Do I need gel coat?
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,323
Likes: 3
From: I KNOW JESUS... HE'S MY GARDENER
Gelcoat is like an eggshell. It's the outer surface finish, typically found on boats. I'm not aware of gelcoat being used on Vette's, however whomever is advising you may be using the term generically.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 43
From: San Antonio TX
Gelcoat is just a coating used to keep the fiberglass hairs from rising through the surface of the paint...sort of like the hairs on your arm when you get the *******.
You don't need to use Gelcoat specifically since there are other coatings that will work better, like an expoxy-based primer/surfacer.
You don't need to use Gelcoat specifically since there are other coatings that will work better, like an expoxy-based primer/surfacer.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
From: Birmingham AL
Really what you need is something to keep the paint on the top and the stuff under the paint under the paint. PPG makes a primer/sealer product, DP40LF (grey/green), that does this. Then you put your finish primer on top of that and then the base coat, clear coat over the finish primer. That keeps things bleeding into the paint and keeps the fiberglass from soaking the paint away from the surface during painting. Old fiberglas is like a sponge because it's been exposed and drying for 30+ years and can suck in all sorts of things.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by SkunkApe
... I'm not aware of gelcoat being used on Vette's,...
Any good primer/sealer should seal bare fiberglass and save the additional steps and cost of gelcoat.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 30,183
Likes: 313
From: Lake Norman NC
Originally Posted by Easy Mike
Correct. There was no gelcoat on original Corvette body panels. They got two coats of primer over bare fiberglass and the occasional spot mend on a bonding seam if pin holes developed. After that, it was straight to the paint booth.
Any good primer/sealer should seal bare fiberglass and save the additional steps and cost of gelcoat.
Any good primer/sealer should seal bare fiberglass and save the additional steps and cost of gelcoat.
