Crators again

[imported_h steve]

I clear coated a set of fiberglass bags and lids with UFC 35, the final step after graphics and UC 35. The bags came out fine but the lids had crators. Didn't have any Smoothie 2 so I set them aside. I resanded them down smooth with 500, washed them with soap and water, DX'd them and recleared, this time with Smoothie 2 in the mix. Still got crators and I'm not 100% sure but they look like they are in the same place. Am I going to need to strip these down to the primer and start over.

 

[shaunboy]

hi steve
This sounds to me like solvent popping that occured in the fibreglass gelcoat if the crators appeared in the same place
they can be hard to see at times in the gelcoat and sometimes the primer filler doesent really show them up .
And the basecoat being dull as it is doesnt help to show them either.
but when the clear gloss goes on BANG there they are.
To get a perfect job youll have to strip to primer in these areas and maybe with a fine pencil brush dab the holes with the primer so it gets right in.
Then start over.
Is Smoothie 2 a anti crator product?
If so remember to use it again.
one other suggestion could be to pencil brush the holes with the clear {with smoothie in it too!] and let dry thoroughly then resand and reclear.

 

[imported_h steve]

Thanks for the response. It was very strange. The lids were the only problem, the bag were fine. I dropped some clear in and resanded and saved the job but what a pain in the rear. Yes Smoothie is a crator / fisheye eliminator. Smoothie for enamels and laquer, Smoothie 2 for catalyst.