Gravitex

[Somersetdub]

Hi guys, I have only just joined the forum, but could do with some advice.
I have recently sprayed under the wheel arches and under the boot floor on my Saxo Vts project after doing some cleaning up and some repairs.
I used Upol Gravitex and then used a 1k paint shot through a gravity fed gun on top, which was thinned 2:1 as recommended. Lastly it was covered with 1k lacquer which wasn't thinned.
This was a around a week ago.
Today myself and my friend were refitting the fuel tank and the filler neck and found that just knocking the paint even slightly would dig through the paint and the gravitex.
It is all very 'soft' still and I am concerned that the paint has reacted with the gravitex maybe? Or if I wait another week or so will it give it more chance to dry?
I am really pleased with the finish etc and obviously it was a lot of work, not to mention the cost, so if at all possible I want to prevent having to
scrape it all off and start again :-/

 

[Somersetdub]

Here it is, before being damaged from being knocked.

 

[Mee]

How many coats of Gravitex did you apply, and how thick were they?

This stuff takes some drying and thick coats covered with paint really take time to dry out, perhaps it was applied too thick and didn't dry fully before applying the paint so it remains semi soft.

 

[steveo3002]

yeah its pretty easy to overcoat it before its fully dried , not really sure if it will eventually harden or not

 

[Somersetdub]

Thanks guys. The underside of the car was left for days before being sprayed with clear lacquer only. I'm pretty sure it was fully dry. Yes it went on quite thick though. Under the wheel arches may have been sprayed with base coat a little sooner after the gravitex, but I did think it was dry at the time.
I don't suppose the cold, damp conditions outside have helped much either. I'm thinking I might leave the heat gun on for a while in various areas to see if that helps.

 

[Mee]

I find Upol products to be pretty good and mainly use them on classis restoration projects, the problem with Gravitex is that it is a slow drying product and it can be applied in thin or thick coats so inexperienced users can get lovely coverage, but an inconsistent thickness which often means it can have inconsistent drying or patch drying where it may appear to be dry but contain wet spots.

In a workshop/bodyshop environment you have a warm environment which means a warm vehicle, this warmth works wonders in the drying process, and as Upol products are designed for this working environment it looks like your most likely problem.

 

[Somersetdub]

Thanks. I think you're right.
I have been out there most of the day today reassembling various things etc. I left the heat gun firing around at various areas under the car including the wheel arch which I touched in. It seems to be working; the paint feels tougher already, albeit still slightly soft if you poke your nail in. I think it will probably be at least another few days before the car is finished, so I'll keep using the heat gun when I'm out there to help the process.