I need a good tooling gelcoat spray setup

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#1

Cool site! Looks like members here have some hands on experience. It has been about 15yrs since I made any tooling. But when I did I used my friends setup at his boatyard. It was a large compressor (probably 80 gallon tank) with a good filtration system and a gelcoat cup gun. I made some small skiffs and runabouts.

As I remember it was quite messy with a good ammount of overspray. But I used this system in a spray booth with good ventilaton.

But I hoping that I could use the system that I eventually get in my home garage. I’ll be using the compressor for air tools as well (which I also still need to aquire). I do have a friend with a large peice of land close by with a farm like shop (enclosed structure with gravel floor) where I could take the system I eventually get to making the molds if I have to. So it would have to be somewhat mobile. For starters the total areas to be gelcoated at one time would be around 4’ x 8’ or less, but that should increase just a bit if things work out. So I don’t what to short myself for future projects.

What compressor and spray system should I get? Any air filtration recomendations? Could I use a cup gun in my garage? Not from what I remember (overspray wise), but that could have been that particular cup gun at the time. I would setup a temporary spray area with plastic drop cloth, so maybe?

#2

I dont have too much problem-wise as far as overspray with gelcoat. Seems that its much heavier than paint and isnt to upset about being sprayes. A few feet around you with some vis-queen should be fine.

I have a gelcoat cup gun I bought and didnt like, if your interested. I used it once.

#3

You could modified a HVLP gun for gel coat too…

#4

What would you need to do to set up a HVLP gun to spray Gelcoat? I have one at home, but I am hesitant on spraying with it.

Thanks
Harv

#5

Over on www.racingcomposites.net was a thread describing the step by step process, but I think the orginal poster is on here too…

#6

That would be me…and all you need to do is drill out a tip if its a 1.8 or get the needle tip of 2.0 mm or bigger. You saying 4’x8’ is large area though and youd be spraying alot of gelcoat through that. Ive not had any luck having that much gell in my gun without it hardening in the gun.

#7

Makes a HVLP and I belive they have a 3.0 mm tip. I am gonna purchase a new one. Been using a Sata LM 2000 for 5 years spray ing gel coat witha 3.0 mm tip. they also make really nice RP guns as well. Great guns

#8

Thanks for the offer Hybridracers. But is there a reason you want to get rid of this particular gun? What do you use that you like better if so, and why?

#9

How about those guns that mix the catalyst for you? Anyone used one? And where are the best deals on these? I want to spray multiple molds at the same time. Changing color is not a concern.

#10

If you have the spare bills…try Binks spray equipment or on second thoughts…didn’t they get bought out and what is their new name!

I’ll get it as we have one of their chopper guns at the classroom.

I think (ok, there’s probally cheaper places than this company :eek: but…) Fiberglast has an exturnal cataylst mix dump gun, but I never have used one of them.

We use the standard you mix and dump spray gun…but at lest you don’t have to throw it out after a student sets it down and forgets to clean it out! The lids are PE and if they cure in them…just tap on a hard surface and it will pop out as it doesn’t stick and have lots of draft angle. Or you can just toss them in a acetone bucket. The only drak back we had was a student left it on the floor and someone step on it and broke the cup craddle. No biggie for us, we just grab some ABS (but no acetone any more as it will melt ABS) scrap from the bin and made another one!