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SS_Dakota
Dodge Dakota
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6/19/2002
16:31:05
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 Subject: Fiberglass, anyone worked with it?
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I was wondering if there were any sites that would help in learning how to "play" with fiberglass... or if anyone has experience... that would work too.
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R/Truck
Dodge Dakota
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6/19/2002
16:33:04
| RE: Fiberglass, anyone worked with it?
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I have played with it, what do you want to know?
Its basically learn on the fly stuff.
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Big Blue QC
GenIII
6/19/2002
17:01:16
| RE: Fiberglass, anyone worked with it?
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Stinks like hell and itches like crazy if you are not careful. Believe me when I say this, take a cold shower after working with it to rinse off the fibers. If you don't the pores on your skin will open up with the hot water and all the fibers gets under your skin, literally. You will itch for days. Make sure matt/material is good and soaked with the resin for a good bond and material you are adhering to has been well scuffed up. Good luck!
2002 QC 4x4 Sport Plus, 4.7L, auto, Patriot Blue, Tire & Handling group,
Heavy Duty Service group, Leer cap w/out windows, Mopar Step bars and roof rack, Rhino liner in bed and on step bars, Pace Edwards Power Tailgate lock
3.55 rear, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, all possible fluids are AMSOIL
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don94
Dodge Dakota
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6/19/2002
18:27:00
| RE: Fiberglass, anyone worked with it?
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it takes a real pro to work with fiberglass, i had a friend that rebuilt fiberglass cars and he was real good at it. not an easy task to take on, good luck if u do :)
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TnT Dakota
Dodge Dakota
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6/19/2002
19:24:48
| RE: Fiberglass, anyone worked with it?
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It is not that hard I fiberglassed 25 holes in the top of my tent trailer one was as big as a basket ball. If some showes you howe to mix it it is simple. The only hard part is makeing it perfect what are you making?
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Dr. D
Dodge Dakota
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6/19/2002
21:37:25
| RE: Fiberglass, anyone worked with it?
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Check your local auto parts or marine supply store for a book on basic auto body and or boat repair and the book will usually give a lot of instruction on fiberglass repairs.
Dr.D
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DaveR
Dodge Dakota
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6/19/2002
21:58:26
| RE: Fiberglass, anyone worked with it?
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IT may saound funny, but if you need to make a repair go to home depot or lowes and pick up a bathtub repair kit. It has all you need to get started on a smaller project including brushes and gloves. Personally I had a bathtub to fix and after that went well it all snowballed and I am just finnishing up a fiberglass airhat mod.
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Doh
Dodge Dakota
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6/20/2002
02:15:13
| RE: Fiberglass, anyone worked with it?
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I've worked on fiberglass and carbon fiber solar car bodies (many years ago), but never on small, patching jobs.
I would imagine that the techniques we used for the entire body would not tranfer well to a smaller job, but as some have mentioned previously, the safety concerns are similar. You'll definitely want protective gloves and maybe repiratory protection as well. Those cheesy fiber nose/mouth covers are sufficient. Also, wear old, ratty clothes since the epoxy won't wash out (or be very neat and tidy).
As for tips, lets see....If you buy epoxy and the curing agent separately, be sure to follow the mixing instructions. Also be sure to completely wet the fibers as any dry spots will cause weakness and premature failure. If you have the time and equipment you can try bagging your project in a large plastic bag and pumping all the air out. This will allow the atmosphere to compress the fibers which creates a stronger, smoother product. Unfortunately, I don't remember if we did anything to the plastic bag (or used a special material) so it would not stick to the epoxy as it cured. If you need to clean up any surfaces after the curing is complete you can always sand it (again with the respiratory protection) or use generous helpings of bondo.
Also, if you know anyone in the space/sattelite industry they should be able to help out!
Good Luck.
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SS_Dakota
Dodge Dakota
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6/20/2002
11:44:29
| RE: Fiberglass, anyone worked with it?
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Message:
Thanx for all the replies. What I am wanting to attemp is to build a "thunderform" type enclosure.
I was thinging of making something that would housed a single 12" in the middle and hold two 6x9s, one on each end. I'm gonna draw it up at lunch and i'll post it on here if I can find a scanner.
Tha main things I need to know are these:
1- what type of substance is it? a liquid, wet cloth, a gel?
2- can it be poured/put over anything to make a shape and then take the molded piece off of the original shape without it sticking to it?
3- how many coats would it take to get a good strong thickness to it?
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R/Truck
Dodge Dakota
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6/20/2002
14:29:17
| RE: Fiberglass, anyone worked with it?
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Basically you lay down some cloth and get it wet with fiberglass resin (kind of like a thick liquid/gel). You still have to build the frame work of the enclosure with wood and then use the fiberglass to seal it all up. Fiberglass resin/gel will stick to almost anything. If you want to make a mold then use aluminum foil, the glass will not stick to it. You have to apply a coat, let it dry and apply another coat until it is strong. May take several coats.
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SS_Dakota
Dodge Dakota
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6/20/2002
14:42:02
| RE: Fiberglass, anyone worked with it?
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Will any type of cloth work? I may have to go to home depot and ask those guys there and see if they can show me what to use.
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R/Truck
Dodge Dakota
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6/20/2002
15:53:48
| RE: Fiberglass, anyone worked with it?
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Basically any cloth will work, they do sell special material to use with fiberglass and you can even pick it up in the automotive section of wal-mart. I have used panty hose, sweetshirts, and the special cloth, as long as it absorbs liquid it will work. Once you start to mess with fiberglass it will come easy. Just be carefull not to get it on your seats or carpet, and the stuff will get you high. Only work with the stuff outdoors, it will mess up your head.
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dak-quack
GenIII
6/20/2002
16:06:15
| RE: Fiberglass, anyone worked with it?
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Use acetone to clean up. Don't mix in too much catalyst or you can start a fire. Use lots of ventilation. I've never used cloth, only fiberglass to "lay up." I lay it out on cardboard, roll on the resin with a paint brush roller with a paint brush pad, then slap it on and smooth out the air pockets with a special aluminum fiberglass roller. It can be really messy and keep it off your skin. It's not too bad after you get on to it. Timing is important, don't go too slow or it will setup before you're done.
Definately have acetone there for clean up but remember it's carcengigenic (sp?).
2002 QC, 4.7 3.92 4x4 AT LSD
Formerly dakquad
NO MODS.....NONE!!!
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DaveR
Dodge Dakota
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6/20/2002
16:28:32
| RE: Fiberglass, anyone worked with it?
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It is kind of like paper mache in that you slap the wet cloth onto whatever your glassing. Make sure you get a box of rubber gloves to for easy clean up and I tend to wear a resporator, especialy when sanding.
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don94
Dodge Dakota
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6/20/2002
16:49:21
| RE: Fiberglass, anyone worked with it?
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well im gonna date my self again but i rebuilt the fender on a 1953 plymouth using aluminum screening and fiberglass. in those days they didnt use galvanized metal so rust was prevelant.
when i was done u couldn't tell that the fender had been redone, and a few weeks later a friend of mine hit me in the rear end of the car totaling it, but the fiberglass/screen repair did not take the damage that the metal did. at that time they did not have the cloth material that they have today so the screening worked just fine.
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SS_Dakota
Dodge Dakota
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6/20/2002
16:52:07
| RE: Fiberglass, anyone worked with it?
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Message:
So are these the steps?
1. make a mold/form to put the cloth on.
2. coat it in aluminum foil
3. lay out cardboard
4. lay cloth down onto cardboard
5. get resin/stuff on cloth completely with nothing uncovered/dry
6.take the pieces of soaked cloth and coat the form making sure to smooth it out nice and neat.
7. apply more layers to make thicker
8. sand
9. primer? and paint.
Don't get it on my skin - check
outside - check
respirator preferable - check
throw-away clothes - check
thick gloves - check
am i missing anything?
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dak-quack
GenIII
6/21/2002
06:53:57
| RE: Fiberglass, anyone worked with it?
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That will get you started! Practice with something simple first. Let us know how it turns out (with pictures!). Good luck
2002 QC, 4.7 3.92 4x4 AT LSD
Formerly dakquad
NO MODS.....NONE!!!
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Dak-five-oh
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2002
05:26:37
| RE: Fiberglass, anyone worked with it?
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You are doing something similar to what I did. I used the pan under the tool try for my mold and just laid the aluminum foil and glass on top of it. Worked well but 1 minor problem. I Don't know if you can get a 12" in the middle. there is only about 4" of depth due to the drive shaft hump. Check out page 2 of my site And you can get an idea of what you are working with under the tool tray. it shows the pics of what my box looked like during construction. And don't get frusterated, I taught myself how to fiberglass, and by the end I was much better then when I began. just takes practice.
http://www.sounddomain.com/id/dakfiveoh
5/0
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SS_Dakota
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2002
15:45:06
| RE: Fiberglass, anyone worked with it?
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Man, thanx for the help, i had forgotten that that was there... STUPID, ok, i'll have to rethink it...
great idea about flippin the box around... I remember looking at your design a while back. How did you mount the fiberglass to the wood? I may have to settle for doing someting like that.
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SS_Dakota
Dodge Dakota
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6/24/2002
13:08:25
| RE: Fiberglass, anyone worked with it?
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well, does anyone know how to mount fiberglass to wood? do you just make it thick enough to drill and screw to the wood?
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R/Truck
Dodge Dakota
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6/24/2002
15:01:25
| RE: Fiberglass, anyone worked with it?
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Fiberglass will actually stick to wood on its on, just rough the wood up with a grinder first.
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SS_Dakota
Dodge Dakota
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6/24/2002
16:47:29
| RE: Fiberglass, anyone worked with it?
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hum really... interesting! thanx
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