shaolin

Where could I purchase fiberglass to mold?

Also this would be my first time doing it, so anyone know of any good resources to look up/read on molding fiberglass ?

(With what I know fiberglass is something like bondo, where you lay it and it sets into a hardened material..?)

Unless im a complete dumbass? Heh.

peiqinglong

You can try Kragen and get Boat Repair Fiberglass kits to try out. If you think your ready, go to a Tap Plastics. They sell carbon fiber sheets also.

civic4982

Fiberglass is not like bondo... it is much harder to work with...

chef chris

You're thinking of 'fiber-reinforced' bondo...not quite fiberglass per say(too heavy). True fiberglass is sprayed into a mold.

The closest thing you can get to real fiberglass(but it's still bondo-ish) is a product called Gorilla Hair, Tiger Hair, etc. Ask your local autoparts store to sell you a gallon with some hardener & try it out...

Just be real careful...because the fiberglass pieces are like needles after they harden up...will cut you like a hypodermic while sanding them.

shaolin

I did not mean it's used/fabricated like bondo, I meant in theory its kinda like bondo, it goes from a liquid shape in a way to a solid shape


Im trying to make a custom trunk kit and was actually reading on the actual fiberglass molding with the sheets and resin and what not

Its all kinda new to me, but would be something good to do over the christmas break.

chef chris

That's what I said too...sort of...

shaolin

That was directed towards civic4982, chris... hehe

I never even knew about thoose products before and I think ill check em out before goin into fiberglass it self too early

Thanks alot =P

962.5tl

well... alot fo things can be used to make " fiberglass molds"
1) fiberglass mat- strips or sections of woven fiberglass ( looks like a basket sorta)
2) fleece- mainly cotton any thickness ( alot easier)
any other material that can hold a shape while you apply resin to it.

fleece is like a t-shirt that is just streched to make a shape and then held on there somehow, you apply right on this and then basically let harden. i have worked with fiberglass before and by no means am i an expert but i can say that it is very easy to do but it is hard to perfect and very time consuming.

i would say if you want to try to do something i would start out by trying to make something that is not important( something you can mess up and wont matter) cause at first things will get very sloppy and it will be a big mess.

oh and get ready for alot of sanding if you want to do something big like your trunk.

shaolin

Yeh what I was figuring was making a skeleton with wood, then fleecing over it and pouring the fiberglass onto it and going from there.. I basiclly have 2 weeks to mess with this so, the time consuming part is covered hehe

Jaydef03

2weeks,.... i dunno bro, this stuff it hard as hell to look nice. u cud come up with a mold without too much trouble, but when it come to sanding it down and perfecting it, it takes a lot of talent.
ask SlyTLS, i think he had professionals working on his fiberglassing for over a month

chef chris

To make a molded skeleton from wood...use balsa if you can find it at a hobby shop. The thin strips can be steamed & bent fairly liberally, then just use construction adhesive(plus clamps) to hold it in place. Cheesecloth MAY work as a good fleecing agent...it's relatively cheap too.

My dad did auto body when I was very young & I always helped out...he would make extra filler for me to use on my toy cars(Tonka & Nylindt), then I'd sand & paint them...neat stuff for a 7 yr old.

962.5tl

i dont know if you have ever seen the ALPINE CIVIC SI but this is a complete fiberglass system/ interior. it took 2 career professional installers 3500hours to build that car, thats a ton of time and they know what they are doing

put it this way, if fiberglass was sooo easy why doesnt everyone have it.

6mt

shaolin, i'm researching fiberglass as well and just spent about $90 in home depot for all the materials and tools. i am building a custom overhead console. these sites can give you a really good idea on what needs to be done. do read all of it before you begin.

http://web.njit.edu/~cas1383/glassing2 - fiberglass box how-to - great site with pix
http://www.kitcar.ca/links/links.php?cat=29 - links
http://www.geocities.com/mcss86_99/howto_kicks - kicks how-to
http://www.completeaudio.8m.com/speaker_podshome.htm - speaker pods how-to
http://www.e-kittan.com/fibre.html - another great site with pix and shopping list
http://www.garbled.net/tim/fiberglass.html - making random shapes - concentrates on creating mold and finish

NOLACLS

WOW that doesnt look to hard to do at all. I am looking to only do a sub box....I think I have found a new project!!

shaolin

Im not planning on making the WHOLE trunk outta fiberglass, just maybe covers,or something, everythign is up in the air right now hehe

shaolin

6mt thoose are great links!

Thanks man

Nicky Pass

GOOD FINDS!!!

proaudio22

lol @ that first link, kinda ghetto + RatShack subs...lol

Fiberglass isn't hard to do, it's just VERY MESSY and VERY STINKY! The nice, smooth look you see in some custom vehicles takes a ton of sanding - but the outcome can look awesome!

6mt

glad to help
it took 2 days of research (at work, of course)

6mt

it says they're "pro series"

chef chris

Amount of sanding can be reduced by using a smooth material for molding...maybe some marine-grade vinyl...Also, there are products made to be used with the fiberglass to act as a filler...it's like thin bondo, called 'Red(or) Green Stuff'. It's used to fill scratches left by sand paper and to provide a smooth finish.

But yes, it does smell profusely & will be a mess to sand either way.

peiqinglong

It's quite a bit of work. I recommend not jumping into any big projects starting out. Just start off small, play with making stuff and then when you feel comfortable...move on.

6mt: Great links!

962.5tl

the Red or Green stuff is just called low build filler .

am i the only one who likes the smell of resin and bondo

chef chris