Pure White Gelcoat Finish Kit - Gelcoat, Surfacing Wax & MEKP

15 to 20 min pot life

1 2

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Pure White Gelcoat Finish Kit - Gelcoat, Surfacing Wax & MEKP

SKU:GEL-W032-W

$39.95 USD

$39.95 USD ~~USD~~

$1.25 floz

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Shipping calculated at checkout.

In stock

Size: Quart

Quart Gallon 5 Gallon

Quantity

Key Specs

Mix Ratio: MEKP 2% by volume: 19 cc (2/3 oz) per quart, 76 cc (2.5 oz) per gallon; 1.5% hot to 2.5% cold
Pot Life: ~15-20 min @ 80°F
Tack-Free: Final coat with the included wax cures tack-free, ready to sand and polish
Resin Type: Polyester gelcoat - pigmented white, unwaxed, with surfacing wax bottle
Cured Color: White
Wax Content: Surfacing wax INCLUDED as a separate bottle - stir into the final coat only, 1/2 to 1 oz per quart

Everything for a final coat that cures hard and sands clean: unwaxed pure white ISO/NPG gelcoat, a bottle of surfacing wax, and MEKP catalyst, shipped together. Lay your build coats straight from the jug, they stay recoatable with no sanding between, then stir the wax into the last coat only. It cures tack-free in open air, ready to sand and polish, with no PVA over the top.

In the box: pure white gelcoat (unwaxed) + surfacing wax + MEKP. Quart kit: 2 oz wax. Gallon kit: 16 oz wax (enough for four gallons). 5 gallon kit: 32 oz wax, gelcoat packed as five 1-gallon jugs.

Wax dose: 1/2 to 1 oz per quart (2 to 4 oz per gallon), final coat only. Warm the wax to 80 F or above before mixing, cold wax will not blend. Once a coat is waxed it must be sanded and acetone-wiped before anything goes over it, so keep the wax for the coat you mean to finish.

Catalyze: MEKP at 2% by volume, about 19 cc (2/3 oz) per quart or 76 cc (2.5 oz) per gallon, included. Pot life about 15 to 20 minutes at 80 F; up to 2.5% in a cold shop. Apply over sanded polyester or vinyl ester laminate or existing gelcoat, not over epoxy. Brush, roll or spray.

Sizes: quart, gallon and 5 gallon kits. Work with ventilation and a P100 respirator with organic vapor cartridges.

Shelf life and storage: gelcoat has a short shelf life, so plan to use it within 3 months of delivery. Stored sealed and upright at 60 to 75°F, out of the sun, it often keeps up to about 6 months; catalyze a small test cup before using an older can on a big job. Heat ages it fastest, so keep it out of hot garages, sheds and truck beds; it does not need a refrigerator. If it has sat for a month or more, stir it well before use.

Specifications

Technical specifications

Type: ISO/NPG polyester gelcoat, pigmented white, unwaxed, with surfacing wax bottle
Cured color: white
Surfacing wax: 1/2 to 1 oz per quart (2 to 4 oz per gallon), final coat only, wax at 80 F or warmer
Resin system: isophthalic / NPG (neopentyl glycol) polyester, the marine grade for water, blister and weathering resistance
Catalyst: MEKP included at every size, 2% by volume: 19 cc (2/3 oz) per quart, 76 cc (2.5 oz) per gallon; 1.5% hot to 2.5% cold
Pot life: about 15 to 20 minutes at 80 F; warm the gelcoat first below 60 F
Apply over: sanded polyester or vinyl ester laminate or existing gelcoat, not over epoxy
Application: brush, roll or spray; thin 5 to 10% with styrene for spraying
Sizes: quart, gallon, 5 gallon (the 5 gallon ships as five 1-gallon jugs)
Ships: Ground only (Class 3 flammable)

Includes

Pure White Gelcoat (unwaxed)
Surfacing Wax (2 oz / 16 oz / 32 oz by kit size)
MEKP Catalyst

Features

Gelcoat + surfacing wax + MEKP in one box: everything for a finish coat
Wax only the coat you mean to finish; build coats stay recoatable with no sanding
ISO/NPG marine gelcoat in pure white, MEKP included
ISO/NPG marine gelcoat
Quart kit 2 oz wax, gallon kit 16 oz, 5 gallon kit 32 oz
5 gallon packed as five 1-gallon jugs
Brush, roll or spray; thin 5 to 10% with styrene to spray

View full details

Technical Specifications

Mix MEKP 2% by volume: 19 cc (2/3 oz) per quart, 76 cc (2.5 oz) per gallon; 1.5% hot to 2.5% cold

Resin TypePolyester gelcoat - pigmented white, unwaxed, with surfacing wax bottle

Mix RatioMEKP 2% by volume: 19 cc (2/3 oz) per quart, 76 cc (2.5 oz) per gallon; 1.5% hot to 2.5% cold

Pot Life~15-20 min @ 80°F

Tack-FreeFinal coat with the included wax cures tack-free, ready to sand and polish

Cured ColorWhite

Wax ContentSurfacing wax INCLUDED as a separate bottle - stir into the final coat only, 1/2 to 1 oz per quart

CatalystMEKP included; about 2%, up to 2.5% in a cold shop

Apply OverSanded polyester/VE laminate or gelcoat - not over epoxy. Waxed coats need sanding + acetone before any recoat.

Best ForFinish work - build coats unwaxed, wax the last one

Compare Resins

Product	Pure White Gelcoat Finish Kit - Gelcoat, Surfacing Wax & MEKPYou're viewingfrom $39.95	Pure White Gelcoat with Hardener - No Waxfrom $39.95	Neutral Gelcoat with Hardener - No Waxfrom $39.95	Clear Gelcoat with Hardener - No Waxfrom $39.95
Type	Polyester gelcoat - pigmented white, unwaxed, with surfacing wax bottle	Polyester gelcoat - pigmented white, unwaxed	Polyester gelcoat - tintable neutral base, unwaxed	Polyester gelcoat - clear, UV-inhibited, unwaxed
Mix Ratio	MEKP 2% by volume: 19 cc (2/3 oz) per quart, 76 cc (2.5 oz) per gallon; 1.5% hot to 2.5% cold	MEKP 2% by volume: 19 cc (2/3 oz) per quart, 76 cc (2.5 oz) per gallon; 1.5% hot to 2.5% cold	MEKP 2% by volume: 19 cc (2/3 oz) per quart, 76 cc (2.5 oz) per gallon; 1.5% hot to 2.5% cold; tint with about 1 oz pigment per quart (4 oz per gallon)	MEKP 2% by volume: 19 cc (2/3 oz) per quart, 76 cc (2.5 oz) per gallon; 1.5% hot to 2.5% cold
Pot Life	~15-20 min @ 80°F	~15-20 min @ 80°F	~15-20 min @ 80°F	~15-20 min @ 80°F
Cured Color	White	White	Neutral/translucent until tinted	Clear
Wax	Surfacing wax INCLUDED as a separate bottle - stir into the final coat only, 1/2 to 1 oz per quart	Unwaxed - stir surfacing wax into the FINAL coat only, 1/2 to 1 oz per quart (2 to 4 oz per gallon)	Unwaxed - stir surfacing wax into the FINAL coat only, 1/2 to 1 oz per quart (2 to 4 oz per gallon)	Unwaxed - stir surfacing wax into the FINAL coat only, 1/2 to 1 oz per quart (2 to 4 oz per gallon)
UV	—	—	—	UV inhibitors for outdoor & marine use
Best For	Finish work - build coats unwaxed, wax the last one	Hull & deck refinishing, repairs	Color-matched repairs - tint to the exact hull color	Clear topcoat over laminates; tintable with pigments
	Selected	View	View	View

How do I apply polyester gelcoat?

Clean and sand the surface, then catalyze the gelcoat with MEKP and lay it down in two to three coats. Spray it at about 18 to 20 mils wet, or brush and roll thinner coats, letting each one flash before the next. Because polyester gelcoat is air-inhibited, the final coat needs surfacing wax (or a PVA film) to cure tack-free so you can sand and buff it.

Do I need to add wax to gelcoat?

Only with unwaxed gelcoat. Air stops the surface of polyester from curing, so unwaxed gelcoat stays tacky until you stir surfacing wax into the final coat, about 1/2 oz per quart (2 oz per gallon), or spray PVA over it. Leave the build coats unwaxed so they recoat without sanding, and wax only the last coat.

How much MEKP do I add to gelcoat?

About 2% MEKP by volume at 77°F, which is about 19 cc per quart or 76 cc (about 2.5 fl oz) per gallon. Use a little more in a cold shop and a little less in heat, but stay between 1.5% and 2.5%. Measure with a graduated dispenser, since drops are not a reliable measure.

What's the difference between waxed and unwaxed gelcoat?

Waxed gelcoat has an additive that rises to the surface as it cures, sealing out air so the coat hardens tack-free and is ready to sand. Unwaxed (sanding) gelcoat has no additive, so it stays tacky until you add surfacing wax to the final coat or cover it with PVA. Use unwaxed when you plan to lay more coats, and use waxed for the last coat.

Can I use polyester gelcoat over epoxy resin?

It is not recommended. Polyester gelcoat bonds well to polyester and vinyl ester laminates but adheres poorly to epoxy. If you must gelcoat over epoxy, let the epoxy fully cure, wash off any amine blush, sand it thoroughly, and expect a weaker bond. For epoxy repairs, a two-part polyurethane topcoat is usually the better finish.

Can I roll or brush gelcoat instead of spraying it?

Yes. For small repairs you can brush or roll gelcoat, though spraying gives the smoothest finish. Thin it about 5% to 10% with styrene so it flows out and self-levels, catalyze with MEKP, and add surfacing wax to the last coat. Work in thin coats to avoid runs, and plan to sand and buff afterward since some brush marks are normal.

Why is my gelcoat still tacky and not curing?

A tacky surface almost always means air-inhibited cure, not too little catalyst. Unwaxed gelcoat will not harden on top until you add surfacing wax to the final coat or seal it with PVA. Other causes are too little MEKP, temperatures below about 60°F, or high humidity. Confirm your catalyst ratio, warm the shop, and wax or PVA the last coat.

How much gelcoat do I need?

At about 20 mil wet, one gallon of gelcoat covers about 80 square feet before losses. Allowing for overspray, plan about 60 square feet per gallon (about 15 per quart) when spraying, or about 70 square feet per gallon when brushing or rolling. Tooling and heavy color coats go thicker. The gelcoat calculator works it out for your job.