Gel Coat

Is it posible to do your self,I going to need to do the body work and Gel Coat myself before ,I pay to have the car painted since I'm on a budget. can I just buy a pot sprayer for my compressor and spray on gelcoat,the last owner used a power sander before painting so you can see the glass strands thure the paint looks ok from a distance, but up close looks terable.

|UPDATED|5/22/2003 8:09:19 PM|/UPDATED|

From what I am picking up from some other boards - you don't have to do the gel coat. The gel coat was used to "seal" the fiberglas. It is suggested that you use an epoxy based primer (which should seal the fiber) then apply your base coats.

Hope this helps!

John

If you just have a small area to repair, I would recommend just using Bondo that you can buy at any automotive store or even Walmart. Gelcoat is merely used to seal the fiberglass but it is a very painstaking process to apply unless you have somewhere to bake it.

Hope this helps and good luck.

I'm going to use a good primer sealer on mine.

govettego said: . . . It is suggested that you use an epoxy based primer (which should seal the fiber) then apply your base coats.

DuPont used to (and I hope still does) make a a product called "Euro-Primer". I believe it was an epoxy base. 10 years ago, father-in-law had his '63 split-window coupe stripped and then primed with DuPont Euro. Stuff was seriously hard with terrific fill properties. The project is still in the works, and the car has yet to be painted. Primer is STILL in great shape and so is the 'glass.

John

Go to: www.autobodystore.com. It is hosted by Len Stuart. Scroll down to the bulletin board. Post your subject and question.
Within a few days or sooner, Len will answer your question with a full explanation. He and other experts that use the bodystore forum always know what they are talking about, as you may get answers from other paint and body mech's.
They know fiberglas, urethane, paint, and anything else your would need to know about your metal or fiber glas car.
They also know framework, and all mechanics. There is not any solicitation's to purchase any products.