint. The key to metal flake is aggitation. You MUST geep the paint aggitated while spraying to keep the coverage even.

When I used to paint motorcycles I would just contiually shake the gun in a circular motion then spray and shake again. Google it!

Back when metal flake was popular alot of guys would put a large ball bearing in their paint cup to keep the flake agitated .


Rick

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Sparkle gel coat question

or a handfull of glass marbles

 

[Darren Nemeth]

Re: Sparkle gel coat question

or a handfull of glass marbles

Thanks, guys for those tips on the marbles and bearings.

I intend to use the flakes in deck and hull paint. It will be in the gel coat for the Batboat, as was used on the original.

The boat will be stored outside most of the time for the near future. In the open and also under a tarp.

The flake size I am looking for is the standard size that Glastron used in the 1960s.

I imagine it could be easy to paint it and have it turn out looking like an amusement park ride, which is something I want to avoid.

Thanks for that link. I'm bookmarking it for future reference.

 

[oops!]

Re: Sparkle gel coat question

hi batty...!

you might try a good cut and polish on the gellcoat before you paint!....it might save you a lot of time and money.

at the shop we have "brought back" boats gellcoat that looked like it was in a junkyard for years......ugly brown water line marks, oxidizing gellcoat so bad that there was just a "film " all over the boat.

with some 200 farecla, then 300, then glaze......you could not tell the difference between that boat and a show room boat.

 

[Darren Nemeth]

Re: Sparkle gel coat question

hi batty...!

you might try a good cut and polish on the gellcoat before you paint!....it might save you a lot of time and money.

at the shop we have "brought back" boats gellcoat that looked like it was in a junkyard for years......ugly brown water line marks, oxidizing gellcoat so bad that there was just a "film " all over the boat.

with some 200 farecla, then 300, then glaze......you could not tell the difference between that boat and a show room boat.

What is "cut and polish"?

The paint that is on my boat now is some kind of exterior latex black (hull) and garden variety sprayed on blue (deck). I can actually peel off some of the black latex in spots by hand.

The whole boat needs to use about the same current shade of blue with some flake.

 

[oops!]

Re: Sparkle gel coat question

ok.....forget the cut and polish darren.

too bad the paint is flaking off......if it was the gellcoat then you could cut and polish it.....but you are now into removing the old paint ....(its gotta come off)

cut and polish .....simply put....means cut the gellcoat with a mildly abrasive compound that cleans the gellcoat and fills any minor scratches in the gellcoat. it is almost like sanding wth boat with 800-to 1200 grit......except that the compound also fills the gellcoat minor sanding scratches.
because you are (allmost) sanding the boat.......oxidation is removed.

the polish, then seals the gellcoat, and smoothes it over to the tune of a 1500 sanding paper.

you will see a good shine from the polish.....(if you use farecla, its called glaze, and you also dont have to wax the boat)

we are seeing mirror shines from a 200 cut and a glaze polish on 45 year old boats that have never been done.

hope that helps bud......keep it up

cheers
oops

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Sparkle gel coat question

Your 6000th post!!!