eliminating that ghost image after you remove the name. It was some kind of bleach mixture wasn't it? Would you share the formula one more time? Thanks
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
P
Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Took me a minute to figure out
what the heck you're asking about: getting rid of the "ghost" of a previous name that's left after it's removed because the gelcoat under it hasn't oxidized, but the rest of the gelcoat has. No formula, just straight bleach, sprayed on as often as possible. Works better is the transom--or wherever the name was--faces the afternoon sun. In most cases, if the new name is painted on, you can go ahead with it and continue "treatment" till the ghost disappears. However, the bleach can fade the colors in some decal names. So if you're gonna use this method, tell the new name supplier/painter...and ask whether the pigments in the paint or decal can be harmed by it.
what the heck you're asking about: getting rid of the "ghost" of a previous name that's left after it's removed because the gelcoat under it hasn't oxidized, but the rest of the gelcoat has. No formula, just straight bleach, sprayed on as often as possible. Works better is the transom--or wherever the name was--faces the afternoon sun. In most cases, if the new name is painted on, you can go ahead with it and continue "treatment" till the ghost disappears. However, the bleach can fade the colors in some decal names. So if you're gonna use this method, tell the new name supplier/painter...and ask whether the pigments in the paint or decal can be harmed by it.
Only father time will cure the problem.
Mark: Only father time will cure the problem. Even after the area is cleaned/bleached/scrubbed etc. There is still a ridge left. I would suggest that you do an Island Girl treatment on the entire area. This does a great job of conditioning the gelcoat. You can also try wet sanding. I removed the paint off of mine and left the name off for several months. Then I did an Island Girl treatment on the area. Then the sign guy applied the new vinyl letters. You really have to look hard to see any signs of the old name now.
Mark: Only father time will cure the problem. Even after the area is cleaned/bleached/scrubbed etc. There is still a ridge left. I would suggest that you do an Island Girl treatment on the entire area. This does a great job of conditioning the gelcoat. You can also try wet sanding. I removed the paint off of mine and left the name off for several months. Then I did an Island Girl treatment on the area. Then the sign guy applied the new vinyl letters. You really have to look hard to see any signs of the old name now.
P
Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
I've never had a ridge
And have a hard time figuring out what would cause one. Whether the name is paint or vinyl,it's on top of the gelcoat...it can't "sink" into it. There WAS an idiot PO who used vinyl and a stencil and cut the letters out with an Exacto knife (or maybe a box knife) after he plastered a sheet of vinyl on the on the transom...but he left cuts in the gelcoat, not ridges. Took about 2 months to get rid of the shadow (the name was on there nearly 10 years)...he cut so damned deep that I'd have had to have the whole transom re-gelcoated to get rid of the cuts..."SOLITAIRE" covered most of 'em, I lived with the rest of 'em.
And have a hard time figuring out what would cause one. Whether the name is paint or vinyl,it's on top of the gelcoat...it can't "sink" into it. There WAS an idiot PO who used vinyl and a stencil and cut the letters out with an Exacto knife (or maybe a box knife) after he plastered a sheet of vinyl on the on the transom...but he left cuts in the gelcoat, not ridges. Took about 2 months to get rid of the shadow (the name was on there nearly 10 years)...he cut so damned deep that I'd have had to have the whole transom re-gelcoated to get rid of the cuts..."SOLITAIRE" covered most of 'em, I lived with the rest of 'em.
OXIDIZED GELCOAT.
It must a different type of sunshine out in the west. Every boat in our harbor that has had the old letter removed has had this ridge. The area where the old lettering was is raised.
It must a different type of sunshine out in the west. Every boat in our harbor that has had the old letter removed has had this ridge. The area where the old lettering was is raised.
P
Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
What could possibly cause it??
Painted on stripes don't raise gelcoat...same kind of paint. Neither does vinyl striping logos, state numbers and decals...So what would cause name lettering to raise gelcoat??? Maybe it's something in your water.
Painted on stripes don't raise gelcoat...same kind of paint. Neither does vinyl striping logos, state numbers and decals...So what would cause name lettering to raise gelcoat??? Maybe it's something in your water.
D
Dennis Rielly
Ghosts
On my boat in VT PO had changed name twice and position of State # and Reg. All exhibit ghosts.
On my boat in VT PO had changed name twice and position of State # and Reg. All exhibit ghosts.
T
Tom
Mine had the ridge...
I removed the vinly lettering in May and had a ridge where they were removed. I'm not sure what causes it.
I removed the vinly lettering in May and had a ridge where they were removed. I'm not sure what causes it.
P
Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Ghost is common, it's ridges that baffle me
The ghost is just the result of oxidation and fading of exposed gelcoat, while the paint or vinyl protects the gelcoat under it...like "sun tan lines" on your body...exposed skin tans, the skin under your swim suit or watch band doesn't. Once the paint or vinyl has been removed, the ghost will eventually fade on its own as the gelcoat that was under it gradually fades to match the rest of the gelcoat...bleaching just accelerates the process. What I don't understand is why sun fading of the gelcoat around paint or vinyl would leave a ridge around the edges of the old name.
The ghost is just the result of oxidation and fading of exposed gelcoat, while the paint or vinyl protects the gelcoat under it...like "sun tan lines" on your body...exposed skin tans, the skin under your swim suit or watch band doesn't. Once the paint or vinyl has been removed, the ghost will eventually fade on its own as the gelcoat that was under it gradually fades to match the rest of the gelcoat...bleaching just accelerates the process. What I don't understand is why sun fading of the gelcoat around paint or vinyl would leave a ridge around the edges of the old name.
R
Rodney Kidd
Just a Thought
I don't think the vinyl letters or the paint raises the gel coat. My guess is that the vinyl or the paint protects the gel coat under the letters or graphics while weathering, compounding, washing, waxing, etc., wears away some of the surrounding gel coat leaving a raised area where the removed letter of graphics was. The raised area is caused because the surrounding gel coat is lower due to wear. Rodney Kidd C-42 #567, Sashay
I don't think the vinyl letters or the paint raises the gel coat. My guess is that the vinyl or the paint protects the gel coat under the letters or graphics while weathering, compounding, washing, waxing, etc., wears away some of the surrounding gel coat leaving a raised area where the removed letter of graphics was. The raised area is caused because the surrounding gel coat is lower due to wear. Rodney Kidd C-42 #567, Sashay
P
Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
That's a LOT of compounding and sanding!
If it wears away enough gelcoat to be noticeable in under 10 years, there's not likely to be any left after 30, 'cuz gelcoat is pretty thin. But, it's the only explanation I can think of either.
If it wears away enough gelcoat to be noticeable in under 10 years, there's not likely to be any left after 30, 'cuz gelcoat is pretty thin. But, it's the only explanation I can think of either.
L
LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners.com
It's true
Last year we removed the painted name on my parents' boat and applied vinyl lettering. It was so worn off that all we had to do was wetsand a little. The gelcoat under the paint was nice & shiny but the rest of the transom was well-oxidized. This could give the *perception* of a ridge, i.e, if you run your hand along the transom some will be smooth & some slightly rough. But it certainly felt like a raised area to me! LaDonna
Last year we removed the painted name on my parents' boat and applied vinyl lettering. It was so worn off that all we had to do was wetsand a little. The gelcoat under the paint was nice & shiny but the rest of the transom was well-oxidized. This could give the *perception* of a ridge, i.e, if you run your hand along the transom some will be smooth & some slightly rough. But it certainly felt like a raised area to me! LaDonna
S
Stephen Ord
Try this trick with bleach
Mix your bleach with flour or corn starch to make a paste. It will stay on vertical surfaces and not dryout as fast. Leave it on until dry then add more until the desired effect is reached.
Mix your bleach with flour or corn starch to make a paste. It will stay on vertical surfaces and not dryout as fast. Leave it on until dry then add more until the desired effect is reached.
P
Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
- Status
- Not open for further replies.