Thread: Fiberglassing Tips?

Originally Posted by Naamanf

Try uscomposites.com for the mat and resin. As for the mold fabric, not any better than fleece from Walmart or any fabric store. If you have a router you can make your own rings with a circle jig.

Originally Posted by Naamanf

Try uscomposites.com for the mat and resin. As for the mold fabric, not any better than fleece from Walmart or any fabric store. If you have a router you can make your own rings with a circle jig.

lol dude, if hifibuys recommanded it, i'm gonna get my stuff there. yes, that mat at us composites has different weights. but that mold fabric is like 1/2 inch thick, stretchy, and worked good enough for them to recommend it to me. not that us composites doesn't have stuff that works, but i know the people at hifibuys know what they are talking about, and have the experience to back it up. they didn't win first place at car shows just cause it's a porsche. they have blood, sweat, and tears put into it. if you only saw the details put into this car. the hood had a mirror on the underside with an etching of how the sound system is set up and what it has. that was made in-house. and it's backlit by red florescent lighting. they've built enough boxes for me to go with what they say without hesitating. i not that i'm sayinganyone here is wrong, and that people can give you a good explanation to back up their ideas, but how many of you have 20+ years experience, a full time job doing it, and have a show car that has won 1st place for appearance without touching the engine bay...???

Wow. Did you say neon? Why don't you just go hang out with them. And wipe off your chin while your at it. Just trying to save you a couple bucks, but obviously you don't care. I use Select for stuff I can't get anywhere else. US Composites is cheaper and I gurantee they go through more resin than Select so it's going to be fresher and last longer. It's not "mold fabric" it's cheap *** fleece. ****s $1 a yard at walmart. And build your own rings. Then they are the exact size you need.

Originally Posted by Naamanf

Wow. Did you say neon? Why don't you just go hang out with them. And wipe off your chin while your at it. Just trying to save you a couple bucks, but obviously you don't care. I use Select for stuff I can't get anywhere else. US Composites is cheaper and I gurantee they go through more resin than Select so it's going to be fresher and last longer. It's not "mold fabric" it's cheap *** fleece. ****s $1 a yard at walmart. And build your own rings. Then they are the exact size you need.

Tough words but as the information goes i completely agree
NSK thanks for giving us a place to look for supplies but dont expect us to actually buy from them. For one most of us dont have the funds to buy highly expensive mold fabric.

I mean go right ahead yourself no one will stop you. But i certainly will not. Are you making your car for show and competition and all that? Or is this, like most of us, for personal enjoyment and show off to your friends? Cuz if its the latter i would not bother spending so much for fabric. Its not the fabric that will ultimatly be supporting your box... thats what the fiberglass is for. Its jsut to get a nice contoured shape for you to build on.

So long story short, as long as your fabric can absorb a good about of resin to make a good starting shell it will work.

Originally Posted by Sidewalksalvage

For one most of us dont have the funds to buy highly expensive mold fabric.

Cuz if its the latter i would not bother spending so much for fabric.

What I am trying to say is there is nothing special about the Select fabric. I have a couple of yards and it is no different that cheap Walmart fleece.

Originally Posted by Nskforlife

lol dude, if hifibuys recommanded it, i'm gonna get my stuff there.

You also have to remember they are a business. They are going to charge the guy with the Porche $60 of the gallon they bought for $40. It's much easier for them to order from one place because they are going to make money on what they order anyways. Your not.

Originally Posted by Naamanf

What I am trying to say is there is nothing special about the Select fabric. I have a couple of yards and it is no different that cheap Walmart fleece.

Originally Posted by Naamanf

You also have to remember they are a business. They are going to charge the guy with the Porche $60 of the gallon they bought for $40. It's much easier for them to order from one place because they are going to make money on what they order anyways. Your not.

Ahhhh ic what you are saying about the fleece now.

And yeah they can probably buy **** for dirt cheep and in large bulk but if we were to buy it, we would pay an arm and a leg

And just because someone recommends it doesnt mean its the end all. Everyone has their preferences. I saw one AMAZING install where the guy used bottom of the line shark patterend (meaning it has pictures of sharks all over it) fleece his grandma had laying around.

Also if this is your first install do you REALLy want to spend a load of money and then half way through **** the whole thing up and have to start over.

I would buy walmart or other similar fleece just because if you mess up you havent also lost a load of cash.

The best advice I can give for anyone is to not use matte fiberglass and fleece. I've seen way too many people make the mistake of using matte fiberglass when it only makes their job harder. Stick to fiberglass weave, and use spandex instead of fleece. Spandex stretches to shape much better then fleece, and it doesn't absorb nearly as much resin that fleece does. You want fiberglass for strength, not fleece.

Originally Posted by megalomania

The best advice I can give for anyone is to not use matte fiberglass and fleece. I've seen way too many people make the mistake of using matte fiberglass when it only makes their job harder. Stick to fiberglass weave, and use spandex instead of fleece. Spandex stretches to shape much better then fleece, and it doesn't absorb nearly as much resin that fleece does.

Ive heard of using spandex but never thought for myself. How does it stack up price wise? Is the stretchablitiy and such worth the extra buck?

You want fiberglass for strength, not fleece.

Could not have said it better myself