How Do You Mix Gelcoat?
Mixing gelcoat thoroughly with a catalyst hardener prior to application will ensure an even and sturdy finish. Always blend the resin well, so the final seal is smooth, without any patchy areas of unactivated gelcoat. Take pride in your work, and take the time to properly prepare a quality gelcoat that will last for years. Pour the amount of gelcoat that you estimate you’ll need for the project into an unwaxed paper cup. (Waxed cups tend to release the wax into the mixture when the gelcoat is stirred.) Add a few drops of MEKP (methyl ethyl ketone peroxide) hardener to the cup of gelcoat. The gelcoat bottle will have instructions for how many drops of the catalyst to add by volume. Do not add more than the suggested amount, as this may cause visible cracks and integrity problems in the final gelcoat. Use a new, clean craft stick to stir the two products together completely. Carefully scrape the sides and bottom of the cup to incorporate the two chemicals as thoroughly as possible. Don’t
