What are the best way to get the Mould Flash lines off the body panels
30 Nov 2006, 12:18pm
What are the best way to get the Mould Flash lines off the body panels
Body panels
What are the best way to get the Mould Flash lines off the body panels
30 Nov 2006, 1:19pm
Hi...
Don't envy you on this one.
There are a couple of views...some people reckon power tools to speed up the process. I personally recommend by hand...it takes longer but the finish is more controlled and you don't run as higher risk of going through the gel coat.
What I did:-
Second cut file / 60 grit wet n dry to remove the really big flash lines.
Wet n dry each flashline using progressively finer paper until it is satisfactorily removed. I used 400 grade, then 800, then 1200 (make sure you use it wet with a squirt of fairy liquid in the water...helps it glide)
Once flash line removed used 1500 grade wet n dry to remove any fine scratch lines from the earlier wet n dry process.(again used wet)
Then on to polishes:- I used a system from sailboats.co.uk (Northampton) designed for fibreglass boats....works well. Again process I used was:-
3G cutting compound (by hand) over the area to 'shine up' the surface and remoce tiny scratches. Next use 'cutting boat polish' to further 'shine up' the area and give a good lustre. Then use 'carnauba wax' to seal and protect the finished surface....a couple of coats of this wax is worthwhile.
The whole process takes a very long time....but the finished results are worth it...basically effort in = quality of finished panel.
I reckon I probably spent about 30 -40 hrs deflashing / polishing but the finish is almost as good as paint.
Good luck
Rich
Don't envy you on this one.
There are a couple of views...some people reckon power tools to speed up the process. I personally recommend by hand...it takes longer but the finish is more controlled and you don't run as higher risk of going through the gel coat.
What I did:-
Second cut file / 60 grit wet n dry to remove the really big flash lines.
Wet n dry each flashline using progressively finer paper until it is satisfactorily removed. I used 400 grade, then 800, then 1200 (make sure you use it wet with a squirt of fairy liquid in the water...helps it glide)
Once flash line removed used 1500 grade wet n dry to remove any fine scratch lines from the earlier wet n dry process.(again used wet)
Then on to polishes:- I used a system from sailboats.co.uk (Northampton) designed for fibreglass boats....works well. Again process I used was:-
3G cutting compound (by hand) over the area to 'shine up' the surface and remoce tiny scratches. Next use 'cutting boat polish' to further 'shine up' the area and give a good lustre. Then use 'carnauba wax' to seal and protect the finished surface....a couple of coats of this wax is worthwhile.
The whole process takes a very long time....but the finished results are worth it...basically effort in = quality of finished panel.
I reckon I probably spent about 30 -40 hrs deflashing / polishing but the finish is almost as good as paint.
Good luck
Rich
30 Nov 2006, 7:04pm
What are the best way to get the Mould Flash lines off the body panels
What a ballaching job that is
Pay someone else to do it
John
1 Dec 2006, 12:53pm
OOOHH Vary helpfull that one JG 
Some good info that is Bigrich although i am not to worried about the gelcoat as i am going to have to spray mine (some sort of blue metalic May be a flick paint
)as the are some flash lines the will not clean up (got some flash lines that are inbound and can see the white/clear grp )
Some good info that is Bigrich although i am not to worried about the gelcoat as i am going to have to spray mine (some sort of blue metalic May be a flick paint
)as the are some flash lines the will not clean up (got some flash lines that are inbound and can see the white/clear grp )
4 Dec 2006, 11:08am
Rich
Looking at the pics of yours, it may have been a long job but well worth it.
Steve
Looking at the pics of yours, it may have been a long job but well worth it.
Steve