How do you fix hairline cracks in gelcoat

[parishht]

Randleman, I have the West marine fiberglass book:



Section 2 deals with cracks,
say the word and I will e-mail you pdf's of section 2,
it is 5 pages.

[randlemanboater]

Hey, look who's the newest god.....C YENSEN!!!!


Thanks for the help guys.

[C YENSEN]

Hey Randleman,

Here you go. It took my like twenty minutesto find the post I was looking for, but Lord Skools helped me out a long time ago on how to do fibergalss work. here are some instructions and pics on how to fix hair line cracks. Scroll down the first page and look for the pics ;D ;)

Thanks again Skools

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/cgi-bin/...8439189;start=

[C YENSEN]

Originally Posted by randlemanboater

Hey, look who's the newest god.....C YENSEN!!!!


Thanks for the help guys.

Thanks ;D

hope that link helps, I know it sure helped me do my first fiberglass job ;D

[randlemanboater]

Hey, look who's the newest god.....C YENSEN!!!!


Thanks for the help guys.

[macojoe]

Congrats!! CY

[C YENSEN]

Originally Posted by randlemanboater

Hey, look who's the newest god.....C YENSEN!!!!


Thanks for the help guys.

Thanks ;D

hope that link helps, I know it sure helped me do my first fiberglass job ;D

Randleman,
Suggest you look at www.epoxyproductd.com , they sell a product called Calvins Crack Sealer. It really works. I use a syringe with a small neelle to apply the sealer. It works by capulary action. Paul Oman who ownes the company also suggested using very thin epoxy to seal the cracks before refinishing to avoid bridging the cracks. If not filled the cracks will return.

[bigshrimpin]

Those cracks are superficial. No need for the glass. I like the way skoolz used his grinder to prep the crack . . . but it's a little risky unless you have a very steady hand. dremel tools are a little safer. Also you can get matching gelcoat through minicraft . . . they sell in a liquid or a paste (which is just thickened gelcoat using cabosil)

Get the paste.
Grind out the crack.
Clean with acetone
Tape off the area
fill with the thicken gelcoat.
spray on PVA
let it dry.
sand flush with existing surface
start with 120 (on a sanding block) all the way to 600 (wetsand)
buff and wax.

On vertical areas like that I like to use 3M 2" blue tape to prevent any sagging . . . just put tape over the repair.

[macojoe]

Congrats!! CY