can nail polish be used in a ding repair?

[mattgraz]

ok , what do you think: can colored fingernail polish be used in a ding repair? Can it be mixed into the laminating or sanding resin or just applied over the repair? My concern is about the chemical reaction. Maybe another suggestion for color? I'm in an area where there aren't surf shops, but plenty of art stores, hardware and automotive stores, etc.

[billie_morini]

Probably not. Most nail polishes are made of nitrocellulose dissolved in a solvent butyl acetate or ethyl acetate. The base for these acetates is acetone. Acetone is the solvent for fiberglass resin. That means acetone disolves the resin used to lay the fiberglass. This reaction is the opposite of what you want to do (i.e., make a repair).

To obtain small quantities of fiberglass resin and pigments for making repairs, make mail order purchases. Many fiberglass resin pigments are polyesthers; which are very different than acetates. I have lived in some very remote regions myself, and that's how we used to get almost everything. It's slower and takes some planning - usually in advance. The other option is to simply apply paint to the repaired surface. Paints for placement on cured fiberglass are not unique and you can use almost anything.

[esonscar]

" ok , what do you think: can colored fingernail polish be used in a ding repair? "

Okay, we all thought this so I'm gonna say it - " which finger ? "