Any waxing advise?

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#1

I’ve been having issues with my wax releases. I’m making flat panels off of glass. First laying down the metalflake clear gelcoat then my laminates. At first I was using TR104 Hi temp wax release. This wax was very easy to apply and wipe off, a breeze to release the panels but then I would have fisheye problems when laying down the gelcoat.

A couple forum members suggested to use TR108 basic wax release since it’s compatible with the use of PVA and will solve the fisheye problems. I tried it out and yes it did solve the problem. No fisheyes! But saying the TR108 is a PITA to apply is a major understatement. Instructions state to wipe on and wipe off immediately which I do. The wax leaves streaks and residue and is very difficult to wipe off completely even though I wipe it off immediately after application (before it dries). The surface is also not smooth when i glide my fingers across the glass as the TR104 was causing the panels to be much more difficult to release after cure. The only way to get off the streaks and residue is to use EXTREMELY hard pressure or use was stripper compound and a powered buffer but that strips the wax layer and I’m back to square one…

There has to be something better than this!! I have only used TR104 and TR108 waxes. Is there any other brand of wax that is compatable with a gelcoat and easy to apply? Rexco, Partall, Meguiars, world’s finest?..

It’s going to heat up here and I don’t look forward to long, tiring hand buffing applying wax in 95 degree heat and taking 30 minutes to lay down one layer… Any suggestions?

#2

You might consider trying Dolphin Wax. You won’t have any fisheye issues with it and the application isn’t difficult.

If you want to use PVA then you can use Part-all Paste #2 and Part-all Film #10 which play nice together and give good releases. The PVA will eliminate the gel-coat fisheyes.

Another option is to change the way you are applying the gel-coat. Is it polyester based? You can shot it with a very light mist coat, let it set, then apply your flowing coat.

#3

thank you for the reply. I’ll look into the Dolphin wax.

I want a glass smooth finish so I don’t use PVA under the gelcoat. The layup is glass, wax, gelcoat, laminates. i’ve found that this set up produces the look of the product I want to achieve. I’m just having a hard time with finding a wax release that works for my needs.

I know semi perms are out since they will product fisheyes. I plan to use that when I start making molds and infuse.

I’ve been rolling out my gelcoat. I tried spraying and have had a couple good but mostly bad results with my hvlp and cup guns. My layup area has six glass panels in a small shed. 4 cure while I work on the other 2. Spraying lays down overspray on everything in that room. I would like to stay away from spraying for the flat panels if at all possible.

#4

Have you tried wiping on a thin layer of gel-coat and then rolling. That may or may not work. The Dolphin Wax should work nicely. You can apply very low viscosity clear-coats on top of it without fisheye problems.

#5

Why not try a semi perm release? It takes longer to apply, but you get multiple pulls.
I use it on glass to make flat panels and it works great.

#6

Do you lay down a gelcoat before your laminate on the glass prepped with semi perm? i’ve heard that the gelcoat will fisheye like crazy when it hits the semi perm.

#7

theres semi’s designed for gelcoat applications

#8

Just ordered a semi perm sample pack from Zyvek. The tech there, Christopher, was very helpful and took the time to understand what I was trying to make and what would be the best option for me to try.

Dolphin Wax is on order coming from Canada. Once it gets here I’ll see how that one performs as well.

Thanks for all the help guys. Hopefully something I ordered will work.

#9

I use Partall Paste #2 and Partall PVA as well. It works very well. I wax the molds, then apply a few thin coats of PVA when needed.

Keep in mind… The harder it is to wipe the wax off the better. That means you have a high concentration of carnuba wax. The wax that wipes off very easily is usually a silicone based material. Somebody correct me if I’m wrong :).

#10

Boomerize do you spray the gel coat or brush it on?