fill console holes - Page 2

Chris Caton · 22 January 2014, 21:54

like lots of things Biff, it may be basic if you know how, but to me it's just black magic, never messed with this stuff so I leave it to them wots knows how n got to work to earn the dosh to pay them for their knowhow, swings n roundabout eh

biffer · 22 January 2014, 22:02

You're right Chris but I have to try to help the guys who want to try it, the worst he will do is make a mess, he may do good though

ShinyShoe · 22 January 2014, 23:22

Biff - I'd have done much the same but might have considered taping a piece of acetate across the holes on the outside. Stiffening that with some hardboard, ply, MDF, flexiboard or whatever on the outside. All held in place with masking tape and maybe a heavy weight or two.

From inside I'd then have painted on gelcoat (vs flowcoat) onto the acetate. Let it go tacky then offered up some CSM to it (dry)- probably cut to the size of the holes, then wet out with a stubby brush and resin, then a big sheet / sheets of well wet resin probably with a bit of board wrapped in plastic bag behind to held it while it goes off...

I'd have been hoping the acetate + board on the outside would have acted as a mould and given me a good finish to reduce sanding.

Never done a console. Done holes in sailing dinghies this way where I could get to both sides of the buoyancy tank.

biffer · 23 January 2014, 08:33

You are 100% right in your advice, I left out the Gell and and other bits because he's laying on his back inside a console with the work above him! he also said he wanted back to original, so he's going to need Gell on the outside to achieve that. I try to put myself in the same situation when I give avice

SteveHall · 23 January 2014, 09:02

Cheers for all this advice guys, and I appreciate all your help! I am thinking more and more that this is a bad idea for me to complete myself - When I paint I seem to get more on myself than the object I should be paining.

Chris, think your right - This is some kind of voodoo' but as all the skill seems to be on the south coast I need to look at other options. Biff makes the end results look so impressive but I understand this is from years of experience.

Nos, Yes the gauges are the same size and my original plan was to replace the old with 4 new matching gauges but they are expensive and as most of the information is now on the plotter its an expensive extra that I don't think I would get the benefit V's £.

If the fixing up of the old holes was an easy task, to make it look original then I would fill in all the holes and just have one gauge.

Back to the drawing board - I think my option for this season will be to put some Perspex or similar over all the holes and sandwich with a baton on the inside.

Chris Caton · 23 January 2014, 09:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by biffer

You're right Chris but I have to try to help the guys who want to try it, the worst he will do is make a mess, he may do good though

I'm not knocking your advice Biff, just it's not for me theses days, but you're right what you're saying, Steve may well do a good job following your advice

Dave Cowell · 23 January 2014, 09:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveHall

Chris, think your right - This is some kind of voodoo' but as all the skill seems to be on the south coast I need to look at other options.

There are the skills up here. Mike Whitham at Whitham Glass Fibre has already been mentioned. I could also put you in touch with someone based in Stockport if you wish. He is a private individual so I can't post his details here.

SteveHall · 23 January 2014, 10:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Cowell

There are the skills up here. Mike Whitham at Whitham Glass Fibre has already been mentioned. I could also put you in touch with someone based in Stockport if you wish. He is a private individual so I can't post his details here.

Do you have the details of the guys in Stockport - If you can PM me his email?

SteveHall · 23 January 2014, 14:36

I am waiting for some information back from the people suggested over the past few pages, but I am opening up to the fact that I may have to look at other options for filling in these holes

due to my lack of skill, pigment matching problems and not wanting this to look botched...

I have a very skilful SS fabricator in the family - so I am thinking a plate may be the only option, if you had to go down this route, would you do the red, green or blue?

I plan on only keeping one big gauge

Chris Caton · 23 January 2014, 16:07

carbon fibre

Ian M · 23 January 2014, 17:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Caton

carbon fibre

Now that can look really smart against white gelcoat. Thought about it for my console.

SteveHall · 23 January 2014, 18:08

The only experience of anything like this for me is that sticky backed suff halfrauds sell... Wouldn't know where to start

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

Chris Caton · 23 January 2014, 18:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveHall

The only experience of anything like this for me is that sticky backed suff halfrauds sell... Wouldn't know where to start

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

try carbon-hut.co.uk worth a look

wavelength · 23 January 2014, 19:16

Quote:

Mike at Whitham Glassfibre

+1 A pleasure to deal with, happy to pay him to do something he is good at in the first place rather than pay him to redo wot I've spent money on & cocked up!

Chris Caton · 23 January 2014, 19:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavelength

+1 A pleasure to deal with, happy to pay him to do something he is good at in the first place rather than pay him to redo wot I've spent money on & cocked up!

same here, Mike is a top bloke

Nos4r2 · 23 January 2014, 22:53

Once I sussed heating it 'til the lacquer softened before cutting so it didn't spinter the edges,premade carbon fibre panels weren't too hard to cut and shape.

Eye protection, dust mask plus overalls with elasticated cuffs are essential though-the dust is 1000 times more uncomfortable than GRP dust.

ShinyShoe · 24 January 2014, 00:56

I suspect people haven't enlarged your photo to see that you'd drawn three rectangles.

If you want to go fancy then red or blue. If you want to look tidy and be on the water ASAP green would be fine. (I think people assumed you wanted to know what colour plate).

I'd go with the green rectangle and put a plate on with My Callsign, MMSI etc so it doesn't look like its blanking over...

SteveHall · 24 January 2014, 19:19

Cheers. I have someone coming over next weekend to take a look at options with regards to a plate, not my preferred option, but I think the best. I am going to try for the red option, failing that blue. I didn't realise filling the holes would be so hard - how many whites can there be? Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

treerat · 24 January 2014, 19:45

I'd go for green and leave it there when you re mount. The red would work but could be more difficult to get perfect. Blue would look wrong, you'd get away with a MMSI, radio call sign type plate over the gap as another option.

White would be a nightmare to match in. Better going for contrast.

Bigtalljv · 24 January 2014, 20:05

I know I'm just an ugly American but why take them out? Is something going in the space they occupy? Even if you are not using them any fix (baring a big expensive professional job) or cover plate is not going to look as good. Hide them in plain sight. Can you get covers for them like the electronics have? Or they make blank hole fillers. They aren't int eh way or causing problems I wouldn't put too much effort in to making them go away.

Jason