Basic fiberglassing questions

[jgoeden]

Hey guys,

thanks for reading this. I did skim through the sticky on fiberglassing and will read it all in depth before I start my project, BUT I have a couple questions that are pretty basic that don't seem to get answered in most of the how-to's online.

Ok, I'm going fiberglass two things this winter...I want to make a custom dash (mine is very old and getting to be slightly tore up). I want it to be slightly curvy to look more modern but I'm not going over the top like you see those rice-burner cars that the kids have.

I'm also going to make a new doghouse (this is the term for the part that covers the motor, right). And if its not too hard I want to pretty much make a whole new, fiberglassed back end: doghouse, rear "panels", seats, etc.

Ok for my questions: what is the BASIC difference between polyester and epoxy resins and which should I use for my projects.

How many layers and what weight of glass should I use? I understand the differences but don't know how actually "strong each are. The back end project will need to be able to support weight, while the dash project should need to be very flexible for many curves, but not neccessarily need to be the strongest around. Everyone online says to "use as many layers as needed for strength". But how many layers should I expect? Like 3 layers on each project or will I be getting to 20 and 30 layers?

Also last one, how do I get my fiberglass to have that nice glossy finish? I just can't understand how you get the final layer to not look like the fiberglass cloth and more like a nice plastic finish? I plan on painting both.

Thanks, I just can't seem to find these types of answers in all of the tutorials I have found.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Basic fiberglassing questions

Read some of this, it will help answer your questions.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=288451

 

[saildan]

Re: Basic fiberglassing questions

I want to make a custom dash

I'm also going to make a new doghouse. And if its not too hard I want to pretty much make a whole new, fiberglassed back end: doghouse, rear "panels", seats, etc.

Ok for my questions:

• what is the BASIC difference between polyester and epoxy resins and which should I use for my projects.
  
• How many layers and what weight of glass should I use? Everyone online says to "use as many layers as needed for strength". But how many layers should I expect? Like 3 layers on each project or will I be getting to 20 and 30 layers?
  
• Also last one, how do I get my fiberglass to have that nice glossy finish? I just can't understand how you get the final layer to not look like the fiberglass cloth and more like a nice plastic finish? I plan on painting both.

My suggestion is to begin with three things,

(1) A good book on fiberglass construction. Everything you are asking is usually covered in chapters 1-3;

(2) Some hands on practice. Fiberglass construction is the plastic equivalent of woodworking. Good results come from understanding the materials, tools, and practice using both;

Your dash would probably benefit from making a simple mold first.

How To Mold Fiberglass & Composites. 1 of 8​

Moldless construction for the doghouse

Moldless Composite Construction 1 of 6 ​

(3) Find a specialty plastics (fiberglass) supplier in your vicinity. You will need resin by the gallon, fabric by the yard, and tools. These places also have a staff with knowledge to share, things Walmart and Lowe's clerks are clueless about.

or on line-

http://www.mertons.com/index.html

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com

 

[jgoeden]

Re: Basic fiberglassing questions

Thanks Dan for the help. I will check out those videos. I'm not the reading/comprehension type. I don't get much out of reading so the more videos and less books, the better! But I will check out those books.

Fiberglassing seems "easy enough" but "holy crap hard enough" at the same time. I think that if I take my sweet time, it should be alright.

I'm excited about the dash. Any tips and techniques that I'm not going to get from books on?

I'm wanting to go for something more curvy like this picture, but one solid piece.
http://media.photobucket.com/image/boat dash/rennspeed/CL/BoatSmartPotDash.jpg

 

[lowvlot]

Re: Basic fiberglassing questions

Okay finally a topic I know a little about. I used to do car audio for about 11 years and made all sorts of custom things with fiberglass.

for your projects you can use poly resin. What I used was grill cloth stretched over a wooden form. You can build whatever you want in any shape you can imagine and stretch grill cloth over it and then resin over the cloth for strength you could then apply fiberglass mat. How much depends on the need for strength. To get a smooth finish we would then mix fiberglass resin with bondo and hardner and spread it on the piece wait to harden and sand. Depending on how much prep meaning how much you sand and apply more resin/bondo mix to fill in holes and pits will determin your finished product. i always sanded smooth then wet sanded with 800 and 1000 to make ultra smooth. then paint or gel coat.

 

[jgoeden]

Re: Basic fiberglassing questions

Awesome, great information!

Now that grill clothe? Is that with a positive mold, so it's going to be the bottom layer? Or is that with a negative mold and it will be the bottom layer? Also, for a complex structure like a curvy dashboard, do you suggest using a positive mold (from foam and a barrier) or a negative mold (like plaster of paris?)

 

[lowvlot]

Re: Basic fiberglassing questions

Like I said I know a little about this topic. Positive and negative mold mean nothing to me.

For your dashboard I would simply build a simple frame out of wood. It only has to be a frame. Then stretch the grill cloth over the frame. You will probably want to use a 3m spray adhesive to attatch the cloth. Just spray the adhesive on the frame and stretch the cloth over it. It will be forgiving enough to allow you to peel the cloth off the frame for a time to stretch it tight. Make sure you allow the adhesive to tack slightly before applying the cloth. Once the cloth is stretched you will be able to pretty much tell what the piece will look like.

 

[jgoeden]

Re: Basic fiberglassing questions

Ah, when you said it was a topic you finally knew a little about, I thought you were being sarcastic and actually knew a lot about it! Dang internet you can't get the tone in people's voice.

Thanks again for the advice.

 

[Slabtastic0386]

Re: Basic fiberglassing questions

Okay finally a topic I know a little about. I used to do car audio for about 11 years and made all sorts of custom things with fiberglass.

for your projects you can use poly resin. What I used was grill cloth stretched over a wooden form. You can build whatever you want in any shape you can imagine and stretch grill cloth over it and then resin over the cloth for strength you could then apply fiberglass mat. How much depends on the need for strength. To get a smooth finish we would then mix fiberglass resin with bondo and hardner and spread it on the piece wait to harden and sand. Depending on how much prep meaning how much you sand and apply more resin/bondo mix to fill in holes and pits will determin your finished product. i always sanded smooth then wet sanded with 800 and 1000 to make ultra smooth. then paint or gel coat.

I am trying to restore a boat as well. I was wanting to customize the cap changing the way the deck looks completely. How would I do this? What would I use for a form? How do I make it stronger enough to stand on or would be be better for me to make the deck out of wood and glass over? Plan on starting this project in the next few weeks?

 

[jgoeden]

Re: Basic fiberglassing questions

No offense, but I would like to encourage you to start a new thread. That way it keeps our responses separate and keeps the confusion down to a minimum!

(I'm dumb enough as it is!!)

 

[saildan]

Re: Basic fiberglassing questions

Thanks Dan for the help. I will check out those videos. I'm not the reading/comprehension type. I don't get much out of reading so the more videos and less books, the better! But I will check out those books.

Fiberglassing seems "easy enough" but "holy crap hard enough" at the same time. I think that if I take my sweet time, it should be alright.

I'm excited about the dash. Any tips and techniques that I'm not going to get from books on?

I am trying to restore a boat as well. I was wanting to customize the cap changing the way the deck looks completely. How would I do this? What would I use for a form? How do I make it stronger enough to stand on or would be be better for me to make the deck out of wood and glass over? Plan on starting this project in the next few weeks?

You guys are wanting to do some complex and large projects for your first go. That takes planning and practice before you start in on the boat itself. There are DVDs instead of books but not on You-Tube.

You-Tube snippets are the ads for baking a cake, not the whole recipe and not all the cooking skills to back it up. They blow right by why they selected the materials they did and all the practice it took before they could just slap things together so well.

The tips I could provide are already written in the How To area: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=288451

However you guys do it, it's going to take study and practice to be done well.

 

[Slabtastic0386]

Re: Basic fiberglassing questions

No offense, but I would like to encourage you to start a new thread. That way it keeps our responses separate and keeps the confusion down to a minimum!

(I'm dumb enough as it is!!)

Sorry, I am right there with you. Beginners mistake

 

[allpoints360]

Re: Basic fiberglassing questions

Could you post pics of what you have? Then the replies could be more specific to your immediate concerns.

Good luck!

 

[jgoeden]

Re: Basic fiberglassing questions

Sorry, I am right there with you. Beginners mistake

Shoot you're fine, it ain't no big deal!


Allpoints :I'll get pics up probably tomorrow. Honestly you guys are gonna question why I want to do the project, but I just think its ugly and I'm imagining how sweet a nice glassed dash would look. Pics soon....