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Old 19-10-06, 12:00 PM
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kurrmet kurrmet is offline
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Location: Redditch and Denmark
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Re: Gelcoat Catalyst

Quote:
Originally Posted by pelham939
during my build i have done some running repairs and used gelcoat to get the colour built up but its still soft - i think i should have used a catalyst to finish the setting process - searched other threads and they confirm this - where do i get it from any glass fibre ditributor/supplier or is there a special?

thanks guys
Hi pelham

Yes you should have used a catalyst and the current gel coat that is on the car must be removed and the area cleaned with acetone.

Once you have gone this then you can mix up some new resin and catalyst and the correct pigment and this then can be used to repair any damge that you need to.

the reason that the orginal gelcoat never went off was that GRP is a thermo-setting plastic and need a catalyst to start the reaction.

I have learnt this lesson during my apprentiship and got very sticky and smelly removing the old gelcoat.
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