Are you madabout kit cars      
 "We've Got Kit Cars Covered" Information about Madabout-Kitcars.com Contact Madabout-Kitcars.com         Home of UK kit cars - madabout-kitcars.com Various kit car write ups All the latest kit car news Kit car related and general discussion

Search
Manufacturers
Kit Cars
Kit Car Data sheets
Picture Gallery
SVA Knowledgebase
Clubs & Communities
Build cost estimator
Kit cars for sale
Knowledge Base 
KitcarUSA.com
Classic-Kitcars.com
 

Go Back   Madabout Kitcars Forum > Mad Build Area > Tribute Automotive Builds

Tribute Automotive Builds Discuss your Tribute kit build

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 8th November 2018, 05:39
Welshkiwi Welshkiwi is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 309
Welshkiwi is on a distinguished road
Default Flowcoat whilst panel installed/alternatives?

Hi guys,

Looking to fit the front clam on my 275 project on the weekend and thinking of the potential of minimising the time (and the fact the weather is variable and I am limited with indoor/outdoor space to coat it and store it) by fitting it and preparing/coating the underneath surfaces with flowcoat whilst installed on the car.

I am thinking as long as the temperature and the hardener mix is suitable there shouldn’t be an issue with coating horizontal or vertical surfaces but without experience I am canvassing for thoughts. Trip ups or issues that you can think of? Alternatives if not using flowcoat in this setup? Appreciate any thoughts.....cheers!
Reply With Quote
Available from eBay
  #2  
Old 8th November 2018, 07:46
IanA's Avatar
IanA IanA is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Oxon
Posts: 1,118
IanA is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Welshkiwi View Post
Alternatives if not using flowcoat in this setup? Appreciate any thoughts.....cheers!
When my Z300S was painted recently, the underside of the bonnet moulding was given a coat of the white two-pack finish to seal it. Obviously it did not smooth the surface in the way that a flowcoat would.
However, this solution would work with the bonnet in any position.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 8th November 2018, 08:28
SwiftyDS SwiftyDS is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 326
SwiftyDS is on a distinguished road
Default

I have just painted the inner faces of bonnet and rear clam on my RS200 replica (MRS200 kit) with them fitted to the car (bonnet raised and propped up). I just went for satin black exterior oil based paint as I wasn’t bothered about too thick a finish as I will be fitting wheel arch liners, nor too smooth a finish.

Worked well and the paint was quite thick so didn’t really run. Needed a few acrobat moves to get inside the clam and under the arch areas, but the paint takes about 18 hours to really dry and set so I didn’t have enough space to take my rear clam off and store overnight along with the car itself.

Last edited by SwiftyDS; 8th November 2018 at 08:37..
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 8th November 2018, 09:32
NeilF355 NeilF355 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Teesdale
Posts: 238
NeilF355 is on a distinguished road
Default

I've used gelcoat on the inside of the roof and the inside of the vertical bulkhead behind the seats of my Dino. I just smoothed it on with the same spreader I used for filler, if you put enough on to just cover the surface it won't sag.
When it got to the stage of still being tacky I covered it with clingfilm to exclude the air and speed up the drying time as gelcoat drying is air inhibited (which is why they put wax in gelcoat to make flowcoat, the wax floats to the surface and forms a barrier to air)

I tried using flowcoat but was not happy with the finish, it has a dull sheen unlike the shine you get with gelcoat. I suppose I could remove the wax with solvent but it seems like unnecessary extra work to me.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 8th November 2018, 15:17
molleur molleur is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,401
molleur is on a distinguished road
Default

Truck bed liner in a spray can works a treat!
I used flex-seal.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 8th November 2018, 18:26
Mitchelkitman Mitchelkitman is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: norfolk
Posts: 691
Mitchelkitman is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilF355 View Post
When it got to the stage of still being tacky I covered it with clingfilm to exclude the air and speed up the drying time as gelcoat drying is air inhibited (which is why they put wax in gelcoat to make flowcoat, the wax floats to the surface and forms a barrier to air)
That's the seed of doubt that made me use matt black cellulose under the bonnet of my Quantum..... If the wax floats to the surface, will it work if the panel's upside-down? ie will it float 'down' or does it work by being less dense - like oil on water? I'll have to satisfy my curiosity one day.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 8th November 2018, 20:21
molleur molleur is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,401
molleur is on a distinguished road
Default

It floats to the surface of the gelcoat no matter the orientation of the part.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 8th November 2018, 20:26
Mitchelkitman Mitchelkitman is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: norfolk
Posts: 691
Mitchelkitman is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by molleur View Post
It floats to the surface of the gelcoat no matter the orientation of the part.
Ooer - I wonder how that happens?
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 8th November 2018, 20:29
molleur molleur is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,401
molleur is on a distinguished road
Default

It's called the exothermic effect. The heat generated by the catalyzed gelcoat drives the wax to the surface.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 9th November 2018, 05:19
Welshkiwi Welshkiwi is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 309
Welshkiwi is on a distinguished road
Default Loving your work guys!

Cheers for the inputs fellas, certainly looks as if I have some options based on your feedback.
Still interested in flowcoat for a substantial “bond” to the fibreglass and from what you all suggest etc painting in the installed position.

Looks like I will fit it so I can work out harness routing, studs, clips etc as well as heat blanket fixing and then once all that is sorted quickly remove it, prepare and coat the bracket locations and then re-install it and finish on the car.....cheers
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 9th November 2018, 08:24
IanA's Avatar
IanA IanA is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Oxon
Posts: 1,118
IanA is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Welshkiwi View Post
...once all that is sorted quickly remove it, prepare and coat the bracket locations and then re-install it and finish on the car...
I fixed the cable clips using Tiger Seal onto the bare grp first and then the underbonnet paint was sprayed over all.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 9th November 2018, 09:14
Jaguartvr's Avatar
Jaguartvr Jaguartvr is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Egham, Surrey
Posts: 1,780
Jaguartvr is on a distinguished road
Default

I found that the flow coat gave a really nice finish for very little effort. I changed the colour halfway through the build so just gave the flow coat a good clean with acetone to get rid of the wax and recoated in another colour without any problem.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 9th November 2018, 09:23
IanA's Avatar
IanA IanA is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Oxon
Posts: 1,118
IanA is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaguartvr View Post
I found that the flow coat gave a really nice finish ...
I was disappointed that the paint shop I chose "did not use flowcoat" but the final effect of the paint over the underneath of the bonnet is acceptable.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +0. The time now is 23:56.

copyright © madabout-kitcars.com 2000-2024
terms and conditions | privacy policy