"Save The Manatee "

[sphelps]

gm , the M/F if I get brave enough to try will be going on the Borum Bobcat ..And thats gunna be a while before I start that project .. I figured with the compressor that I have the hvlp will be my best bet on doing a good job with the gelcoat going on the Manatee .. If I had a bigger better compressor I might have sprung for the gell dump gun .. The larger tip should help with laying down more material ..
This hull was in really bad shape .. Even the factory gell .. Hopefully with the extra time I am spending on the prep it will help with the final sanding and buffing of the new gell ..
I am wondering what grit I should use for the final sanding to prepare for the gell adhesion . I,m thinking at the most 120 ... I would think you don,t want it too slick ..
Any one have a formula for figuring how much gell to buy .. Roughly 20,160 sq inches on just the bottom ... I guess it will take at least 4 coats or more to get the proper thickness ..

 

[nurseman]

Ya might try and send a PM to ondarvr... I think he would give you the best info, IMHO

 

[Woodonglass]

I'm thinking 80 grit is the preferred final sanding grit. You really want some bite!!! On average I believe a quart of gelcoat applied at the recommended .020 thickness (20mils) will cover right around 20 sq. ft. Hope this helps a bit.

 

[gm280]

I'm thinking 80 grit is the preferred final sanding grit. You really want some bite!!! On average I believe a quart of gelcoat applied at the recommended .020 thickness (20mils) will cover right around 20 sq. ft. Hope this helps a bit.

WOW 80 grit is ruff. I haven't a clue about gel coating anything. But that is why I would get ideas from these forums if I were trying that finishing method out.

 

[archbuilder]

That is an interesting question Sam, I bet it likes to have a coarse grit to tooth into. I don't think Friscoboater ever mentioned what he used on the deck of his searay

 

[Woodonglass]

I did some more research last night and found some that went to 100 grit as the final sanding. Some stayed @ 60 grit but most of what I'm finding is 80 grit. I'm NOT a Gelcoat application Guru so...:noidea: Just passing on my Googlin' findings!!!:encouragement:

 

[gm280]

I did some more research last night and found some that went to 100 grit as the final sanding. Some stayed @ 60 grit but most of what I'm finding is 80 grit. I'm NOT a Gelcoat application Guru so...:noidea: Just passing on my Googlin' findings!!!:encouragement:

Well then you really don't need any sandpaper. You could just use a brick. ound:

 

[sphelps]

Been using 80 with the longboard so I guess I'll stay with that .. An 80 grit brick would prolly work well !

 

[sphelps]

New gun made it in the other day ..

The guide coat will really tell on ya !

Here is a pic of the Admiral and first mate side kick checking out some of the flood tides we had a while back

I didn't get near what I wanted to get accomplished on the prep work this week end . The MFG really needed a good cleaning so I did that today ..
Back to the grind tomorrow !

 

[nurseman]

Ooooooooooo preeety new paint gun!

 

[gm280]

I actually have a HVLP gun like that one as well. Mine is marketed by Ingersoll Rand and is a 1.6mm or 1.7mm tip opening. And I see you have a regulator at the gun too. That comes in so handy setting up the gun. I would suggest one other item. Buy a water filter at the local body/paint store to thread into the regulator. I use one that looks like this;

I actually have two and swap them out. Where I live (middle Georgia area) the humidity is usually high. And the very first thing I do is drain the compressor and then set the pressure regulator both at the compressor (usually 75lbs) and then at the gun (30lbs) and I haven't yet gotten any water spray through. And you can either throw the water filters away, OR dry them out in the oven using a low warming temp setting. I think I bought mine for a couple of bucks each.. Just some info. Of course you have to post your results. :thumb:

 

[Decker83]

Looks good from Texas..
Very nice spray gun.. Have a timer when mixing the gel coat.. Over 15 minutes and it will become a anchor.. :facepalm: Lots of acetone with you..
I used 80 grit on my DA sander.. Had no problems..
I'm trying to remember how much a gallon will cover.. I think it's 80 sq ft at 30 mils.. Give a call to the place your buying the gel..
They should give you a better answer..
Yes you will need at least 4 coats.. If you lay down to much gel at one time it will orange peel and you will be sanding most of it back off..:sorrow:
It's like spraying latex paint..
Have a great week.

I put my drier in the middle of the air line about 25 ft from the compressor and had no water at the gun.. Could run my straight line
sander for hours on end with out water in the line.. Just a tip..

 

[Woodonglass]

My compressor, sits outside the shop under the covered portion of the back. Inside I have a reel that has 50 ft of 3/8" hose on it. I attach one of these filters...

at the connection where the outside line connects to the reel connection. I can drain any water that collects in it via the bottom valve. When Painting I also use the Red Plastic disposable filters at the gun connection. Ever since I had the water dribble on the Bow of the BF I don't take any chances!!! This setup hasn't given me any problems since. Got this Filter @ HF for 10 Bucks!!!

 

[sphelps]

Gm , Decker , Woody , Thanks for the info guy's much appreciated !
I do have one like the one Woody posted installed at the compressor and I use the red throw away ones at the gun . I may install a second one in the middle of the line somewhere also .. Would there be any pressure loss with installing another filter in line ? .
Was also wondering if it makes any difference on the type of hose you run to help keep moisture down .. Like plastic vs rubber ...

 

[gm280]

Gm , Decker , Woody , Thanks for the info guy's much appreciated !
I do have one like the one Woody posted installed at the compressor and I use the red throw away ones at the gun . I may install a second one in the middle of the line somewhere also .. Would there be any pressure loss with installing another filter in line ? .
Was also wondering if it makes any difference on the type of hose you run to help keep moisture down .. Like plastic vs rubber ...

Sam, honestly if you presently have a water filter at the compressor and use another at the gun, I see no reason to install any others. The water filter at the compressor collects a good portion of the water initially, and then the one at the gun removes the rest. What usually happens is the air coming through the line from the compressor allows the air to cool off some and that is why the water trap at the gun is needed. Warm air obviously can carries a lot more water then cool air so condensation forms alone the line and gets trapped at the gun. But you sound like you have everything covered already and really don't need anything else. That is unless you are having water issues now. I wasn't discounting your abilities or thinking, just posting about the water filters for anybody else that is reading your posts. You seem to know about such things already as does WOG and Decker it seems. But I'm sure others just getting started would like to know about things like this. JMHO!

 

[Woodonglass]

Hey, gm280 Speak for yourself!!! I'm just an Old Dumb Okie!!! I don't know ANYTHING about NOTHING!!!
I just make it up as I go!!!!:bounce:

 

[gm280]

Hey, gm280 Speak for yourself!!! I'm just an Old Dumb Okie!!! I don't know ANYTHING about NOTHING!!!
I just make it up as I go!!!!:bounce:

Well WOG what makes you think I don't do the same. I mean is has to be obvious by now... :sorry:

 

[zool]

Ive been using this HF knockoff of the devilbliss unit, I have it off a spur line from the copper ceiling loop that I run guns off of,, works great for steady air flow and moisture/particle entrapment....The devilbliss is 200 bux, this was 29 with cupon

http://www.harborfreight.com/Industr...tor-68247.html

money well spent for me...

 

[Decker83]

Sam, I took mine off of the compressor and just moved it to the middle of the line like Wood did.. With the filter at the compressor the air is still hot and does not
start to condense and cool off until it gets futher down the air line.. That's what I read anyways.. Tried it and it works very well..

 

[sphelps]

I think I may have the last of the filler on after a lot of block sanding /guide coat /re-filling ... Really tired of this part .... The very bottom may still have a few ripples or two but I will prolly leave it be ... The fish won't mind .... I hope ..
Starting to get excited about the gell coat !