Difference between resin and gel coat? + more questions?

General Composites Discussions Products Talk
#1

I am thinking of purchasing 2x2 twill 5.8 oz Carbon/Kevlar. I want the look of that super glossy finish and the lightness, and toughness that I read so much about. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. thank you in advance.

  1. What is the difference between Polyester Tooling gel coat and polyester tooling resin, and do I need both or just one?

  2. How many layers of cloth should I use for the final part?

  3. Can it be just one layer?

  4. Will it be stiff or will it be flexable?

  5. I am also planning on making full body work for this Motorcycle later on down the road, but I wanted to make some parts flexable.
    what do I need to make the fairings flexable?

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#2

  1. What is the difference between Polyester Tooling gel coat and polyester tooling resin, and do I need both or just one?
    Gel coat has additives to stay where you spray or brush it. Tooling resin (either gel coat or lamination) has additives in them to take the heating and curing cycles unlike what the regurlar resins. GP (Ortho) resin is general purpose and ISO is more expensive but is the tooling grade. There’s now a thrid (which I keep on forgetting on getting the name of it from the classroom) which cheaper like GP but has the quality of ISO. I planning to try it out soon, but the flu bug has nailed me.

  2. How many layers of cloth should I use for the final part?
    Depends on the strength that you need and what oz. of reinforcements using.

  3. Can it be just one layer?
    Won’t be very strong…

  4. Will it be stiff or will it be flexable? Flexible…
    Depends on the resin matrix…

  5. I am also planning on making full body work for this Motorcycle later on down the road, but I wanted to make some parts flexable.
    what do I need to make the fairings flexable?
    I found a local manufacturer that makes a flexible PER lamination resin. Works great on my NASCAR 4 cylinder race car where rubbing is racing…

I hope this helps out…

#3

flu bug kicked my butt too but I have been pounding xango and have not been sick for awhile and my blood pressure is down because of it :slight_smile:

#4

A friend and former student of mine told me about this “Air bourne” which was discovered by a teacher that was tired of getting the flu and sick from the students and my friend swears by it.

His wife works in a hospital and that is where he heard about it.

I just keep forgetting to get some and try it.