2 - Gloss Coat

I think I’m going to venture into the world of gloss coats as well (yeah, that’s right, I’m 25 and I’m not embarrassed to take a seven-foot-plus board with pinstripes and a gloss coat out to the breaks ; ) Can I add an agent to Lam resin to turn it into gloss coat (a la sanding agent). I can’t find any reference to it, so I’m assuming no, but thought I’d ask. Skol,

I think I’m going to venture into the world of gloss coats as well (yeah, > that’s right, I’m 25 and I’m not embarrassed to take a seven-foot-plus > board with pinstripes and a gloss coat out to the breaks ; ) Can I add an > agent to Lam resin to turn it into gloss coat (a la sanding agent). I > can’t find any reference to it, so I’m assuming no, but thought I’d ask.>>> Skol, Its better to use gloss resin but making your own is ok for a personal board.They don’t polish out as nice but then again getting a showroom polish is an art in itself.There is a lot of stuff on this somewhere in the archives…R.Brucker

I think I’m going to venture into the world of gloss coats as well (yeah, > that’s right, I’m 25 and I’m not embarrassed to take a seven-foot-plus > board with pinstripes and a gloss coat out to the breaks ; ) Can I add an > agent to Lam resin to turn it into gloss coat (a la sanding agent). I > can’t find any reference to it, so I’m assuming no, but thought I’d ask.>>> Skol, I’ve got a customer that likes me to rub out the sanded finish on his boards. I take the sanding to 400 grit then hit it with shurlustre a couple of times. They come out real nice, but sometimes you’ll expose a little weave that the sanding didn’t. Aloha, Kokua

What - precisely - are the so-called “speed finishes” chemically comprised of?! I have only done traditional gloss coats, and was wondering what all the fuss is about. I suspect it’s a weight saving thing, but I was wondering about durability, longevity, and sealing power. Please elucidate!..mahalo, nui…T.

Tom: Hopefully you will get some more detailed info than what I have from limited use of some of these products. Most I believe are based on an acrylic product much like what is in clear floor finishes. Herb and others have mentioned using Future floor finish in a pinch and then there are some heavy duty industrial products, all however seem to work best if they have a high acrylic content. Yeah, these products are not as durable as glossing resin but if I had to choose between a sanded hotcoat or one with speed finish then I’d pick the added sealant of the acrylic. Who’s got the real skinny on some of the “secret sauces” that some of the surfboard industry sites offer? Someting else that has been pinging around in my head is the use of some of the roll-on/brush on truck bed liner that you find at Wal-Mart. It’s a really heavy duty plasic (elastomeric?) finish that could work like a semi-permanent nose or tail area non-skid finish if texturized. Tom S.>>> What - precisely - are the so-called “speed finishes” chemically > comprised of?! I have only done traditional gloss coats, and was wondering > what all the fuss is about. I suspect it’s a weight saving thing, but I > was wondering about durability, longevity, and sealing power. Please > elucidate!..mahalo, nui…T.

Tom Sterne - A friend made a couple of soft “paddle boards” using boogie board foam material (I’m not sure what the technical name for it is) and then painting sevral coats of that plastic tool dip stuff. He was able to purchase it in gallon size containers through the company that distributes the stuff. Very tough stuff - kind of reminds me of your truck bed material idea.

Tom Sterne ->>> A friend made a couple of soft “paddle boards” using boogie > board foam material (I’m not sure what the technical name for it is) and > then painting sevral coats of that plastic tool dip stuff. He was able to > purchase it in gallon size containers through the company that distributes > the stuff. Very tough stuff - kind of reminds me of your truck bed > material idea. – John, Bodyboard foams (the most common/inexpensive is Dow polyethylene): http://www.netbb.com/equipment/gearguide/materials/ Plastic tool dip (the type I prefer): http://www.plastidip.com/consumer/ Have fun!

What - precisely - are the so-called “speed finishes” chemically > comprised of?! I have only done traditional gloss coats, and was wondering > what all the fuss is about. I suspect it’s a weight saving thing, but I > was wondering about durability, longevity, and sealing power. Please > elucidate!..mahalo, nui…T. The stuff that use is a non waterbased spray that I get from Fiberglass of Florida…kinda like acrylic lacquer.It drys super fast.I also think that they have a water based spray also.Essentially it just seals the sanded finish and gives it a semi glossy sheen.It will seal any pin holes or exposed weave but doesnt make them any stronger.I like it…R.B.

What - precisely - are the so-called “speed finishes” chemically > comprised of?! I have only done traditional gloss coats, and was wondering > what all the fuss is about. I suspect it’s a weight saving thing, but I > was wondering about durability, longevity, and sealing power. Please > elucidate!..mahalo, nui…T. tom the speed finish that a lot of guys are using out here is a clear acrylic with a flattening base to take the gloss off.The same effect can be obtained by using standard clear.Blow a wet coat on first to cover weave and pinholes then hold the gun back and dust on a semi dry coat.when dry go over with a fine scourer or 1200w/d this leaves a nice satin finish.

Fiberglass Hawaii here in Santa Cruz sells a laquer base clear acrylic that dries very quickly and remains somewhat flexible. Handled with a three coat application over a surface sanded with 120 grit just as discribed above and then finish out to with progressively finer wet dry and ending with 1500, rubbing compound and auto wax gives a fine looking end result. I made a couple of singles for John Mellor and that’s how I finished them out. Maybe he’ll tell you about what the finish looks like; he pops up here a swaylocks fairly regularly. Mahalo, Rich

you sand the sprayed acrylic with 120 grit, then up to 1500? won’t 120 take off the finish spray?

you sand the sprayed acrylic with 120 grit, then up to 1500? won’t 120 > take off the finish spray? Depends on how thick you put it on.