Gel Coat

[Saturn 5]

My Griff wheel arch has a small patch of Gel coat missing. Is this a problem and is their some potion I can buy to replace it with. Im more worried about the appearance of this area than anything as it dosent seem to be having any other effect. Any thoughts boys and girls.

[si b.]

Hi Saturn,

I've had a bit of experience with fibre glass in a previous life (fortunately not TVR related, which is nice!).

Depends where the patch is - on the inside of the wheelarch? or on the painted body?

If it's on the inside use body filler - its basicaly polyester resin filled with talc (I think) so you are being true to the original materials of the car - you will need to paint it with some type of black paint (waxoyl smooth black underseal is pretty good) Important to cover it up not just for cosmetic reasons but filler is porous (due to the talc) and fiberglass will eventually break down in water if the fibres are exposed through the gel coat (there's a teccie word for fiberglass rot but I can't remember what it is!)

If the patch is on the outside or it's quite large then I would recommend that get hold of some polyester resin and fine chopped fibreglass strand - mix up the potion to a putty and away you go - but......you're gonna be knackered trying to paint an isolated repair and get it to match!!!!( I think Isopon do a chopped strand product ready mixed)

I hope its on the inner wheelarch! should be a dead easy fix.

Have fun....and wear gloves when handling fibreglass and resin!!!

Cheers

Si


Hope this helps

[Saturn 5]

Thanks Si, it is on the inner wheel arch, the bit that is black, dosent sound to difficult to do, ill have a go. Thanks very much.

[zertec]

quote:
...fiberglass will eventually break down in water if the fibres are exposed through the gel coat (there's a teccie word for fiberglass rot but I can't remember what it is!)...

Osmosis and delamination

Clive Reed
Zertec Limited
[e-mail]
www.zertec.co.uk

[si b.]

That'd be it!!

Si