Spider Crack Repairs
Discussion
Hello All, long time, no post!
Quick query - I'm looking to get the front of my car re-sprayed (primarily for stone-chips), however I have a couple of thin glaze / spider cracks leading across the nose. Speaking to a local spray shop, they advise that they cannot provide a permament repair to these, and they they may re-appear 12 months or so after the respray.
This doesn't ring true to me, and searching previous posts, a couple suggested that it should be more than possible to repair these and respray for a permament fix.
Your views would be appreciated.
Cheers,
Martin
'95 S4s Azure Blue
Quick query - I'm looking to get the front of my car re-sprayed (primarily for stone-chips), however I have a couple of thin glaze / spider cracks leading across the nose. Speaking to a local spray shop, they advise that they cannot provide a permament repair to these, and they they may re-appear 12 months or so after the respray.
This doesn't ring true to me, and searching previous posts, a couple suggested that it should be more than possible to repair these and respray for a permament fix.
Your views would be appreciated.
Cheers,
Martin
'95 S4s Azure Blue
Hi Martin:
You need to deal with a shop that has experience with fibreglass repair. If they just sand the affected area smooth and respray the cracks will reappear in short order.
Apparently the better way of doing the repair is actually gouging out the cracks (deeper and wider) and then filling with a resin/glass mixture. Sanding apparently needs to be done dry and not wet. Otherwise the moisture absorbed into the repair will try and escape at a later date.
I've had spot repairs previously made that have held the test of time by using the above method and others that have resurfaced in the form of paint checking only a few months afterwards from doing simple block sand and respray repairs.
Make sure that the people doing the repair are comfortable with glass bodies and understand that it is a specialized repair.
Happy Hunting!
Steve
You need to deal with a shop that has experience with fibreglass repair. If they just sand the affected area smooth and respray the cracks will reappear in short order.
Apparently the better way of doing the repair is actually gouging out the cracks (deeper and wider) and then filling with a resin/glass mixture. Sanding apparently needs to be done dry and not wet. Otherwise the moisture absorbed into the repair will try and escape at a later date.
I've had spot repairs previously made that have held the test of time by using the above method and others that have resurfaced in the form of paint checking only a few months afterwards from doing simple block sand and respray repairs.
Make sure that the people doing the repair are comfortable with glass bodies and understand that it is a specialized repair.
Happy Hunting!
Steve
The cracks are in the Gel Coat, therefore it has to be removed in the damaged area or they Will come back.
The Secret to removing it with the least amount of bother...and itching...is to tape off the area around the repair with Duct Tape and use a Hobby Sand Blaster to remove the Gelcoat down to the Fiber Glass Matting.
As for replacement of the Gelcoat, check with Evercoat for their Latest, Greatest Solution.
The Secret to removing it with the least amount of bother...and itching...is to tape off the area around the repair with Duct Tape and use a Hobby Sand Blaster to remove the Gelcoat down to the Fiber Glass Matting.
As for replacement of the Gelcoat, check with Evercoat for their Latest, Greatest Solution.
Other options are:
1. Buy a gelcoat repair kit from a marine shop.
2. Replace the dammaged gelcoat with Bondo and Bondo Glass. Bondo shouldn't spider nearly as easily.
Honestly if I had the cash, I'd take all the gelcoat off the Esprit and replace it with a surface builder and epoxy primer. A guy I work with got excellent results on a Corvette with that combination.
-Steve
'91 SE
1. Buy a gelcoat repair kit from a marine shop.
2. Replace the dammaged gelcoat with Bondo and Bondo Glass. Bondo shouldn't spider nearly as easily.
Honestly if I had the cash, I'd take all the gelcoat off the Esprit and replace it with a surface builder and epoxy primer. A guy I work with got excellent results on a Corvette with that combination.
-Steve
'91 SE
i'm a former vette owner, and have seen a lot of repainted cars. concensus is that the more money you devote to the paint and gelcoat materials, the longer it's gonna last. i've kept in touch with people spending the maximum amounts on prep and painting. they tell me that certain body panels have very bad crazing and color fading, whereas other body panels look new. the difference seems to be based on angle to the sun. yes these cars have been garaged. so my advice is buy the maximum UV protection current technology has to offer. i'm soon to repaint my esprit, so keep me posted on your purchase decisions.
Gassing Station | Esprit | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff