Spraying Gelcoat and Awlgrip?

[Captn C]

I have more boat problems.....two boats twice the problems!

My bay boat was involed in an accident over the weekend. It was tied up minding it's own business when a 40,000lb bay fishing barge crushed it up against a soild bulkhead and the front casting platform cracked away from the gunnels on both sides. One crack, with a palm size section of glass falling out, is about 3 feet long and the other is about 1 1/2 feet long. It has a carpeted front and rear casting platforms and I have been thinking of pulling it up anyway. Too many cat sleeping on it!

My question is;

What type of spray gun do you use for gelcoat and awlgrip? I have painted fiberglass hoods with enamel and wanted to know if that gun would work ok?

[Hooper]

Ouch! [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

CaptC, sorry but I have no knowledge in this area, but I can offer you my sympathies! Good God, was anyone injured in the collision?

Hooper

[Captn C]

No, The barge is brand new and belongs to a long time friend of mine. It was the first time he had ran the boat. My boat was tied up and we were all on his boat boat. A 2000lb fiberglass boat doest hold up well against a 40,000lb metal boat!

[Capt Chuck]

Charles

I think we can re-name you at this point from "Capt C" to "Capt Crunch" [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] I feel for you guy and I'm sorry to hear about this lastest fiasco to your list of boating problems [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]
Maybe you should think about Nascar [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[Captn C]

I think I do need a new hobby....fly airplanes or sky diving will not be on the list though.....I think I'll skip bungie jumping too. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Can I spray gel coat in a regular painting gun?

[Dave Hirshberg]

The gel coat is easiest to spray from a disposable cup gun with a large tip. Awl Grip sprays best from an HVLP gun. I bought my HVLP from a discount tool supplier called Harbor Freight for $69 and It worked great. The gel cup gun you may have to get from a fiberglass supplier.

[optiguy]

Spraying gelcoat correctly requires a pressure pot gun. Those cup guns just slobber all over the place and are only designed to use with small molds for producing new parts.
Spraying Awlgrip or similar paints you can use any gun sutiable for automotive paints.
Bill

[abl1111]

There is always using Duratec as a 'thinner' added w/ the gelcoat. However, I am not that familiar with it. A lot of the pros use it around here..

It helps the spray lay down smoother.

[optiguy]

Even with the use of Duratec as a thinner, a pressure pot sprayer should be used. Getting gelcoat down to a viscosity suitable for conventional spray equipment is risky. Many problems can be caused by over thinning gelcoat.
Bill

[chaz]

is it true you should not wax awlgrip?