Actually that's a very good idea, Larry

We did just that when the repair shop was open ('76
to '96)

+ Scrub with acetone to remove wax and crud.

+ Sand edges with 600 to remove oxidized gelcoat (or
a yellow ring will be trapped at the edge of your repair)

+ Mask off and brush on several coats of gelcoat. Use
heat gun to make it dry faster (hair dryer works)

+ Remove high spots with a file, this works best on
straight sections, like leading edges.

+ Wet sand with a block (600 & 800)

+ Buff out with a wool pad and liquid buffing compound.

We called the above, 'Dings & Things' Every annual
came with a request to fix this ding and take a look
at ---------------------
Best if a reasonably clever owner does this on his
own.
Happy, Happy to all on ras,
JJ

At 06:30 22 December 2004, Larry Goddard wrote:
OK everyone, take a deep breath before responding how
stupid my approach
is... I am fully aware of the potential damage that
_could_ occur.

One method that I have used successfully doing similar
things to my
wings is to use a _clean_ mill ******* file. I know,
I know.... sounds
like heresy to lay a file on your wing but if you lay
it flat, parallel
to the leading edge, it is possible to 'file' down
the proud portion of
the gelcoat without gouging into or scratching the
existing gelcoat.
The file rides smoothly over the existing gelcoat
but takes off the
excess new gelcoat. It takes a light sensitive touch
but makes very
quick work of the job because the teeth of the file
only catches on the
raised replacement gel coat.

Try at your own risk!!!

Larry Goddard
'01' USA



Ray Lovinggood wrote:

Help.

I want to repair some self-inflicted wounds on the
leading edges of the wings on my LS1-d. The wounds
were created when getting the wings out from and/or
putting them back into the definintely non-Cobra/Komet
trailer. While not a Cobra, it is a 'serpent' type
of trailer, but more of a intestinal 'tape worm'...

I scraped off little bits of gel coat from time to
time and I want to reapply gel coat. Fill the little
divots and sand them off.

But, how do you sand the leading edge? These divots
were probably no more than about 50 mm long for the
largest and no more than about 10 mm high, again for
the largest. Others are smaller. And, they are right
on the nose of the leading edges.

I've begun the work with some gel coat and I've sanded
it down, but wondering what the 'right' way would
be.
What size sanding block to use? I'm using a milled
piece of wood that measures about 75mm wide by 15
mm
thick by about 450 mm long and wrapping a sheet of
sanding paper around it.

My sanding movements have been parallel with the leading
edge, trying to keep the sand paper right over the
gel coat which 'stands proud' above the surrounding
areas.

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Ray Lovinggood
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA