Working with mat...

[dvan1901]

What is the trick? I just got done doing the worse job possible (first time working with it). I layed it out and that went fine, but the minute I started to put the resin on, it just all started to come apart and became a mess. It stuck to everything and I ended up with balls of mat. I think part of the problem was my resin was too "hot" so it was getting clumpy too. So what's the trick for when I do the rest?

 

[andy6374]

Re: Working with mat...

Sall pieces of mat can give you the fits sometimes. That being said.

I like to first wet out the area that you are going to put mat over. This will encourage the mat to stay in one place. Then lay the mat down and start to wet it out. If it is a large area I use a 3" roller and for small areas a small chip brush. Once you get a nice sized area wetted out, start going over it with the aluminum roller. If the area is not wetted out enough the mat will try to roll up with the aluminum roller, if so put some more resin down. And if even if there is enough resin it still seems to stick to the roller a little bit on the first couple of passes, but just keep using the aluminum roller and it will flatten out real nice.

The clumps you saw could have been from the resin starting to gel. However, when using a chip brush to wet out the mat you often bring some mat back into the container in which you have you resin. This makes the resin look clumpy and it is not due to the resin starting to gel.

 

[dvan1901]

Re: Working with mat...

Sall pieces of mat can give you the fits sometimes. That being said.

I like to first wet out the area that you are going to put mat over. This will encourage the mat to stay in one place. Then lay the mat down and start to wet it out. If it is a large area I use a 3" roller and for small areas a small chip brush. Once you get a nice sized area wetted out, start going over it with the aluminum roller. If the area is not wetted out enough the mat will try to roll up with the aluminum roller, if so put some more resin down. And if even if there is enough resin it still seems to stick to the roller a little bit on the first couple of passes, but just keep using the aluminum roller and it will flatten out real nice.

The clumps you saw could have been from the resin starting to gel. However, when using a chip brush to wet out the mat you often bring some mat back into the container in which you have you resin. This makes the resin look clumpy and it is not due to the resin starting to gel.

Yeah, I was using a chip brush and a roller would be very difficult to navigate. On the next batch I started at one end, got about 2" of it to "stick" then would keep going back another 2" until I was at the end; that seemed to work pretty well. I definately do not have a career in the fiberglass business!

 

[klos]

Re: Working with mat...

What % are you catalizing your resin?

 

[dvan1901]

Re: Working with mat...

What % are you catalizing your resin?

The directions say "14 drops per once" and I'm doing just a bit under that so I have a bit more time to work with it. I'm wondering if what the problem is the bits of mat mixing in with the resin from the brush.

 

[dvan1901]

Re: Working with mat...

another question on this; I've noticed that the mat isn't sticking to the wood in all places and creating small air pockets. I've added more resin in these places, but it keeps happening. How big of a deal is this overall?

 

[Solittle]

Re: Working with mat...

I have used poly resin for the glassing I have done. I lay everything out before I mix the resin. Cut all pieces to size so you don't have to cut anything when you start. Use smaller rather than larger pieces. I would not have any piece over say 3X4'. Remove the pieces and place them so you can grab them quickly. Now mix the resin in a paper tub. I prefer a cold mix so as to cure rather slowly and mix a "small" amount. Then slobber liberally over the old surface very quickly. Then lay the glass on top and slobber over the top. Then smooth out with a roller or brush adding the mixed resin as needed. Add additional layers as required.

 

[i386]

Re: Working with mat...

The stuff that holds the mat together is designed to let go once the resin hits it. What you end up with is just loose glass fibers. If you're using a brush, dab with it, don't brush.