Spray vs brushing gel coat?

**XstreamVking** · 02-19-2021, 01:10 PM

Brushing gell is not pre thinned like an airless equipment gell that is pre thinned. Thin the "brushing" gell with styrene and spray away. Remember to add only the amount of mek needed for the gell, not including the added thinner.

**LakeFever** · 02-19-2021, 02:25 PM

That makes perfect sense I got it now thanks fellas. I add wax or use PVA on the last coat to dry. I have glassed a bit in the old days but this is literally the first can of gel coat ive ever owned.

**Headless Hula** · 02-19-2021, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by XstreamVking

Brushing gell is not pre thinned like an airless equipment gell that is pre thinned. Thin the "brushing" gell with styrene and spray away. Remember to add only the amount of mek needed for the gell, not including the added thinner.

surely you mean MEKP, not mek? too easy for a newb to read this and screw up a project....

**Headless Hula** · 02-19-2021, 06:02 PM

personal pet peeve.....

too many folks talk about "drying", whether it be referring to resin and fiberglass, epoxy, carbon fiber layups, etc.

there's only a few things in life that'll DRY....
your clothes, LATEX FUGGIN PAINT, and the dishes in the strainer....

ANY SOVLENT BASED PAINT, FIBERGLASS LAMINATIONS, OR EPOXIES WILL "CURE"......

Just because you can put ypur dirty dick beaters on it, and not leave finger prints, doesn't mean its "DRY"....
It hasn't CURED YET...

There's a chemical reaction taking place because there was a catalyst added to a resin, or a monimer, or a polymer, and you set off a chain reaction...
it needs time and the proper temperature to CURE. It doesn't DRY like your socks on an old fireplace....

read the damned instructions on the packaging, and FOLLOW THEM.....

but, do whatever you want to, you will anyway.

oh, and PVA will dry... The alcohol (the solvent in the mixture) will evaporate if the ambient temp is warm enough and it will DRY....

happy friday kids. good luck with your projects.

**LakeFever** · 02-19-2021, 06:12 PM

Lol @ dik beaters. I hear ya loud and clear I will ask more questions as I move ahead. Thanks again

**Headless Hula** · 02-19-2021, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by LakeFever

Lol @ dik beaters. I hear ya loud and clear I will ask more questions as I move ahead. Thanks again

i've had a very recent experience with someone not following instructions.... they had a "less than desirable result"...
It didn't get layed on me, but there was a whole bunch of dicking around that could've been avoided had they simply LISTENED....

I'm happy to show someone how to do something that I may be proficient at, but when you don't follow the instructions, then squack about the results, I'm not going to have 2 seconds to hear about it....

**LakeFever** · 02-19-2021, 06:57 PM

Can’t argue with that. I’m doing my best to wise up and do a good job of this build. At some point we all have to dive in and get after it. The support is greatly appreciated

**XstreamVking** · 02-19-2021, 09:07 PM

Yes, methyl, ethyl, ketone, in solution with organic peroxide. Correct , mekp. But, don't get it on yer dik. as hula sez.

**LakeFever** · 02-19-2021, 09:23 PM

Lol I’ll be sure to keep it off the Johnson. In fact I hope to wear gloves for the whole process. With covid it’s hard to get rubber gloves. I was thinking chem resistant neoprene but one pair costs more then ten pair did a year ago. Hot dang that rots my socks off. Not sure nitrile are any good for these chemicals.

maybe dish washing gloves?

**tnelsmn** · 02-20-2021, 01:44 PM

If you're planning to spray the gel over the newly completed core/floor may I suggest brushing/rolling? At least the first coat. I found that spraying gel over raw glass tended to result in a lot of little pin hols, negating the whole process, whereas a roller/brush didn't give me any of that.
Keep in mind I didn't thin the gel at all when sprayed.

Just an observation I had with my project.

**LakeFever** · 02-20-2021, 02:10 PM

Thanks for looking out Tnels I appreciate it. I am going to pour and spread the gel over the core under the floor i've read your thread many times over LOL. I will have plenty of gel left though and I thought gel was gel until I picked it up and it said "brushing gel" right on the label so I got a little unsure and thought to ask what if any differences there are aside from waxed non waxed. I have some other boats that I can use it on and would like to spray hence this thread.

**Headless Hula** · 02-20-2021, 09:33 PM

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got the port side sprayed this afternoon.

**XstreamVking** · 02-21-2021, 03:57 AM

Hula, what thinner are you using?

**Headless Hula** · 02-21-2021, 06:27 AM

Originally Posted by XstreamVking

Hula, what thinner are you using?

just a tiny amount of acetone. less than 10% Using a home depot gravity feed gun with a 2.2 mm tip @ 35 psi. I only mix 12oz at a time.

**Alan Power** · 02-21-2021, 08:09 AM

Brushing gel is standard gel for hand layup, can be brushed or rolled. Spray gel is a thinner gel for spray application. Yes you can thin brush gel enough to spray given right conditions and equipment. But you will get better results from spray gel.
Regarding finish, I've found a much higher quality finish with brush gel in a mould. Spray can have microporosity/ tiny bubbles which can appear hazy if you get solvent entrapment or contamination.
Are you using the gelcoat in a mould or repair / resurface?