Use topcoat on vacuum bagging

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#1

Hello, currently I finish fabric parts using a topcoast, but the problem is that I apply with a brush and it doesn’t give a good finish.

To improve the finish (and other things), I was thinking build a vacuum press to apply the topcoat on the finished parts, then, I would place the piece whit topcoat fresh in the vacuum press, so when the vacuum is applied, resin will spread evenly giving smooth finish. Is it a good idea?

But the question is, if I can use for this or other vacuum applications a topcoat resin, because the topcoast is used for air curing, but, only for air curing?

A greeting and thank you very much

#2

Why don’t you put a top coat in your mold before molding? Give a great finish and no coating needed after molding.

#3

Search in mold coatings, wyowindworks gave a very nice write up.

#4

Hi Ro Yale,the problem is to give finish to peelply side.

Ok I will look

Regards and thanks

#5

Click here for Wyo’s very nice writeup about IMCs.

#6

Yes, that is the thread I’ve been looking, but it does not talk specifically about topcoast, The topcoast, is a gelcoat with some paraffin, not? To have a complete cure in the air, I’m wondering if then, when it’s in a vacuum bagging, the paraffin of topcoat can be a problem.

That is to say, I could use the topcoat like a normal gelcoat.

Greetings

#7

I would use a gel-coat that doesn’t contain wax.