Fiberglassing custom fit seating

[Ciera2450]

HI guys! I'm in the process of building a custom seating area for my boat. I was hoping for tips on glassin' it to help with water intrusion. The original seat was rotted completely. The original wood was NOT treated in any fashion.
I want to put at least a layer of csm over this thing. I"m at work now and don't have my pics of it, but the link in my signature has all the info. Not many folks follow my thread and I need some advice from the "glass guys".
The last page or so, shows the seat build.

Is 1.5oz csm acceptable to cover this thing with? ONe layer?


Thanks in advance guys!

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

If you don't need strength. Coat the wood with resin and one layer of 1.5oz CSM should be fine for keeping the wood dry. Or,,,you could just seal it up with deck/porch paint.

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Thanks for the reply george. A little extra strength won't hurt. I'm thinking of doing all the seams and edges with a strip of csm and then covering the whole thing with another layer of csm. Then the tricky part will be upholstering it! Hunting for ideas on the foam..that crap is EXPENSIVE

 

[JDA1975]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Use 2-3 coats of epoxy resin without glass, then wrap and forget it...the epoxy will be an easier method and you don't have to contend with the harder fiberglass when stapling...staple curls up when shot from the gun when it gets into hard material and it can get annoying! you can glass key points that require strength but otherwise just epoxy

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Thanks judge... so now i'm thinking just csm on the seams and corners, then epoxy over the whole thing. Will there be any problem with epoxy over polyester resin? I know the other way around doesn't work.(poly on epoxy)

What do you think about standard upholstery foam and wrapping in plastic? I don't think couch cushion will give me the length and dimensions I need unless I glue the foam together somehow.
The ezdri stuff is ridiculously expensive.

 

[JDA1975]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

if you epoxy, jut epoxy the edges, they don't need the glass...as far as foam goes, once it is glued together it is good, I wont use on a professional job because I have the option of pricing it in and if I need 3" foam, I will buy 3" foam, cutting 5" foam down is a PITA. On personal projects, I will use donor foam because I am a cheap SOB.

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Thank you very much for your help judge! Now, me being a cheap SOB also....
I really don't want to wait for ordering epoxy but I will if I must.

What would you think if I CSM and Poly resin the corners and seams and give the whole thing a coat of epoxy paint? I have all these materials on hand and would save me some $$$.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Your "Supplies On Hand" will work just fine. If you "Tear" the CSM it will lay over the corners much easier. Use Chip brushes and "DAB" the resin in place. Don't brush it. What kind of resin do you have? Before Painting I'd Highly recommed sanding with 80 grit and a good wipe down with acetone.

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Thanks WOG... I'm using uscomposites 435 poly resin. I have about a gallon left over from a previous project which should be more than enough. (i hope)
The mat i have is just the cheapo bondo packages from wally mart. I'm hoping it'll work fine.
My grandfather gave me some two part epoxy paint used for RV roofs..its pretty durable stuff.

I appreciate the tip on the chip brushes. I had planned on rolling it and probably would have made a huge mess.

Thanks again sir.

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

This is where i'm at so far...haven't cut the holes for the cupholders or the storage underneath but the "construction" is basically done. I also used some bondo glass to form a fillet in the creases to give it a nice curved look.

This is the fit in the boat...the long section sticking out acts as a backrest for the "built in" part of the boat and isn't attached yet in this pic. the new seating forms an L shape basically when installed. Smaller than the original because I didn't like the tight squeeze between the seat and the captain chair. It was really tight.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

JDA1975 Has the Best answer for ya mate..

I can not add to what he has already suggested.

You are using Marine grade Vinyl right .. .. ? Stainless staples .. .. ?

I know many Vinyl guys..they Never glass there seats ..

YD.

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

all the exposed edges have been routered with a rounding over bit

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Thanks YD! yes sir marine grade vinyl. I bought the entire bolt of both colors on clearance about a year ago. So I have plenty! SS staples all the way sir.
The foam and vinyl work will be a pain but I think I can pull if off. Oh..heavy duty outdoor thread in the sewing machine also.

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

I suppose I could wait to order some epoxy resin...I just hate waiting! lol When I get a wild hair to do something, i wanna get it done.

 

[JDA1975]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

the bench fab looks nice, quality job! Poly does work, but I think epoxy is overall easier just coat it and forget it...if all your joints are well glued and fastened, I don't see glass being necessary, but it couldn't hurt...just more work. I got my epoxy within 3 days of ordering it. I would think the 2 part epoxy paint might work by itself, its not like your seats get submerged in water, you just want a good barrier so the water doesn't get absorbed into the wood

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Thank you judge! I appreciate the kind words. I used titebondIII glue and a couple different size nails in the air nailer. It is pretty darn solid. That glue is great stuff!
I agree 100% that the epoxy would be easier. I've never worked with it but it just sounds to be an easier product to work with. Maybe I just like poly fumes! I have the resin and glass already so I think I'm just gonna glass the edges and corners for a lil extra strength and then paint the thing with the epoxy paint. I shouldn't be shooting staples where the glass will be, so that'll make things easier there.
I'll post pics as I progress.

thanks for all the help and advice guys!

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

WOG, by tearing the csm...

Do you mean to leave a "frayed" edge and not a clean "cut"?
I think i get what your saying, just wanna be sure. I'm odd like that , I triple and quadruple check before going ahead with stuff.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

yep frayed edge, but... that carp mat from HD and Lowe's is not very stout and really not going to help you much. I'd prolly just worry about the bottom 6" or so if at ALL. If you just gotta do it then again just worry about the bottom where water could "Wick" in. The paint you got is prolly good enough. That'll seal the wood more than it was and the seats will last for decades. I think your Anal Overkill might be kickin in.!!!!!

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

Excellent advice....the original seating was completely rotted at the bottom edge. I think your right and I'm over thinking this part of the project. I'll get some work done now and quit worrying so much. Thank you sir.

P.S. I do like overkill.

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Fiberglassing custom fit seating

As I said in the post above... i like overkill.

I went ahead and put a layer of CSM over the seams and edges of the top of the new seating. It can't hurt.....
I do appreciate everyone's advice and if I wasn't so impatient, I would have ordered some epoxy as suggested.
I had resin and csm left over from another project (speaker box for my brother) and decided to use it.

WOG, Thank you for the tip on "dabbing" instead of brushing the csm!!!! I applied a layer of resin to the wood by brushing and then layed in the csm. My first few strokes were admittedly brush strokes and it just dragged the glass around. The dab method worked waaaaayyyy better.
I was hoping to flip it over and apply a layer around the bottom but it got dark and I was pooped. There is always tomorrow.

On a side note, I tested the two part epoxy paint I was given and holy crap is that some serious stuff! I think it'll do the job great.

Crappy pic ...but 1 layer of glass is covering the top side seams and edges.