this pic doesnt really show it very well but i just tried out a new carnuaba wax and no pvs and the gelcoat semmed to bead into pools on the mold leaving streaks and craters that looked like there was no gelcoat.i let it dry and laid a piece of cloth on with resin expecting the gelcoat to look like a mountain range when i pulled the part but it came out super smooth :? i think i put a little too much mekp in but how can i get around this happening in the future?
was it fisheye’ing? that’s usually a good thing. it means your plug was well treated and will pour out of the mold.
everything i read about fisheyeing is bad 
i think there must be some silicones in this new wax
i get fish eyes ocasionaly on fresh wax if i put it on to fast i just mist it on until it is covered after one part i never have a problem
are you laying the gel coat to lam a mold, or to make a part? see, i’ve never understood why anyone would use a gel coat as a cosmentic surface. it’s so brittle. and it’s so polyester.
how do you do it then? i have epoxy resin also (west).thanks.
I have never used polyester resins for anything. All the issues you keep having remind me why. I understand you might not have access to a lot of sources for epoxy resins in GB, but I have zero problems when I use them. They’re more expensive, but the hassles involved in using PER & VER (not to mention the smell) makes the price worth it to me.
However, once you tackle the learning curve with 'ester resins, you’ll be an expert and using epoxy will be very easy.
i earn a living with poly resin we used to build 1 million dollar boats with poly resin the every day driver in the auto industerie dont want to pay for epoxy just add weight for strength also if it is a part that is going to be painted you may run into problems with epoxy and the smell i dont get it you can take epoxy but not polly epoxy we used to build the race boats with and we were required to wear air supply(no questions asked) (isocyanates) polly we never even had to wear charcoal though they asked us to the first thing you need gtfour is an air compressor and a paint gun was also curious what the temp is in your shop and how well is your gell mixed
I would fully agree on the investment! I am getting a new gel coat gun, I could sell you my old one for CHEAP! It is in perfect working order but going to order another.
All the epoxies I use are 100% solids and have no solvents in them. Some hardeners have a slight ammonia type odor, but it’s very faint. I’m sure there are other formulations that require respirators and if you’re spraying epoxy based products, then a full body suit is recommended along with a full face, positive pressure, fresh air mask. Isocyanates and epoxies are not the same chemicals.
I realize there are millions and millions of product successfully & unsuccessfully produced daily with PER & VER, but for my applications epoxy is a superior product and much easier to work with, & produces a far stronger and longer lasting product than one using an "ester resin system.
Personnaly, I wouldn’t walk into a room where Polyester or Vinylester resin was being used without wearing a charcoal filtered respirator.
To each his own.
I have had problems with wax fisheyeing only when the wax wasn’t buffed out completely. By completely, I mean to polish it until there is no more residue coming off onto the rag and the rag is literally sliding off the surface. I buff it and buff it and then go back and buff some more.
Wax is a sealer. it fills the pores in a porous surface. if done correctly wax can be used by itself. if done incorrectly wax with PVA won’t even help.
I have never used epoxy resins 
gtfour, did you say originally that you were brushing the gel coat on? If so, wouldn’t this be the major contributor to what you are seeing? I spray my gel coats, but the first, thin pass acts this same way, but once I build up a few passes it pretty much levels out smooth. Additionally, even though the surface against the mold is smooth, having a rough surface to lay the fabric against can lead to distortions in the appearance.