mould surface repair with gel coat : where to find "wax additive" ?

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mould surface repair with gel coat : where to find "wax additive" ?

Author	Message
Jess8bit	Jess8bit posted 12 Years Ago HOT Topic Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 133, Visits: 566	Hello all, I want to add a small quantity of gel coat (like the volume of a coffee spoon) to fill in a small hole in my mould (UNI MOULD made), as Matt is doing in the bonnet video. He's talking about a wax addtive to stop the gel coat from being tacky, so what this additive exactly is, where can I find it (doesn't seem to be sold in the EC store), and which is the ratio to be mixed with the gel coat ? Thank you guys
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Warren (Staff)	Warren (Staff) posted 12 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Administrators Posts: 2.5K, Visits: 8.5K	Here you go: Solution MW Wax Gelcoat Additive Warren Penalver Easy Composites / Carbon Mods - Technical Support Assistant
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Jess8bit	Jess8bit posted 12 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 133, Visits: 566	Fantastic Warren ! couldn't find it in the web store hum... just to be sure, you still catalyse it with MEKP, don't you ?
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carbonfibreworks	carbonfibreworks posted 12 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 292, Visits: 4.5K	When I have had to repair the mould gelcoat I have placed a piece or release tape over the repair until it has cured and it worked well, it would depend of course on the size and shape of repair. Chris Edited 12 Years Ago by Bartonphoenix750
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Jess8bit	Jess8bit posted 12 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 133, Visits: 566	Hi Chris, yeah, I had the same idea but did not experienced it because I was not sure... As I'm a bit in a hurry, I think I can try this before orderig MW additive. Thank you for sharing
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fgayford	fgayford posted 12 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 433, Visits: 1.2K	Jess8bit (03/06/2013) Hello all, I want to add a small quantity of gel coat (like the volume of a coffee spoon) to fill in a small hole in my mould (UNI MOULD made), as Matt is doing in the bonnet video. He's talking about a wax addtive to stop the gel coat from being tacky, so what this additive exactly is, where can I find it (doesn't seem to be sold in the EC store), and which is the ratio to be mixed with the gel coat ? Thank you guys You can use a chemical as Warren has said. Over here we call it "airdry" Its a paraffin wax suspended in alchohol. A trick I use is to just smooth over sandwhich plastic wrap over the repair while still wet. The outer surface of polyester will stay tacky if cured without sealing by one of these methods. That is a good thing because your next layer will chemically bond as one with the previous layer. The plastic will peel off clean and the resin will be completely cured to the surface. (because it is not in contact with oxygen) Hope this helps. Fred
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Warren (Staff)	Warren (Staff) posted 12 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Administrators Posts: 2.5K, Visits: 8.5K	Yep use MEKP and catalyse the repair gel in the same way as normal. The only problem with tape or clingfilm type plastics is you want to ensure your repair stays proud of the gel coat level, so you can sand back to a perfectly smooth and invisible repair. (visible on mould, but not on carbon part). Warren Penalver Easy Composites / Carbon Mods - Technical Support Assistant
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Jess8bit	Jess8bit posted 12 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 133, Visits: 566	Fred : thank you for the plastic film trick Warren : ok, noticed, thank you
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Gus Nimateck	Gus Nimateck posted 12 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 3, Visits: 20	Just put a small amount of parafine -candle additive at (1%-3%) directly onto the gel coat. It's very cheap and easy to find anywhere . Second tip is to spray PVA on top of the gel coat in order to "seal" it. Kindly Nimateck
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Jess8bit	Jess8bit posted 12 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 133, Visits: 566	Thanks a lot for the tricks Nimateck I tried with flash tape on top of it, but couldn't seal it perfectly, so the result is unsatisfying. I'll definitely try additives.
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