Spider Web cracks
- Thread starter kruzer52
- Start date
Peter
Active member
*hi-ya* The ONLY way to treat spider (stress) cracks is to rip the area down to the glass fibre and fill, sand, prime and paint, anything less and they will pop up again in a short while ruining your paintwork, again. Use a flexible two part filler like Plastic Padding elastic Isopon P45 or what ever is available State side, plastic primer, undercoat,t top coat, clear, , it isn't quick and it isn't easy.*sigh*
letterman7
Honorary Admin
Well.. not that I disagree with Peter, but there is a difference between a stress spider web crack and a craze spider web from age and deterioration. Chances are it's just in the gel coat if the fiberglass underneath hasn't been stressed. If they aren't too bad (i.e. localized and not all across the panel), the typical fix would be similar to Peters: dremel out a V-groove on each crack down to the fiberglass. Fill with a patch of chopped fiberglass and resin (or, if the grooves are really small, micro-beads and resin, often called microballons: Fiberglass Supply- Fillers and Modifiers), sand flush and prime with a good catalyzed sandable primer. But you know that already Bob!
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letterman7
Honorary Admin
Nothin' is ever easy, Bob. On my first car I did sand some of those down without any other prep and shot a couple heavy coats of sandable primer. After about a year I saw some "lines" through the paint, but they never made it to the surface. It's all about what you're willing to accept as a finish... and from our discussions, I know you want it perfect!