fiberglass gelcoat advice

[fastblueheeler]

Somewhat new to painting. I've done a few cars with lacquer about 15 years ago but never used a bb cc system and never a fiberglass car. Now I'm about to paint a 76 Corvette and have sanded thru the gelcoat to bare fiberglass in a few places. Guess I got carried away with the sander. Should I use a sealer before the primer/after the primer/or have I screwed up big time? Any advice is appreciated.

 

[sweate]

NO PROBLEM MAN. JUST USE A HIGH BUILD PRIMER(I LOVE NASON SELECT PRIME)

OVER YOUR BODY FILLER. THEN BLOCK IT, SEAL IT, AND PAINT IT. I HAVE DONE 2 CHEVY STEPSIDES, ONE OF WHICH I HAD TO COMPLETELY REPLACE ONE BOTOM CORNER WITH ONE CUT FROM A JUNK YARD BED. BEEN A YEAR NOW AND YOU CANNOT TELL IT.

 

[fastblueheeler]

Thanks man. I've heard terrible things about what happens when you sand through the gel coat (but it didn't stop me from doing it.) Gonna do the primer this weekend.

 

[fastblueheeler]

I didn't know it was that simple? Thanks, I'll check it out.

 

[Kyle]

If you are really worried you can buy some gelcoat, thin it with some styrene and spray it through the same gun you use for primer.

 

[rex]

If you're going to regelcoat it do it and get it out of the gun.If you overdo the hardner (which is easy to do) it'll set up fast.Makes a mess in the gun.A good high build primer will be fine as long as you dont sand it real thin.

 

[fastblueheeler]

Thanks for the advice Rex and others. I'm planning on using Omni MP182 to prime. Then a sealer. Checked on the gelcoat at Ekler's Corvette. Theirs is for 1953-72 Corvettes and is not formulated to work on 1973 and later Corvettes with SMC panels. That would be me. I've got about 6 spots where I sanded through trying to remove deep chips. I'm going to quit worring about the gelcoat and push on. Appreciate all the advice!

 

[rex]

I'm not sure why they said that because smc panels didn't hit the scene until the mid to latter 80's,yours is glass for sure.Either way you should be fine.

 

[fastblueheeler]

The whole thing is kinda confusing.

But I really appreciate your help Rex. I should be done sanding the primer by Friday then on to the sealer.