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Subject Topic: Cracks On Glassfibre Front Post Reply Post New Topic
Persondaverk
23/5/2009 at 10:35pm
 Location: Lichfield Staffordshire
 Outfit: 2009 Bailey Sancerre 4 Birth View daverk's Profile View Profile   Reply to daverk Reply   Quote daverk Quote  
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I have spider cracks on the Fibreglass front of my van. Am I right in thinking that I can repair these with a Gelcoat Filler. If so is it best to use a pigment with the filler (as most are white) to get a close match to the colour or get a can of spray paint mixed to match 


PersonDreadnought
24/5/2009 at 11:17am
 Location: Cannock
 Outfit: Freedom sunseeker and Delta Heron static. View Dreadnought's Profile View Profile   Reply to Dreadnought Reply   Quote Dreadnought Quote  
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Hi daverk. what we did with our freedom was fill the cracks with a jelcoat and sprayed it with an off white paint.its almost invisible now.

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Those that danced were thought to be quite insane to those who could not hear the music. Angela Monet              


PersonPRIMETIME
24/5/2009 at 4:33pm
 Location: KIDDERMINSTER
 Outfit: SWIFT CORNICHE View PRIMETIME's Profile View Profile   Reply to PRIMETIME Reply   Quote PRIMETIME Quote  
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Hello, it might seem a silly question but what is jelcoat and how does it work, applied etc? im new to caravans and still learning mainly from ukcs, my A frame cover has a few spider cracks and chips out of the fibreglass so any information would be great, also do you sand it down and is a special paint needed to finish,  regards Phil.


PersonDaleR
26/5/2009 at 9:52am
 Location: Newport South Wales
 Outfit: Bailey Pageant Megane II SportTourer View DaleR's Profile View Profile   Reply to DaleR Reply   Quote DaleR Quote  
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i had a similar problem with my van, i tried gel coat filler and a pigment but it was too thick to go in the hairline cracks. What i did in the end was paint it with touch up paint and sand it all down, you cant see it at all. I did experiment with build up primer which worked well but needed lots of thin coats as it didnt react well with the gel coat.

Gel coat is the thick paint layer thats on top of the fibreglass which gives it the smooth finish. I wouldnt worry about hairline cracks in the gel coat too much as its pretty much cosmetic rather than a problem allowing water ingress. Gel coat filler is available in boat chandlers as boats are made of a similar construction. You mix the filler and hardener together and mix in a drop or two of pigment to match the colour if you wish, then you fill in the holes/cracks and sand to a smooth finish when dry, i think this works better on holes in the gel coat and larger cracks.


Personmichael
30/5/2009 at 10:00pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Caravan now Sold View michael's Profile View Profile   Reply to michael Reply   Quote michael Quote  
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lots of info here on painting GRP and gel coats repair.

http://www.yachtpaint.com/uk/default.asp

Boat Painter's Guide



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the only silly question is the one you do not ask.


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Personlobsterpot
12/6/2009 at 8:16pm
 Location: Southport
 Outfit: Swift Lifestyle 480 View lobsterpot's Profile View Profile   Reply to lobsterpot Reply   Quote lobsterpot Quote  
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I have worked in the Fibreglass business for over 25 years and I would recommend getting a lot more info before trying this method.
Its not as simple as it seems. Gelocoat in a resin based material which needs a catalyst to harden it. it's very sticky and very smelly.
I do not work in this business any more but you could always phone my old firm Glasplies of Southport. Ring on a thursday or friday and ask for Allan or Mick. Tell 01704 514776. emails office at glasplies.co.uk.

Good Luck Kathy



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