How to fix and repair fiberglass stress cracks youtube. Small cracks form in the outer surface of the fiberglass, spreading out from a central point like a spiderweb. Fill the crack with a fair amount of fiberglass epoxy resin, using a plastic applicator. This resin can be used as a protective surface over the top of fiberglass, or simply as a finish, much like you might varnish a piece of outdoor furniture. If your fiberglass or acrylic bathtub is cracked, you can easily repair it with a bathtub repair. There are two types of cracks that will commonly appear on a fiberglass pool stress or spider cracks, and structural cracks.
Fiberglass is an adamant material, but it may also develop cracks or holes under rough conditions or if face any accident. It can be difficult to diagnose spider cracks, especially when youre not aware of them. My friend pete shows us how to make a fiberglass paste to repair stress cracks in gel coat. Repeat this process until three layers have been applied. How to repair spider cracks on your fiberglass boat. Theres a marine adhesive called sixtyten or something like that that ive used in the past. How to repair a hairline crack in a fiberglass tub diy fix. The harken blockheads website is filled with hundreds of tips and videos to help. Boatus how to fix spider cracks, hairline cracks, and. The bad news is that the repair process is a bit involved, and requires the application of a new surface coating. Spider cracks are a form of fiberglass damage that occurs from minor flexing or impacts.
We have a fiberglass bathshower insert that has a few small hairline cracks on the bottom tub portion. If your spider crack is just the gell coat you can dig the cracks out, create a v and repair with gelcoat. Repairing a fibreglass crack doesnt have to be daunting. If you have a structural crack that means the entire piece of fiberglass has cracked through. How to repair a fibreglass crack for beginners youtube. Jun 06, 2018 learn how to treat wearinduced spider cracks that appear along the hull of your dinghy.
How to repair a fiberglass shower pan in an existing. A friend of mine said to get fiberglass sheets and resin and cover over the crack. Fiberglass repair video training system flash drive. Heres a helpful list of the tools and products i used in the video. Possible causes of fiberglass pool cracks improper installation and manufacturing or external forces such as hard impacts or earthquakes can cause a fiberglass pool to develop cracks. Rollfold the edge on the work side of tape back to make soft blended edge. Gelcoat is a fiberglass resin that has had a pigment added to it.
He has talked to 2 repair places in ca and one said that the fiberglass was not fully cured whaen the paint was applied and out gassing occured as it cured and this caused the paint to crack which caused the gelcoat to crack. How to fix spider cracks in fiberglass it still runs. There are several methods for repairing it, but using a fiberglass repair kit is probably the easiest solution. The blemishes appear to be surface only, i do not suspect the boat to be structurally deficient, however, i am not in favor of allowing moisture to enter the areas so i would like to repair for cosmeticpreventative reasons. Youtube yachtorial demonstrates some basic strategy and materials to do such a repair. Make sure you dewax the effected area, clean the surface, and make sure it is completely dry.
Once the paint dries, add a final layer of urethane compound, and buff the area to create a smooth, hard finish. How to repair a flaking clear coat on a fiberglass boat. Use a rotary grinder on the dremel tool or a sharp knife to open up any cracks and enlarge them. Apply tape around the perimeter of the dewaxed area. Sometimes, theyre merely cosmetic, meaning they dont penetrate the gelcoat. You may want to apply colored gelcoat enamel over the repaired area, so the repair wont be so noticeable.
While large cracks often indicate problems that patching may not correct, minor repairs are. The gel coat cracks are simply cracks in the cosmetic layer thats put over the top to keep the rv looking shiny. I thought about using it to glue an aluminum sheet or some other kind of brace on the underside. Try not to remove any of the fiberglass resin or cloth.
Hairline cracks, stress cracks or spider cracks star cracks that occur in gelcoat surfaces on fiberglass boats or other water craft are often seen as a cosmetic issue. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglasswhich ones the best. Hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently repaired. If these cracks are not repaired properly, they will develop into bigger cracks which may even break the bathtub apart. Generally, repair of minor damage is within the mechanical aptitude of most skippers. Crazing is an incredibly common issue on modern fiberglass boats, and although it usually starts off as a matter of cosmetics, in severe cases these surface cracks can grow, deepen, and eventually threaten your boats. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for spraying awlgrip paint. How to repair fiberglass on a boat the family handyman. The cracks are about 18 inch and can only be seen when u are close up to the rv.
Apply bathtub repair paint to create a smooth, wellmatched surface. Clean up the cracks as best you can, get some rubber gloves, mix up some marinetex, use fingers to force the mixture into the cracks, let cure, wet sand smooth with grit or so. With plaster washers and wide fiberglass mesh, old plaster walls can be made smooth and solid again. Cosmetic repairs fiberglass boat repair for the diyer. But you dont have to pay astronomical marina fees to get your. We discovered a fiberglass tub repair kit online but am wondering if thats the best route to follow. Surface gelcoat scratches can be buffed with polishing compound, and deeper scratches can be filled. You can then use the tungsten carbide groove cutter to cut a deeper grove into the crack.
How to repair spiderweb cracks in fiberglass with gelcoat. Repair if the spider crack is smaller than 12 inches long does not have a large whole in the glass. How to repair spider cracks in fiberglass boatlife. Before you tackle repairing hairline cracks in gelcoat, youll need to prepare.
Use the plastic applicator that comes with your epoxy set to apply the epoxy to the groove and crack in the fiberglass. I see these all over the motorhome but only if i look close and the sun is right. The best in the business for boat repair, refinishing, vinyl wraps, aluminum repair, custom painting, trailer repair. Windshield repair or windshield replacement windshield spider cracks can be tiny or large. Sometimes, however, spider cracks offer a path for water to get into contact with the fiberglass. A restoration of the interior deck of a vintage boston whaler with crazing and cracking that needs repair. When i look at the sidewalls really close and in the right sunlight, i can see a bunch of small little like spider web cracks. Repair sagging, cracking plaster walls and avoid the mess of demolition. Heres one way to fix and repair fiberglass stress cracks we use dynaglass body filler on this repair to make it easy and simpler do do it yourself. If the screw cracks the plaster as it goes in, predrill through the plaster. How to fix cracks in fiberglass gel coat using fiberglass resin. These scars of a life welllived are unsightly, but usually are just cosmetic.
The size, depth, and location of the spider crack will determine what type of auto glass repair will be necessary to restore your cars windshield. Youll be surprised how they disappear, and most wont reappear because the stress has already been relieved. Start by wiping down the area with acetone and sanding the damaged gelcoat down to the fiberglass. I am a south african lady who had a stress crack in her pool. If the crack is minor, you may be able to repair it. A step by step guide on how to use a fiberglass repair kit. The good news is that spider cracks can be far easier to handle once you know what to do. Learn how to treat wearinduced spider cracks that appear along the hull of your dinghy.
Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for. These cracks are generally cosmetic, and indicate flexing of the hull. Sounds like you have a good handle on things already. The stress cracks are spiderweb shaped mostly around the a pillar and where the top. They look somewhat like spider webs and are minor surface cracks in the exterior layer of the gel coat. How to fix a stress crack in a bathtub home guides sf gate. Apr 24, 2009 the problem with stress cracks in grp is that the reinforcing glass is a brittle material. Brush on the resin and apply the precut mat to suit your area to be repaired. When the area is dry, smooth the surface with sandpaper. Fiberglass filler acrylic glaze or spot putty spreaders sheet sander sanding block sand paper 60, 100, 220, 400, 600, 1500 and 2000 grit rubbing alcohol or. Stress cracks, are often called spider cracks because they will radiate out on numerous directions and look like a spider. If there is a molded bodyline or corner near the repair, you may want to extend the color patch to that point. If not managed, these small cosmetic annoyances can lead.
Fiberglass pools floating my personal favorite fiberglass cracking. I tried fiberglass patches, layering a couple strips of new fiberglass over the crack and smoothing with bondo. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat. Fiberglass sinks are durable but can become cracked or fractured over time. In most cases this is true, however it is important to seal them correctly otherwise water may penetrate into the fiberglass. Our training video and instruction manual contains all the information and instruction you will need to begin making flawless fiberglass repairs. Looking to purchase a 2004 holiday rambler with dark blue full body paint. Learn how to treat wearinduced spider cracks that appear along the hull of. Always use proper protection to include latex gloves, eye protections and a respirator or dust mask. Possible causes of fiberglass pool cracks home guides sf gate. Spider cracks can be widened out than apply epoxy filler over cracks, remove excess, sand when dry and then gel coat. Apr 20, 2020 also, cleaning using harsh materials will wear it out and lead to cracks of some sort. Stress cracks, spider cracks, and hairline cracks in the decks of older boats are, of course, not rare.
Watch as we grind out the cracks, fill and fair, then prime and paint with wet edge. How to fix cracks in fiberglass gel coat using fiberglass. Before i start, dont forget if you find this video useful give us a like below, add a comment, and dont forget to subscribe to our youtube channel. Jan 07, 2011 my friend pete shows us how to make a fiberglass paste to repair stress cracks in gel coat. Gel coat chip spider crack repair rot can be sneaky and you sound like youre making assumptions and want a quick fix. They can occur in any form of fiberglass, including cars, boats and swimming pools.
Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat magicezy. Magicezy hairline fix demonstration how to repair stress. Whether you are working up the courage to embark on a fiberglass tub repair, a pool repair, or auto body repair, we this article can give you the fiberglass repair tips needed to get started. I can get some photos but they are not readily available. The finished repair will surly be visible unless masqueraded with a large decal. Festering blisters blister repair on a fiberglass sail boat. Gelcoat repairs fiberglass and composite materials. Heres an easy way to fix and color stress cracks in seconds and its so tough it comes with a 3 year durability guarantee magicezy hairline fix is a revolutionary precolored fiberglass and gelcoat repair product that fixes and colors fine stress cracks spider cracks, and hairline fractures fast in one application it penetrates deeply into the pores of even the finest. Stress cracks in bathtubs generally occur when a heavy object is accidentally dropped into the tub. Pull apart the fiberglass at the site of the crack by hand. The best in the business boat refinishing nowak fiberglass.
Spider cracks are small, hairlike cracks that appear on the gelcoat of boats. Theres no need to have any prior experience because a kit includes all the materials and directions required for a diy project. Crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks, plagues countless boaters. Do your homework and make sure you dont have it or your gelcoat repair is a waste of time itll crack the first time you take it out.
There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglass which ones the best. Even the best boat captain has had a docking turn into a scuffandchip event. If you see cracks take the gelcoat in that area down to the substraight. I dont want to end up with a mismatched patch job or water leaks. How to fix spider cracks, hairline cracks, and crazing in boat. In most cases this is true, however it is important to seal them correctly otherwise water may penetrate into the fiberglass and cause more serious damage. How to repair a flaking clear coat on a fiberglass boat by gus stephens. Gotta dry out the boat before you start to apply fiberglass filler etc. Feb 04, 2018 the good news is that these cracks can be repaired. Jun 10, 2017 hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently repaired. These are the easiest cracks to fix as theyre not very deep. When the strain on individual fibres exceeds a certain limit they dont deform. With time, it is possible that gelcoat can become cracked, simply through wear and tear or a specific incidence of damage.
Fiberglass filler commonly is used to fill small cracks in fiberglass. Stress cracks can be identified as longer parallel surface cracks on the hull or deck. Practice will hone and improve your skill, but following these simple guidelines will allow you to achieve a positive result the first time. Repairing minor cracks and pits in a fiberglass shower pan can restore the pan to a uniform finish. Heres an easy way to fix and color stress cracks in seconds and its so tough it comes with a 3 year durability guarantee magicezy hairline fix is a revolutionary precolored fiberglass and gelcoat repair product that fixes and colors fine stress cracks spider cracks, and hairline fractures fast in one application. Today im going to show you how to repair spider cracking in gelcoat. Before we start doing any repairs, ive got to make sure that the boats nice and clean. Always mix and sand fiberglass in a wellventilated area.
Look for a pattern of spider webtype cracks radiating away from the damaged area. Cracked compartment lid bass boats, canoes, kayaks and. Heres everything youll need to know to repair these cracks. The number of boats that develop serious blister problems is extremely small. Pull loose plaster tight to the lath with plaster washers. If not managed, these small cosmetic annoyances can lead to bigger problems down the road.
How to fix crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks. Gelcoat surface damage 1 dings 2 dents 3 gouges 4 small holes. Fiberglass is easy to work with and often can be repaired to original strength no matter what the failure is. How to repair a hairline crack in a fiberglass tub diy. This technique can be used on any fiberglass boats or kit cars. This video is part 3 of a series on fiberglass that focuses on how to repair a very common type of damage in preparation of applying a new nonskid surface using awlgrip paint. Youll save a ton of money if youre patient and use the proper tools. Within the first day of driving, the cracks reappeared going right through the new fiberglass. A repair pro shows you how to make invisible fixes for scuffs, dents and scratches in fiberglass boats and other fiberglass items. If a recurring load is applied to a laminate and it is even slightly above the limiting load, instead of the laminate deforming slightly but otherwise remaining.
The spraying part of this video will be out next week. Aug 15, 2018 and almost every fiberglass boat, even the most mollycoddled, eventually suffers the heartbreak of spider web andor stress cracks. The other repair for spider cracks involves a little more work. If the crack is too big in the tub surround, you may need to get a professional to fix it for you. Gel coat chip spider crack repair thanks for replying. How to fix a hairline crack in a fiberglass tub home guides. Use masking paper to protect the boat from overspray.
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