Gelcoat / hardener ratio for spraying

[Mr. Demeanor]

I mixed it 10cc per pint as the can said (75 degrees) and then spent two hours cleaning out the gun. I know it kicks a lot faster in the can for the gun. How much can I back off so it doesnt kick in the gun (16 ounces) yet still cures on the boat.

Aside from that, my first go at spraying looks pretty good. Thinned 10% with Styrene.

PS. The gun is a suction style and I am going to run out and get a gravity feed. I could tell it was having a little trouble with the suction. Only git about half the material out before it started kickin.

[OFFSHORE GINGER]

General rule of thumb...is 2 % ( hardner / mekp) and the longer you take to move the material ( gel ) thru the gun .....the faster heat is generated because of the space it is ( contained ) in , and to tell you the truth i personally ( being old school ) would stick to a siphon or , or a pressure feed gun maybe going with a bigger tip depending on the size you already have .

[Mr. Demeanor]

I guess Ill just have to shoot less at a time. I was right at 2% but it was going on so slow it took too long. I picked up gravity feed gun with a 1.8 tip so I will try that since I have it anyway.
Is 10% the right ratio on the Styrene or should I go a little more.?

[tunnels]

if you using gel coat and wanting to spray you should have asked the supplyer what catalyst to use and what ratio ?? theres hundreds of differant catalysts and they all have there oven differances . Ratio normally is 1.5% and as for thining so it will spray through a gun i always use acetone ! its evaporated before the gel coat hits the job basicly if not pretty soon after !! Styrene can change color in the sun and white is about the color of pee after a while !!

[RobF]

Ratio isnt the problem, your gun is not suitable for the viscosity of your gelcoat.
you really cant deviate from the ratio too much, 75 degrees is perfect temp

[OFFSHORE GINGER]

To tell you the truth in my opinion i would recommend using a larger tip on your gun for spraying Gel 2.5 -2.8 -or a 3.0 .

[Mr. Demeanor]

One last question and I will see what I can come up with for a tip.
If I finish spraying a section with gel with wax added, go clean the gun, relaoad with gel and move on to the next section. Do I have to dewax where the two areas will overlap or do I have enough time.

[BottomsUp]

I would suggest waiting and using duratec high gloss additive. It helps a novice spray because it thins down the gel to an almost thick enamel. you do not have to worry about time as the pot life is extended. It takes some experiance to work with gel coat hardening times and temp. By now Arty and I can just look at the bottle and know.

Your way,cut the mek by a 1/3..

[m3mm0s rib]

To tell you the truth in my opinion i would recommend using a larger tip on your gun for spraying Gel 2.5 -2.8 -or a 3.0 .

Correctly

[Mr. Demeanor]

Well, I'm almost done and it looks fantastic. The cheapo HF gun with the 1.8mm tip sprayed it very well and is super easy to clean. 50 PSI with the air adjustment all the way open and the material adjustment full open.
One little booboo when the strap on my goggles broke and my goggles fell on the floor in the wet gel. Just need to resand that area and respray.
Thanks for everyones help. The finish is exactly what I was looking for.
Pics to follow later...

[Mr. Demeanor]

[dagodiver]

nice.! Looks fantastic.
I use a pressure pot and 2.5 tip with 2% MekP. i put the gel in the fridge overnight and it gives me a better working time before the cobalt heats up with the mekP. I can dump a gallon of gel in very short time.


Dago.

[BottomsUp]

[OFFSHORE GINGER]

Mr . D , l@@king g@@d , and if you are happy with everything .........after all is said and done ( finial finish , sand / puff ) that is all that really matters .

[OFFSHORE GINGER]

By now Arty and I can just look at the bottle and know.

Billy ....Ha Ha Ha , and not to mention that we can most
likely do this in are sleep if you know what i mean .