What kind of gelcoat?

SheepOfBlue · 03-12-2007, 12:41 PM

I am repairing my upper and while I am not going to repaint immediately want a decent finish for later repaint. One spot is the left edge on the top and there is a fairly thick section of gelcoat used to form an edge/corner. I was thinking of going to a boat repair place to get the gelcoat, any tips on type

Also there is a crack in the front and a couple of places that got worn thin. I was thinking of backing these with kitty hair as none really seem to need new matting and all are super contoured

CBR929RE · 03-12-2007, 02:33 PM

just send it off to JetB and he'll take care of the rest.

SheepOfBlue · 03-12-2007, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBR929RE

just send it off to JetB and he'll take care of the rest.

I was hoping he would reply

It needs to be on the bike and at Barber Saturday. If I don't finish it, duct tape goes back on

CBRVFR · 03-12-2007, 02:52 PM

I wouldn't bother with a gelcoat - Just resin it, shape it, use a thin coat of Bondo to create a surface, and sand it to create a smooth paintable repair. And use the glass matte liberally, it adds strength and flexibility which you may need if you don't get your ass off that seat.

SheepOfBlue · 03-12-2007, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBRVFR

I wouldn't bother with a gelcoat - Just resin it, shape it, use a thin coat of Bondo to create a surface, and sand it to create a smooth paintable repair. And use the glass matte liberally, it adds strength and flexibility which you may need if you don't get your ass off that seat.

This is more cosmetic than strength so kitty hair

Bondo aborbs water and I dislkie it

Oh and you might be in for a suprise come May. 10 weeks of sheepup 07 so far has started to work, next I plan on increasing flexibility

ND4SPD · 03-12-2007, 03:01 PM

You want to piss off the asphalt gods, don't you?

G-ForceJunkie · 03-12-2007, 03:05 PM

gel coat is nothing more than resin with a pigment in it. If you are less worried about the color, but want to fill it without bondo, get some microbaloons from any aircraft supply. It looks like powdered sugar but is basicaly a super fine silica sand tht is super light. Mix it with resin or epoxy to a consistancy you need, apply, and sand after its dried. Or use 3M short strand marine filler...its a green "bondo" type filler that has fiberglass in it for reinforcenment and is waterproof.

CBRVFR · 03-12-2007, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ND4SPD

You want to piss off the asphalt gods, don't you?

The grammar gods have given up on him....

SheepOfBlue · 03-12-2007, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ND4SPD

You want to piss off the asphalt gods, don't you?

The goal is zero crashes this year

I am even going to install the single piece of duct tape to confuse the tar snakes

Quote:

Originally Posted by G-ForceJunkie

gel coat is nothing more than resin with a pigment in it. If you are less worried about the color, but want to fill it without bondo, get some microbaloons from any aircraft supply. It looks like powdered sugar but is basicaly a super fine silica sand tht is super light. Mix it with resin or epoxy to a consistancy you need, apply, and sand after its dried. Or use 3M short strand marine filler...its a green "bondo" type filler that has fiberglass in it for reinforcenment and is waterproof.

Thanks, not sure where to get aircraft supply though unless at the airport.... hmm yellow pages here I come. Oh and kitty hair is similar to what you describe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBRVFR

The grammar gods have given up on him....

that was perfect azure ovine

SheepOfBlue · 03-12-2007, 05:55 PM

Boat place was closed so I tried to use thickened resin. Not perfect but it might work and if it does I can add a bit more later to form the corner.

Going to be ugly so the tar snakes will run from it

Jetbdude · 03-12-2007, 06:10 PM

Hey sheep! gelcoat by itself is worth NOTHING, if they put a lot of it somewhere it's because they messed up. It should not be any thicker than 2 millimeters on a fairing. I'm even surprised they used any of it. Gel coat is not flexible at all... It will crack real easily.

It will be helpful to have a picture of the area you're talking about. Usually putting fiberglass in tight corner is hard and we end up with air pocket in between the glass and the gel coat. I'm guessing that this is your problem.

I would fill the void with resin packed with fiber glassed in it, work it just like you'd do with bondo, then paint or put some gelcoat over it.

SheepOfBlue · 03-12-2007, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jetbdude

Hey sheep! gelcoat by itself is worth NOTHING, if they put a lot of it somewhere it's because they messed up. It should not be any thicker than 2 millimeters on a fairing. I'm even surprised they used any of it. Gel coat is not flexible at all... It will crack real easily.

It will be helpful to have a picture of the area you're talking about. Usually putting fiberglass in tight corner is hard and we end up with air pocket in between the glass and the gel coat. I'm guessing that this is your problem.

I would fill the void with resin packed with fiber glassed in it, work it just like you'd do with bondo, then paint or put some gelcoat over it.

Thanks. I did close to that. The chunk was about 2mm thick and easily the thickest spot on the bodywork. They just use it to make a corner vs a rolled edge. My job is REAL ugly but better than duct tape and I will see for a first effort. I have the inside done and curing and plan on painting some resin on the front in the grooves to spiff it up some. Then test it at Barber next weekend

CBR929RE · 03-12-2007, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SheepOfBlue

Then test it at Barber next weekend

hey buddy, how about you don't test it

SheepOfBlue · 03-13-2007, 11:06 AM

OK so things are curing and I will put a coat of resin on some scars up front tonight. Dumb question time now

what is the difference between gelcoat and resin?

CBR929RE · 03-13-2007, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SheepOfBlue

OK so things are curing and I will put a coat of resin on some scars up front tonight. Dumb question time now

what is the difference between gelcoat and resin?

sheep that question was answered in post 7 and you responded to it in post 9

edp · 03-13-2007, 12:58 PM

The stuff you want is called colloidal silica, not microballoons. The silica will allow you to thicken any resin (polyester or epoxy) to just about any consistency - the microballoons sand easier but are not as strong as the colloidal silica mix - we use it in the shop for all of our heavy duty wood laminations and use epoxy resin with it. The silica is only used as a thickening agent for glue-up so that the resin doesn't run too easily. The glue joints are actually stronger than the wood.

SheepOfBlue · 03-13-2007, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBR929RE

sheep that question was answered in post 7 and you responded to it in post 9

D'oh must be nuclear effects

abtech · 03-13-2007, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SheepOfBlue

D'oh must be nuclear defects

your spelling is atrocious . . .

SheepOfBlue · 03-13-2007, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abtech

your spelling is atrocious . . .

I've been ionized but I am OK now.

ND4SPD · 03-13-2007, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SheepOfBlue

D'oh must be nucular effects

Quote:

Originally Posted by abtech

your spelling is atrocious . . .

Ya, get it right.

CBR929RE · 03-13-2007, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abtech

your spelling is atrocious . . .

hey he didn't misspell a single word in there. he just happened to use the wrong word. I think his brain was affected by the effects of nuclear radiation.

abtech · 03-13-2007, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBR929RE

hey he didn't misspell a single word in there. he just happened to use the wrong word. I think his brain was affected by the effects of nuclear radiation.

damn, even the correct usage of "affect". I'm impressed . . .

I just envision sheep as the result of some sort of radiated Ram's horn puncture (a' la SpiderMan) and he is now experiencing nuclear defects . . .

SheepOfBlue · 03-13-2007, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abtech

damn, even the correct usage of "affect". I'm impressed . . .

I just envision sheep as the result of some sort of radiated Ram's horn puncture (a' la SpiderMan) and he is now experiencing nuclear defects . . .

Actually it was 100% correct. Nuclear effects is a group of things that happens after a nuclear burst.

Spider's

I step on 'em

03-12-2007, 12:41 PM	#1
SheepOfBlue SRA President Join Date: 12-18-2006 Location: Huntsville, AL Age: 46 Bike(s): CBR1000RR, RC51, VT500FT Posts: 6,383	What kind of gelcoat? I am repairing my upper and while I am not going to repaint immediately want a decent finish for later repaint. One spot is the left edge on the top and there is a fairly thick section of gelcoat used to form an edge/corner. I was thinking of going to a boat repair place to get the gelcoat, any tips on type Also there is a crack in the front and a couple of places that got worn thin. I was thinking of backing these with kitty hair as none really seem to need new matting and all are super contoured __________________ A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

03-12-2007, 02:33 PM	#2
CBR929RE Go Sox! Join Date: 12-18-2006 Location: at home Age: 28 Bike(s): 01 R/B/W CBR929RR Posts: 3,313	Re: What kind of gelcoat? just send it off to JetB and he'll take care of the rest. __________________ if you can't fix it with duct tape, you haven't used enough.

03-12-2007, 02:52 PM	#4
CBRVFR Godspeed, #20 Join Date: 12-13-2006 Age: 55 Bike(s): VFR750 SV650 TZ250 Posts: 5,023	Re: What kind of gelcoat? I wouldn't bother with a gelcoat - Just resin it, shape it, use a thin coat of Bondo to create a surface, and sand it to create a smooth paintable repair. And use the glass matte liberally, it adds strength and flexibility which you may need if you don't get your ass off that seat. __________________ "...the TV also never took away the screwdriver and shoved it up the repairman's ass." Our own Mr.2nd Amendment, explaining the difference. Perfectly. Rich Herald, the Gentle Giant

03-12-2007, 03:01 PM	#6
ND4SPD I'm BATMAN!!! Join Date: 12-12-2006 Bike(s): Trek Posts: 8,033 Images: 25	Re: What kind of gelcoat? You want to piss off the asphalt gods, don't you? __________________ "This is your life - are you who you want to be?" Learn all you need to know about Mac OS X

03-12-2007, 03:05 PM	#7
G-ForceJunkie Who's driving? Join Date: 12-15-2006 Location: Valencia, CA Bike(s): BMW GS1150 ADV, DRZ400 Posts: 624	Re: What kind of gelcoat? gel coat is nothing more than resin with a pigment in it. If you are less worried about the color, but want to fill it without bondo, get some microbaloons from any aircraft supply. It looks like powdered sugar but is basicaly a super fine silica sand tht is super light. Mix it with resin or epoxy to a consistancy you need, apply, and sand after its dried. Or use 3M short strand marine filler...its a green "bondo" type filler that has fiberglass in it for reinforcenment and is waterproof.

03-12-2007, 05:55 PM	#10
SheepOfBlue SRA President Join Date: 12-18-2006 Location: Huntsville, AL Age: 46 Bike(s): CBR1000RR, RC51, VT500FT Posts: 6,383	Re: What kind of gelcoat? Boat place was closed so I tried to use thickened resin. Not perfect but it might work and if it does I can add a bit more later to form the corner. Going to be ugly so the tar snakes will run from it __________________ A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

03-12-2007, 06:10 PM	#11
Jetbdude Every man's dream Join Date: 12-13-2006 Age: 34 Bike(s): 07 600RR Posts: 2,457	Re: What kind of gelcoat? Hey sheep! gelcoat by itself is worth NOTHING, if they put a lot of it somewhere it's because they messed up. It should not be any thicker than 2 millimeters on a fairing. I'm even surprised they used any of it. Gel coat is not flexible at all... It will crack real easily. It will be helpful to have a picture of the area you're talking about. Usually putting fiberglass in tight corner is hard and we end up with air pocket in between the glass and the gel coat. I'm guessing that this is your problem. I would fill the void with resin packed with fiber glassed in it, work it just like you'd do with bondo, then paint or put some gelcoat over it.

03-13-2007, 11:06 AM	#14
SheepOfBlue SRA President Join Date: 12-18-2006 Location: Huntsville, AL Age: 46 Bike(s): CBR1000RR, RC51, VT500FT Posts: 6,383	Re: What kind of gelcoat? OK so things are curing and I will put a coat of resin on some scars up front tonight. Dumb question time now what is the difference between gelcoat and resin? __________________ A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

03-13-2007, 12:58 PM	#16
edp Join Date: 12-18-2006 Posts: 23	Re: What kind of gelcoat? The stuff you want is called colloidal silica, not microballoons. The silica will allow you to thicken any resin (polyester or epoxy) to just about any consistency - the microballoons sand easier but are not as strong as the colloidal silica mix - we use it in the shop for all of our heavy duty wood laminations and use epoxy resin with it. The silica is only used as a thickening agent for glue-up so that the resin doesn't run too easily. The glue joints are actually stronger than the wood.