Who owns the problem when the paint job blister?

[Joe M.]

Re:Gelcoating both sides of panel.

Question for the folks that have had panels blister.
Does the goo ever leak out from the underside of the panel?

If the porosity of the panel matrix contributed to unhardened 'material' seeping through the top panel surface you would think gelcoat would provide enough of a barrier that seepage would follow the path of least resistence and leak out the back.

Are there three issues causing the blistering? porous panels, moisture and non hardened material?

Again if moisture was a problem would it not 'breathe' out the underside of a panel?

I'm more curious about why a fix has not been affected in what seems to be simple manufacturing process. The problem may be sporadic but costly in terms of satisfaction and lost $$$.

[Richard S.]

Re:Gelcoating both sides of panel.

When I attended the Judging Seminar in Texas a couple of years ago, there was a session on paint. After the session I asked the instructor, I forget who it was, about my bubble problem. He seemed quite sure that the moisture went through the panel from the backside....because we had left the back of the panel untreated. What do you guys think about that.....thanks.

Rick.

[Joe M.]

Re:Gelcoating both sides of panel.

Rick,
Doesn't make sense to me that moisture can only go out the topside if the matrix is as porous as claimed. Any pressure build would follow the path of least resistance.

[Chris Patrick]

Re:Gelcoating both sides of panel.

Let's use a little logic instead of emotion.

If fiberglass panels are wicking moisture from the uncoated backside and popping paint on the topside, why are only certain front end panels doing it instead of side panels, rear quarters, etc.?

In nearly 40 years of aftermarket panels, why has this only become an issue in the last decade or so?

[Richard S.]

Re:Gelcoating both sides of panel.

Chris,

Not sure where you're giong with this.....we replaced about eight panels with Corvette Image panels and they are the panels that bubbled.