Fiberglass+Cardboard

[unhip_crayon]

Will this composite be able to retain water? I plan on making the "water catcher" thingy at the back of the boat from these materials...good idea?

Thanks!

 

[D.spencer]

Re: Fiberglass+Cardboard

I am unclear on what you mean by composite. Are you saying using cardboard as the center and glass both sides? I forsee an issue with that as the cardboard could absorb water ( moisture) and could cause problems in several ways. One, if it got wet-like from a small hairline crack, it could swell from the heat and bubble/blister the surface ( depending on circumstaces,of course) or if it got wet again/for whatever reason-pick one- it could freeze and split/blister the glass. I myself would find a solution that would either use something else or someway to remove the cardboard. Maybee make a mold or tool that can be waxed and removed after glass lay-up.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Fiberglass+Cardboard

if you saturate with resin the cardboard it will work.
My deck was cardboard cored.
They use balsa! so why not.

 

[mattpyle]

Re: Fiberglass+Cardboard

As long as you totally saturate it in resin and then seal it up completely with fiberglass, you should be fine. Hell what's the difference between that and plywood? haha.

The side rails on my Chrysler were made with cardboard in the center. They were obviously sealed up well, and have lasted since 1974 and are still in good condition

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Fiberglass+Cardboard

Use foam core board. It will not absorb water, light and easy to work with.

I think your "thingy" would be called a splash well.

 

[unhip_crayon]

Re: Fiberglass+Cardboard

Thanks BOB

And yes, i believe it is called a splash well

 

[Lightnig]

Re: Fiberglass+Cardboard

I think I would avoid actual cardboard, I would think it would tend to get all deformed as it got soaked from wetting out with the resin.

If you are looking for something that thin and light, why not plastic corrugated sign board? Not susceptible to rot or water degradation, stiff, light, and cheap. I've seen big sheets of it at Home Depot for just a few bucks a sheet.


Or, do what I am planning to do when I redo my dash. Sculpt it out of foam insulation board, and then coat with 'glass. (Thanks for that idea Oops...)

 

[jonesg]

Re: Fiberglass+Cardboard

I think I would avoid actual cardboard, I would think it would tend to get all deformed as it got soaked from wetting out with the resin.

If you are looking for something that thin and light, why not plastic corrugated sign board? Not susceptible to rot or water degradation, stiff, light, and cheap. I've seen big sheets of it at Home Depot for just a few bucks a sheet.


Or, do what I am planning to do when I redo my dash. Sculpt it out of foam insulation board, and then coat with 'glass. (Thanks for that idea Oops...)

when cardboard is used for coring its not used flat,
its cut end on like end grain balsa. It looks like honeycomb and its more rigid . Plastic cardboard is of no use at all because it doesn't take resin .

Your idea to carve it from extruded foam would work better for a splashwell, then epoxy glass it.

I made mine from plywood, I'll be curious to see how long it holds up.
First I made a 3 sided ply well then added casting platforms on each side.

 

[Lightnig]

Re: Fiberglass+Cardboard

Ahhh, I see.

thanks for clearing that up for me.