Acetone for thinning gelcoat for spray??????

[Entourage]

Okay guys what are your takes on spraying gelcoat and thinning it out? Does the acetone do something to the wax solution in the gelcoat that would cause it not to cure properly? What size spray tip do you use to spray? ( 1.3 to 1.8??) Oh yeah how many psi are you spraying at?

[harmuthmarine]

Acetone works ok you have to spray it quick or it gets thick again Mini Craft makes a thinner thats awsome and i think ive used MEK once not MEKP and i always mix my gel at 2% dont cut the gel any more the 15% or the stuff wont harden. As far as a tip size i use a 2 in my touch up gun and a 2.3 in my big gunn and crank the presure up till it comes out good i think its like 40 psi the best gun i found were guns i bought at LBI in Groton CT

[gofastsandman]

Gelcoat has changed quite a bit over these years. When you pull all of the styrene out, the flexibility changes.
The EPA is not your Bud here.

Cheers GFS.

[bly]

No Wax or PVA needed. I have thinned the gelcoat almost 25% with No problems. If you want a pint I have extra.

[Bigshrimpin]

When you spray gelcoat . . . spray heavier than the desired thickness. You will get orange peel. Let it cure . . . block sand with 320, 600, and then hit it with a buffer/compound . . . then wax.

[Entourage]

Wet sand or dry

[SBD]

I use DuraTech to reduce it, it comes out much nicer. 1.8 at 55 psi lays down better than you would expect. Depending on your needs, you may call it done. This is just sprayed...



If you want it perfect, I use a DA w/ 220 to knock off the peel then 400 600 800 1000 on the DA. All dry. The compound, then polish. The finer grits on a 6 inch DA go fast.

It will come out like this...

[Entourage]

That looks very nice. Thanks for the info.

[SBD]

BTW-if you use Duratec you dont need to use any PVA or surfacing agent.

[Entourage]

I use DuraTech to reduce it, it comes out much nicer. 1.8 at 55 psi lays down better than you would expect. Depending on your needs, you may call it done. This is just sprayed...



I don't even see any orange peel on that, if mine comes out like that it is staying like that.