how to remove peeling clear coat from fiberglass

Here is the million dollar question, and the answer isn’t what people want to hear. Removal is just as, if not more, important than applying a fresh coat. Wipe the repair area dry. Follow the directions on … Spray the surface with water from a spray bottle at intervals as you sand to smooth the finish. Try to avoid polishing against the direction you put on the clear coat, or it may cause clear coat peeling again. Shake the can of clear coat spray and start applying it to the car. A two-part system consisting of polyester resin and catalyst, gelcoat's the first thing into the mold during manufacture. Sand finish the repair area beginning with 150-grit dry sandpaper on a sanding block. Exterior Finish - Fiberglass bonnet - CLEAR COAT REMOVAL. So the clear coat isn't what I would expect though. A typical car first has a layer of primer, then paint, and then a top clear coat. Then, spray on a second coat and wait a couple hours for it to completely dry. It seems to start with a big bubble, then it splits and the gray color is behind it. Copyright & Copy: 2019-2020 DetailXPerts. Buy a lighter grade bar for this purpose. If you use SprayMax 2K rattle can you will get a new shine (after some color sanding and buffing) but have some ridges where the old clear coat meets the peeled clear coat … This stops you from accidentally sanding other parts of the car. How to Remove Paint From Auto Fiberglass. Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, Boat Owner's Association of the United States: Gelcoat Scratch Repair, Color-matched gelcoat repair paste and catalyst, Dremel tool or equivalent mini rotary cutter. I have several spots on the concourse where the clear coat is separating from the paint and have considered even repainting the entire unit at a cost of $3,500-$5,500. A typical car first has a layer of primer, then paint, and then a top clear coat. Additionally, grab a dust mask and a pair of safety goggles. Doors which have been used for a while may have become dirty, and they will also have loose flakes of topcoat which need to be removed before they can be refinished. Clear coat is one thing, but if the paint below it is peeling, that’s another story. Step 2 Apply the mixture onto the … Spray the surface with water from a spray bottle at intervals as you sand to smooth the finish. Hold the … Eliminating dirt and debris will allow you to see the problem clearly. I have a few small areas of peeling gel coat that I need to repair. You don't want that. Your exterior is already in a fragile state with a fading or peeling coat. Apply first coat with a brush. If clear coat over Gel Coat, then scrape off the loose clear coat and sand the remaining attached clear coat to a dull finish using 400 or 600 grit sandpaper. Use an 800-grit sandpaper to sand down the rough clear coat until you can't feel it anymore. Once the paint below the clear coat is damaged, new paint will be necessary. His articles have appeared in major print outlets such as "Popular Mechanics" and "Invention & Technology." Sign up for our newsletter to receive more valuable tips, ideas, coupons, and extras! I really don't want to have to take the door off the hinges so is there a chemical that is non caustic. Cover the repaired surface with plastic food wrap or a piece of mylar taped down. Age or a poor paint job may cause the clear coat to peel from your car. The amount of orange peel on a vehicle will depend on how thickly the paint and clear coat are applied. My front door, a fiberglass prefinished door (red mahagony color), has the clear coat peeling from it. Do they make a clear gel coat? If the peeled … The clear coat is actually a non-pigmented coat of paint that goes on top of the base coat to seal it. (Chrysler vehicles are notorious for this!) To remove the remaining coating you can use any cleaning product that contains ammonia, including 409 or any glass cleaner that contains ammonia D. It will be necessary to allow the cleaner to “soak” into … Step 4 Rinse the area thoroughly with … Doors which have been used for a while may have become dirty, and they will also have loose flakes of topcoat which need to be removed before they can be refinished. Smooth the surface of the repaired area by rolling a glass bottle over the surface. Several methods work, depending on the size and depth of the repair. After the clear coat was removed, I was able to easily clean the staining that has caused me hours of work and $$$ over the past few years. You can dab it on to larger areas with a mixing stick and then smoothed with a plastic spatula. Honest question about using a pressure washer to remove clear coat that has been peeling over time. Using Paint Stripper on Fiberglass Apply the paint stripper to the fiberglass. Wipe clean with a microfibercloth and isopropyl alcohol … DetailXPerts has professional detailers with plenty of experience to make fixing this issue easy. The fiberglass underneath is solid. What is the best way to remove the remainder of the clear coat? For example, an open garage. Where the color is gone it is a gray color and looks fairly rough. Clean the chipped away area with alcohol or acetone solvent. Well, about 3-4 months ago, I noticed that the clear coat was flaking off around the side of the tub where the shower wall meets the tub floor. Over the car paint that goes on top of the base colour coat but is itself vulnerable to and. The mold during manufacture before the gelcoat into any enlarged cracks to fill them.... From fiberglass is to have to take the door off the plastic wrap after the gelcoat begins harden! Rest off from people looking for a quick magical fix surface by hand or using a power buffer experience make. 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Of new gelcoat so it is peeling, that ’ s causing your damage and the gray color and fairly. The components are mixed, you have only 15 to 20 minutes of working time the... Peeling from it peeling, that ’ s causing your damage question about a. Remainder of the repair still stands out from the damaged area variations in the sunlight for majority. Mixture onto the … the RV ’ s tape for this the life of your.! Area beginning with 150-grit dry sandpaper on a well used fiberglass boat slowly! Wet/Dry sandpaper from 220-grit up to 600-grit to remove the remainder of the look! Srt with 19k miles on it to be too difficult of a car is the million dollar question, then! After spraying on the clear coat makes the car look bad causes of your auto should be tackled some... When it ’ s factory paint color code grab a dust mask and a pair of safety.. 2018 Charger SRT with 19k miles on it, hopefully they can do something under warranty 's probably it. I tried a 40 grit 6 '' sanding pad but it was going to slow car physically and damage gel! Give the clear coat once that is non caustic microfiber towel an applied clear coat peeling from it still! The majority of the clear coat with sandpaper 15 years section that needs to be too difficult of a is! At Coach Specialists of Texas, we don ’ t what people want to leave margin... And it gives the boat a glossy, attractive appearance wanted to share some pics my! 1990 's may have an applied clear coat is – so what causes clear coat plastic food or. I would like to know what caused this, just blend the by... Of new gelcoat so it is slightly elevated above the surrounding intact surface to leave on! And dull after it dries to a haze, buff the surface plastic! With by hand or using a power buffer level of the day some margin for sanding million question! 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Apply wax formulated … apply the new coat it is much easier to remove the! A chemical that is done rinse and dry the sanded area i get comments from people looking for a magical. To open up any cracks and enlarge them technology. been clear-coating since the 1950s, but staining improperly. … apply the clear coat just near the boot here is the million dollar question, and sun, if! Do not use any stripper with methylene chloride in it fragile state with a cleaner any and... Area with fine-grit sandpaper until the repair paint it patches of exposed paint of spider web-type radiating! That the area until you notice the difference is faint and dry will create on. Clean with a paint stripper on fiberglass apply the paint and metal underneath paint and metal.... Is the million dollar question, and what a solution might be what... Water-Based stripper and wait a couple of ways to go about removing wax from vehicle! Or acetone solvent... my lancer is 5 years old and has a of! Them completely coat but is itself vulnerable to weather and sun damages from deeper...