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Damage Options.
the_big_1 - 18/6/20 at 08:31 PM

Hi guys,

Had a disaster tonight. I was pop riveting top edge of my side panels when the rivet gun slipped and took the edge off a panel

What options would you suggest to fix it? Cover it with something, paint etc? Dont fancy having to have a whole side painted at a body shop.

baz-R - 19/6/20 at 09:36 AM

looks like chipped gel-coat

all you need is a gel-coat repair kit, you will need to know what RAL or BS code (colour) it is and then try east coast fibreglass as they did kits

you simply clean up the area and then mix up a bit of gel and fill it in and cover it with release film so it sets hard

then wet sand back and polish out just take care that you dont make any bubbles mixing and put just enough hardener so it doesn't get too hot as it sets

i would go for a long cure time/minimum amount of hardener

cracks in gel and bubbles, pockets, voids can be ground out with a dremmel and fixed in the same way

jelly head - 19/6/20 at 10:02 AM

As above, done it loads of times now. Brown parcel tape works for covering the wet gel coat over.

Deckman001 - 19/6/20 at 10:06 AM

quote:
Originally posted by baz-R
looks like chipped gel-coat

all you need is a gel-coat repair kit, you will need to know what RAL or BS code (colour) it is and then try east coast fibreglass as they did kits

you simply clean up the area and then mix up a bit of gel and fill it in and cover it with release film so it sets hard

then wet sand back and polish out just take care that you dont make any bubbles mixing and put just enough hardener so it doesn't get too hot as it sets

i would go for a long cure time/minimum amount of hardener

cracks in gel and bubbles, pockets, voids can be ground out with a dremmel and fixed in the same way


Stunning answer !! I need guidance like that for my f/glass bodywork as it's a bit surface scratched that should be easy to recover from with the right guidance and advice like you just provided !!

Many thanks and sorry to hijack the thread

Jason

the_big_1 - 19/6/20 at 10:15 AM

Hi Guys,

Just ordered the repair kit.
Watched their video, FABULOUS.
Was scarred of the idea before, seems straight forward!

jps - 19/6/20 at 10:37 AM

I've got a similar problem - mine is where I put some cracks into the side panel forcing in over the chassis rails (I know, i know!!!)!!!

Nice to see recommendations, and others confidence that it's not as calamitous as I had imagined!

the_big_1 - 19/6/20 at 10:42 AM

Yep I am the same!
Until I watched the video, I had sheer dread lol

baz-R - 19/6/20 at 11:12 AM

i have done it a few times

also forgot to mention that the heat generated can make it shrink back as it cools
more hardener more heat so like i say try and use the minimum.

you can always mix up a trial bit its better than doing it twice

dont get it on your skin either!

the_big_1 - 19/6/20 at 11:32 AM

Hi,

Yeah going to do the mix they recommend and the damage is about 10 mm x 50 mm

Mr Whippy - 19/6/20 at 11:39 AM

gel coat is very easy to wet sand and to polish with rubbing compound, it will blend in just fine

the_big_1 - 19/6/20 at 11:42 AM

Yeah it sounds it. Was something that always sounded a very specialised job.

Deckman001 - 19/6/20 at 03:06 PM

Right, first question then, How do i find out the RAL colour of the second hand bodywork I've got with no paperwork ?

Jason

HowardB - 19/6/20 at 03:32 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Deckman001
Right, first question then, How do i find out the RAL colour of the second hand bodywork I've got with no paperwork ?

Jason


there are some mobile phone apps that will take a guess,.. I did something similar to get the "exact" match on a job

HTH

Deckman001 - 19/6/20 at 03:39 PM

Cheers, thanks for the heads up, much appreciated

Jason

baz-R - 21/6/20 at 10:48 PM

Most gel coats are either standard RAL or BS colours
Pretty much the entire paint industry will be working off these codes so a paint supplier should have a colour code book if you get stuck?