Playing with fiberglass
SC34 powered LS-T
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 438
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Hmm let me see if i can remember any specific tips...heres the stuff that stuck out to me:
When you want to build something like my enclosure I built, stretch fabric over a frame, but make sure the fabric is stretchable four-ways, not just two, otherwise you will have very large wrinkles.
Id suggest using fiberglass cloth instead of mat, cloth is sooooo much less messy.
For a base layer that you want to be fairly thick, Id suggest dipping the peice of cloth in the resin instead of painting the resin onto the cloth.
For ease of use, cut the cloth into strips that are more easily managable.
No brainer...wear clothes you arent going to use again. Also, if youre dealing with the cloth or mat, take your clothes off BEFORE you get into the house and put them directly in the wash, those fibers will get everywhere and are impossible to get out of carpet and such, and they are hazardous to humans and dogs, wouldnt wanna hurt that BH of yours
Use brushes with bristles, not foam brushes, the fiberglass resin will eat away at the foam.
Dont use too much hardener, the mixture gets really hot and hard to work with.
Id suggest using a mask like they use to remove abestos if you have one, those thin paper painters masks just dont cut it.
One tip to make sure the cloth or mat which ever you use is fully penetrated, with the brush, dont just use a stroking motion to apply the resin, poke at it too.
Thats all I can think of for now, anything else feel free to ask
What kind of project are you planning on doing?
When you want to build something like my enclosure I built, stretch fabric over a frame, but make sure the fabric is stretchable four-ways, not just two, otherwise you will have very large wrinkles.
Id suggest using fiberglass cloth instead of mat, cloth is sooooo much less messy.
For a base layer that you want to be fairly thick, Id suggest dipping the peice of cloth in the resin instead of painting the resin onto the cloth.
For ease of use, cut the cloth into strips that are more easily managable.
No brainer...wear clothes you arent going to use again. Also, if youre dealing with the cloth or mat, take your clothes off BEFORE you get into the house and put them directly in the wash, those fibers will get everywhere and are impossible to get out of carpet and such, and they are hazardous to humans and dogs, wouldnt wanna hurt that BH of yours
Use brushes with bristles, not foam brushes, the fiberglass resin will eat away at the foam.
Dont use too much hardener, the mixture gets really hot and hard to work with.
Id suggest using a mask like they use to remove abestos if you have one, those thin paper painters masks just dont cut it.
One tip to make sure the cloth or mat which ever you use is fully penetrated, with the brush, dont just use a stroking motion to apply the resin, poke at it too.
Thats all I can think of for now, anything else feel free to ask
What kind of project are you planning on doing?
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 154
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How do you get the fiberglass so smooth, and how do you make it bare weight? I know you can cut the MDF ring for the sub, then use dowel rods to connect it to the base, but is that sturdy enough? also, is it air tight enough to use as an enclosure without any bondo or other type of sealant? Thanks - Brick
Thread Starter
Still here... sorta...
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,177
Likes: 2
From: CO
Originally Posted by madhandles03
Hmm let me see if i can remember any specific tips...heres the stuff that stuck out to me:
When you want to build something like my enclosure I built, stretch fabric over a frame, but make sure the fabric is stretchable four-ways, not just two, otherwise you will have very large wrinkles.
Id suggest using fiberglass cloth instead of mat, cloth is sooooo much less messy.
For a base layer that you want to be fairly thick, Id suggest dipping the peice of cloth in the resin instead of painting the resin onto the cloth.
For ease of use, cut the cloth into strips that are more easily managable.
No brainer...wear clothes you arent going to use again. Also, if youre dealing with the cloth or mat, take your clothes off BEFORE you get into the house and put them directly in the wash, those fibers will get everywhere and are impossible to get out of carpet and such, and they are hazardous to humans and dogs, wouldnt wanna hurt that BH of yours
Use brushes with bristles, not foam brushes, the fiberglass resin will eat away at the foam.
Dont use too much hardener, the mixture gets really hot and hard to work with.
Id suggest using a mask like they use to remove abestos if you have one, those thin paper painters masks just dont cut it.
One tip to make sure the cloth or mat which ever you use is fully penetrated, with the brush, dont just use a stroking motion to apply the resin, poke at it too.
Thats all I can think of for now, anything else feel free to ask What kind of project are you planning on doing?
When you want to build something like my enclosure I built, stretch fabric over a frame, but make sure the fabric is stretchable four-ways, not just two, otherwise you will have very large wrinkles.
Id suggest using fiberglass cloth instead of mat, cloth is sooooo much less messy.
For a base layer that you want to be fairly thick, Id suggest dipping the peice of cloth in the resin instead of painting the resin onto the cloth.
For ease of use, cut the cloth into strips that are more easily managable.
No brainer...wear clothes you arent going to use again. Also, if youre dealing with the cloth or mat, take your clothes off BEFORE you get into the house and put them directly in the wash, those fibers will get everywhere and are impossible to get out of carpet and such, and they are hazardous to humans and dogs, wouldnt wanna hurt that BH of yours
Use brushes with bristles, not foam brushes, the fiberglass resin will eat away at the foam.
Dont use too much hardener, the mixture gets really hot and hard to work with.
Id suggest using a mask like they use to remove abestos if you have one, those thin paper painters masks just dont cut it.
One tip to make sure the cloth or mat which ever you use is fully penetrated, with the brush, dont just use a stroking motion to apply the resin, poke at it too.
Thats all I can think of for now, anything else feel free to ask
What kind of project are you planning on doing?
tyWell, it's kinda a secret... :happysad:
I'm trying to retrofit something on the car that doesn't just fit like it's supposed to so I'm in need of a method to make it look like it's supposed to be there. Hence, my desire to learn to fiberglass. I started already and now I need to sand it to hopefully get it like I want it. I need to go back to the store and get more supplies (brushes, gloves). I might PM you to get more info.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: Ontario
Check this out....
http://web.njit.edu/~cas1383/proj/main/
It may help a little....
definately stick to fiberglass cloth instead of mat, I'm still finding pieces of fiberglass here and there a year after I finished...
If you're doing a fairly large job (sub box size) retrofitting you may want to buy in bulk... some stores will cut you custom legnths of fiberglass instead of buying it in packages (it's a hell of a lot cheaper), same deal with resin, you may be better off buying a gallon instead of quarts, provided you're going to be using it all....
http://web.njit.edu/~cas1383/proj/main/
It may help a little....
definately stick to fiberglass cloth instead of mat, I'm still finding pieces of fiberglass here and there a year after I finished...
If you're doing a fairly large job (sub box size) retrofitting you may want to buy in bulk... some stores will cut you custom legnths of fiberglass instead of buying it in packages (it's a hell of a lot cheaper), same deal with resin, you may be better off buying a gallon instead of quarts, provided you're going to be using it all....
