Fiberglassing Tips?

MP3DUB · 04-27-2003, 08:01 PM

So I've never fiberglassed before, and I just tried using a Bondo brand Fiberglass Repair Kit, and it turned into a biiiiig mess really, really quickly. Does anyone have any tips? Is the woven fiberglass matt easier to deal with? The fact that I tried to fiberglass a really oddly shapped cubby probably didnt help things, as hell didnt break loose until I tried to start working all the different angles and nooks and crannies in.

Edit: This cubby

ddt · 04-27-2003, 08:54 PM

Ohh... I've fiberglassed a ton of crap in the last 6 months. It's difficult to get used to. ..Okay, in my experience fiberglass cloth is easier to mess with than fiberglass mat.

As far as the cubby, this is what I'd do. Make a frame out of thin plywood or MDF. Then staple and stretch fleece (Sweatshirt material) over it and bruch on your resin/hardener. When it dries you can add layers of the fiberglass cloth to it to build it up.

I'm making a little console for my AC controls that I had to relocate and it has a few curves in it (to match the dash, and this is the method I've used and it turned out VERY nice.

chkdsk · 04-27-2003, 11:56 PM

One point to add to `ddt` regarding the "fleece (Sweatshirt material)", try to find material with as much polyester as possible. It sets up better and there is some material that the resin will dissolve, try a test piece of your material with your resin first to make sure it's OK.

MP3DUB · 04-28-2003, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ddt
Ohh... I've fiberglassed a ton of crap in the last 6 months. It's difficult to get used to. ..Okay, in my experience fiberglass cloth is easier to mess with than fiberglass mat.

As far as the cubby, this is what I'd do. Make a frame out of thin plywood or MDF. Then staple and stretch fleece (Sweatshirt material) over it and bruch on your resin/hardener. When it dries you can add layers of the fiberglass cloth to it to build it up.

I'm making a little console for my AC controls that I had to relocate and it has a few curves in it (to match the dash, and this is the method I've used and it turned out VERY nice.

Did you steal my friends brain? Heh, he said the same thing. Only problem is I'm trying to do a shell inside the cubby. I'll have to go get some fiberglass cloth thins week, and some more hardener. Also, any tips on getting the fiberglass loose other than just prying?

chkdsk · 04-28-2003, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MP3DUB
any tips on getting the fiberglass loose other than just prying?

Depending on what it is bonded to, you can try using some acetone or heat to remove it. But if it is attached to something soft, like plastic then be very careful. Prying may be your only solution; hopefully the resin is still a bit soft.

If you're grabbing some cloth, maybe get some thinner (lighter) stuff and do multiple layers, it is much easier to form around corners. We used to put some different color paint in the resin so you could easily see the multiple layers as you are applying them, saves "guessing" where you left off...

chkdsk · 04-28-2003, 12:02 PM

To anyone interested, here are some more fiberglassing resources...

The12Volt.com has a Fiberglass section (as well as other things)...

Alpine-Usa.com 2003 Honda Civic SI, Click on the Installation Photo's - it will take you a few hours to go through BUT it is extremely informative!

The Glassman Forum at YahooGroups - not a pile of posts but very informative. Kinda of commercial orientate but still a lot of good info. At YahooGroups, search for Glassmancustomforum and you'll find it.

I don't know how far MP3Car.com wants to get into glassing as it is a growing part of our hobby IE; do you prefer we send people to other sites OR do you prefer we help them out here?

ddt · 04-28-2003, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chkdsk
Depending on what it is bonded to, you can try using some acetone or heat to remove it.

Bingo! But if the area was cleaned and prepped (meaning the resin will stick well) then good luck!

MP3DUB · 04-28-2003, 02:14 PM

Yeah, ive done a bit of reading on the glassmans yahoo group, and im trying to get the haphazard shell out of the cubby now. I laid down a few layers of masking tape over the plastic cubby, so Ill just get to prying.

ddt · 04-28-2003, 02:16 PM

The best tutorial(s) out there!
http://www.carsound.com/cgi-bin/ubbc...=4;t=003210;p=

and

http://www.termpro.com/cgi-bin/ubb/u...;f=32;t=000549

Other fiberglass stuff.

http://www.eatel.net/~amptech/elecdisc/fibrglas.htm

http://www.carsound.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi

http://www.ofsoundmind.com/osm/install/glass.html

I have more but not on this computer. I'll post more this evening.

BTW the Glassman forums are good!

chkdsk · 04-28-2003, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MP3DUB
Yeah, ive done a bit of reading on the glassmans yahoo group, and im trying to get the haphazard shell out of the cubby now. I laid down a few layers of masking tape over the plastic cubby, so Ill just get to prying.

Start "prying" as soon as possible as the masking tape will start reacting with your mold and with the resin making it a permanent structure of your vehicle.

I use a good quality masking tape (7 day release) and usually apply Turtle Wax on top of the tape to assist in a mold release. You can also go one step further of using Tin Foil depending on how flat the surface is.

unknown · 05-07-2003, 01:25 AM

i was gonna say but ddt beat me to it that www.termpro.com has a good fabrication/fiberglass forum. its dealing with the same stuff we are dealing with so it should be inspirational. i havent checked the yahoogroups i will look into that.

mp3z24 · 05-15-2003, 11:57 AM

fiberglassing ... step by step

http://web.njit.edu/~cas1383/glassing2/

~mike

MP3DUB · 05-16-2003, 01:13 AM

Nice find. I bought a replacement center console on ebay months ago, and it should be finally showing up soon, so I'll have to do it in a more proper manner this time. I really knew about all of those steps last time, but I was an impatient bastard and now have paid the price for it

.

pcman · 05-19-2003, 04:34 AM

hiya guys
im in the process of building a complete fiberglass console for my car to fit my lcd and stuff

ive been taking photos during the process and if anyone is interested i can do a lil description about each one and post em up

Filip · 05-19-2003, 02:54 PM

I'm a member at the www.fiberglast.com forums...and there are a few people that really know their stuff. Theres also an archive of very good threads.

-F

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