Hi,

I have just made a plug to make a mould from.

In finalising the plug I will place several layers of easylease on it, followed by several layers of wax (polished).

My question is this;

Would the polyester based body filler used in making the mould affect the tooling gel coat?

Thanks in advance

So is the plug surface just body filler with no primer over the top?

Despite heavily waxing and PVA body filler stuck to the mould but once cleaned the mould surface was uneffected. It may be different with easylease, i've not tried it.

I would however apply a coat of 2k primer over the body filler and polish that instead of the filler.

Sorry, I forgot to mention the primer.

It's a rattle-can primer. Is that not advised?

rattle cans are definitely not advised by the pros however i have never seen it used so i couldn't comment on the results. The problem you have is that the styrene content from the body filler can leach through your primer if it has not been properly applied and fully cured. If this happens it can destroy your release agents... Using a proper 2K filler primer is a much safer option but more expensive as you most likely will need a body shop to spray and cure it. The isocyanate in 2k paints is a health hazard which requires an air fed suit to protect against.

Dave.

You need to leave it in the warm for several weeks at least to get rid of most the styrene. If it will fit in the oven, cook it as well.  And be extra careful with ensuring your release coatings are done properly.

Thanks for the advice guys,

I'll go with the 2k primer as I don't want to screw-up the results.

Wish me luck. I'll post pics of the finished items in about a week or two when I'm done.

Thanks also to all the unknown contributors on this forum, who, through their questions and subsequent responses have helped me greatly.

2k primer is available in rattle cans, obviously health and safety goes without saying, wear a mask, have as little bare skin showing as poss, well ventilated area

i'm wondering if a 2K filler primer like this would be suitable for coating a plug, I've used foam to make a pattern and coated with epoxy mixed with glass microballoons, sanded smooth. would this improve the surface finish or can i just sand and polish what i have?