Sorting out Gel Coat dings
Discussion
Being that my main project has come to an end, fighting DVLA to get it registered... no (although it felt like it!), I mean the build... as with all these things, there are many little things to finish or improve on.
I turned my attention to checking out the body, as I knew with over 4 years of body-parts knocking around the garage, nomatter how careful you are it was bound to have collected a few err...imperfections along the way.
Not bad - mostly fine scratches here and there, but at least three areas where the gel had come clean-off on edges such as the bottom rear wheel-arch and the front point of the sill (near the wheel), a few small cracks, some dings I had not noticed before etc. After a bit of research I bought one of those DAS Pro 6 Random orbital thingys, and some recommended pads and 1200 grit cutting cream & finisher.
I set about filling the imperfections with the supplied gel/ hardner, and then rubbed down as per the you-tube vids on gel repair on boats, then finished with the buffer..... Takes a bit of getting used to, and with a few mistakes along the way, but....
...absolutely amazing result! Couldn't be more pleased! - now considering doing the whole body with the DAS in sections over the coming weeks. Takes a bit of time, but very worth it!
I turned my attention to checking out the body, as I knew with over 4 years of body-parts knocking around the garage, nomatter how careful you are it was bound to have collected a few err...imperfections along the way.
Not bad - mostly fine scratches here and there, but at least three areas where the gel had come clean-off on edges such as the bottom rear wheel-arch and the front point of the sill (near the wheel), a few small cracks, some dings I had not noticed before etc. After a bit of research I bought one of those DAS Pro 6 Random orbital thingys, and some recommended pads and 1200 grit cutting cream & finisher.
I set about filling the imperfections with the supplied gel/ hardner, and then rubbed down as per the you-tube vids on gel repair on boats, then finished with the buffer..... Takes a bit of getting used to, and with a few mistakes along the way, but....
...absolutely amazing result! Couldn't be more pleased! - now considering doing the whole body with the DAS in sections over the coming weeks. Takes a bit of time, but very worth it!
Did someone mention polishing 
well I do work on a shiny super yacht. I have a Das 6 pro orbital as well. What pads are you using? I went for the Meguires pads and 105 & 205 finishing polish as demonstrated in the "Junkman" you tube videos. Great results, but takes some time. Here is a before and after shot. 
Also recently done some gel coat repairs on stone chips on rear wheel arch. Easy to do, but make sure you put a good 4 drops of hardener in for a level tea spoon otherwise your looking at a good 48 hours for it to harden. The sun came out for a few hours and so with car out on the drive managed to get some heat into the gel coat for it to finally set. Finished it off with 3,000 wet and dry before polishing. In the last week done the whole process from snow foam, wash, clay, 3 stage polish, glaze and one more coat of wax tomorrow while the weather is crap, new Ultima transfers and helivents on and a few other bits and pieces and I'm ready to go for the sunny weekend that is forecast. Have just noticed I have a gel coat star crack leading out from the left head lights, will have to wait for now, I guess if I can keep it looking good for a few years then I will get the whole car painted. Ult-Jim.
well I do work on a shiny super yacht. I have a Das 6 pro orbital as well. What pads are you using? I went for the Meguires pads and 105 & 205 finishing polish as demonstrated in the "Junkman" you tube videos. Great results, but takes some time. Here is a before and after shot. Also recently done some gel coat repairs on stone chips on rear wheel arch. Easy to do, but make sure you put a good 4 drops of hardener in for a level tea spoon otherwise your looking at a good 48 hours for it to harden. The sun came out for a few hours and so with car out on the drive managed to get some heat into the gel coat for it to finally set. Finished it off with 3,000 wet and dry before polishing. In the last week done the whole process from snow foam, wash, clay, 3 stage polish, glaze and one more coat of wax tomorrow while the weather is crap, new Ultima transfers and helivents on and a few other bits and pieces and I'm ready to go for the sunny weekend that is forecast. Have just noticed I have a gel coat star crack leading out from the left head lights, will have to wait for now, I guess if I can keep it looking good for a few years then I will get the whole car painted. Ult-Jim.
Ult-Jim said:
Did someone mention polishing well I do work on a shiny super yacht. I have a Das 6 pro orbital as well. What pads are you using? I went for the Meguires pads and 105 & 205 finishing polish as demonstrated in the "Junkman" you tube videos.
Same as me mate, but I found the 105 not as aggressive as I needed for deeper scratches, especially as Gel tends to be much harder than paint it seems. well I do work on a shiny super yacht. I have a Das 6 pro orbital as well. What pads are you using? I went for the Meguires pads and 105 & 205 finishing polish as demonstrated in the "Junkman" you tube videos. I added a Menzerna Compounding pad and some Fast Gloss FG 400 which cuts better. It is then I used the Mags.
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