Before I paint ???
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 68
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From: Oklahoma City OK
Before I paint ???
I've got a pretty faded and cracked original paint job on my 73. A fellow shark lover was telling me that after stripping it I should get it gelcoated prior to painting. Thoughts ?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,214
Likes: 0
From: Casa Grande AZ
Re: Before I paint ??? (swallace)
IMO:
Gelcoating = waste of time.
I'd use a high build polyester like Z-chrome Rust Defender (yes I know it won't rust anyway) or just start with a high build urethane primer. The factory never used a gelcoat. It's too hard to sand when other easy to sand products will do the same thing.
Gelcoating = waste of time.
I'd use a high build polyester like Z-chrome Rust Defender (yes I know it won't rust anyway) or just start with a high build urethane primer. The factory never used a gelcoat. It's too hard to sand when other easy to sand products will do the same thing.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 340
Likes: 1
From: St. Clair Shores Michigan
Re: Before I paint ??? (feb18blacksunday)
I used an epoxy primer then a sandable primer surfacer that was
colored, That colored primer sure worked.
Only took about 2 qts of base coat ( before mixing ) to paint my 71 coupe.
colored, That colored primer sure worked.
Only took about 2 qts of base coat ( before mixing ) to paint my 71 coupe.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 543
Likes: 3
From: Camden AR
Re: Before I paint ??? (swallace)
The corvette painters I've talked to said that gelcoating a C3 was not only a waste of time but could very well produce suboptimal results (something about a different kind of fiberglass?...I don't remember exactly...)
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Re: Before I paint ??? (swallace)
Gelcoats tend to develop spider cracks after time...are not flexible. I used Slick Sand by Fiberglass Evercoat, epoxy primer....I had visible strands of glass by the bonding stips....this stuff covered everything. Easy to shoot, easy to block sand...use water, dry sanding creates dust...first time I block sanded my 68, I sanded it dry, I looked like I fell into a flour sack.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,086
Likes: 786
From: Lebanon Township New Jersey
Re: Before I paint ??? (swallace)
After chemically stripping mine, we used primer sealer, primer surfacer, base coat and clear coat, all by Dupont. No gelcoat issues at all.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 9,622
Likes: 16
From: absecon nj
Re: Before I paint ??? (BKbroiler)
Well im one of those that gelcoated my car after stripping it,and its alot of work,i spent months blocksanding it straight but in the end its straight as can be,its been at least 6 years or more now since its been gelcoated and not one crack or spidercrack and 5 of those years it sat outside used as a daily driver in snow, rain, sleet, hail etc...do i recommend it ,no ,but the back hlaf of my car was severe, with errend strands of glass coming up everywhere so i made usre they wrere never coming back again.Oh one more thing i gelcoated it in blue too so after i was done sanding i couldve buffed it up to a great shine. :D
[Modified by patsnitrovette, 7:59 PM 2/15/2004]
[Modified by patsnitrovette, 7:59 PM 2/15/2004]
