Sanding down epoxy patch
- Thread starter Ken13559
- Start date
Ken, I would start cutting it with 60 grit. Tough stuff baby. Finishing out will kind of depend on what you are putting on it in the end. Gel coat I presume? Maybe 220, because anything finer just takes forever to cut the epoxy. And gel coat will stick to a 220 surface, and cover it smoothly.
It's just what I would do..
It's just what I would do..
In my boat repair and building years, I seldom even had anything coarser than 100 grit in my shop. Agree on the 220.
And good luck getting gel coat to stick to epoxy. It can be a crap shoot. Sometimes it do, sometimes it don't. Some times it won't even cure. And I've never found rhyme nor reason for that.
And good luck getting gel coat to stick to epoxy. It can be a crap shoot. Sometimes it do, sometimes it don't. Some times it won't even cure. And I've never found rhyme nor reason for that.
Hi Ken. I use the coarsest paper required to do the bulk of the job ............... 60 grit if necessary. However, I mask the surrounding area with masking tape just as a warning when I'm getting close. Saves chewing up the surrounding area. I'd then back off and go to a lighter grit if looking to add something on top of the epoxy.
I've never used gel coat over epoxy and the consensus is that it's a recipe for disaster. West System epoxy disagrees in the attached file.
Good luck with the repairs.
I've never used gel coat over epoxy and the consensus is that it's a recipe for disaster. West System epoxy disagrees in the attached file.
Good luck with the repairs.
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That's partly why I use 60. Get in there hard, and back up a minute. I wouldn't have a problem in the world with 100 if I had it there. Either one, 220 will fair it enough to do something with. If you want it slick, wet sand it with 320, but damn Ken. You will hate that..
60 grit is pretty aggressive and it depends on how big your repair areas are. If dings, then way too heavy a grit. I wouldn't go anymore than 80 for the first run and then drop down gradually from there. If you are going to finish it with gelcoat, then you will start sanding the gelcoat (wet) with 320, then 400, then 600 and even finer if need be. There. Now you have a bunch of suggestions that you can flip a coin over.
Sanding down epoxy patch
Add one more item to throw darts at when choosing your paper.
I finish off gel coat repairs with 1500 wet paper ($1.10/sheet) when doing my annual one or two spider crack repairs. I then finish off with a FG polishing compound.
Looks great until the UV hits it then we're ready to start all over again :cussing:.
Add one more item to throw darts at when choosing your paper.
I finish off gel coat repairs with 1500 wet paper ($1.10/sheet) when doing my annual one or two spider crack repairs. I then finish off with a FG polishing compound.
Looks great until the UV hits it then we're ready to start all over again :cussing:.
Ralph, thanks for the idea of doing annual 1 or 2 gelcoat crack repair. I've brought the gelcoat repair stuff but drat doing the work as it seems totally overwhelming in numbers. At least from my perspective. So guess I could do just 1 or 2 crack gelcoat annually. Will take forever but hey ... I got many more years to go ...right? 