to gelcoat or not to gelcoat

General Composites Discussions Composites Talk
#1

This is my first post on this forum.

I am making a move from a hobbiest to producing production parts due to demand. I have a faily complex mold I am using to cast carbon fiber cosmetic parts. I am asking for some guidence in the process. until now I would wax the mold, spray pva(let dry), clear gelcoat (let cure 1 day) then lay the carbon and additional reinforcements with clear polyester resin and vac bag.

To increase production, could I lay the part minus the gel coat and top coat the parts with something like Duratec Clear once they are trimmed?

I figure I can save a day on each part and top coat 4-5 at a time.

Thank you for your help.

#2

I think that youll find it to be more work to do the second way.

#3

Welcome…

You only need to wait after gel coating gets to the “B” stage before laying up the rest and quickly vacuum bag then.

#4

just to clarify, when you state “B” stage you are refering to medium to firm gel?

I am in WI and this time of year catylization can be somewhat slow. I am doing this in my garage (insulated but not heated). I have a propane heater but can’t run it all the time.

thank you for all the instruction.

#5

Yes (please see my resin section in products, but I’m not done with it…), and you can use a slightly higher MEKP % with cold and wet weather to help speed it along or quartz shop lights put out great heat too…

Your welcome…:cool:

#6

You could also do what i do instead of heating the whole garage/workshop heat the molds. All my molds are heated using light bulbs, works a treat and cheap too.

Baz

#7

Jim is right, We use your standard home depot style shop lights on a stand for ease of use and they put out enough heat to quicken a cure, but can alos be a detriment if you forget to check on them.

I would never again chose to spray up after the part is molded. I love giving the mold a high luster polish and then using a clear coat (thicker than normal, and laying the carbon into it. I also prefer to vacuum infuse.

#8

This BazNos is a very good idea. I have fix one small room over 2m W x 1m D x 0.7m H and I install on air heater (from neighbourhood and costly over 28Euros) without fun and now I have 37C on it.