Fibreglass Work

[Scooter]

Any one workde with fibreglass to mold things? Have any tips, places to buy materials etc?

I am looking at making some door pods for speakers in the truck.

[ThysdJ]

That stuff is sticky and itchy... Don't sweat while you work with it!!
1) Work in a well ventilated area
2) wear gloves
3) wear respiratory mask as well (especially when sanding it down)
4) cut your fibreglass mat into enough strips before you begin working with the sticky stuff
5) paint the inside of your mould with mould release agent.
6) mix the resin exactly right
7) enjoy it... it is very easy to work with...

[Scooter]

G thanks Thys.

I understand the mixing part is the most difficult. Hopefully the place I buy from will be able to give some advice but as a guide Im told 2% hardener to resin.

I'll give it a bash and if it doesnt work well I'll write it off as lesson learnt or not learnt

[ThysdJ]

It is a biekie trial and error, but you will get the hang of it quickly. I dont know the exact %-ages, I just somme gooi by... and stir... en then it works.. I usually put in about 15/20 drops of catalyst in about a cup of resin.. Sometimes my hand slip and I put in more, but it's all okay.

Have you got a mould made up already and what is it made of?

[Scooter]

Sounds about right

No mould yet but I have a few ideas in mind.

The first is to just lay tinfoil over the door panel (the section I want the speaker) and FG it as a base.
Once that is cured, attach a wodden ring for the speaker and raise it useing dowels or the like.
Then use fleece and pull it over the whole thing and FG the fleece with just resin first then build up with matting and eventually use a bit of body filler to build it up and sand it nice. The body filler is easier to sand.

The other option would be to find an old door panel from a vehicle that had raised speaker sections and use that to shape the FG around. More expensive route but less hassle. But could find really old and wrecked door panels.

[ThysdJ]

Sounds interesting. you can really get creative with FG...

[Scorpion]

Sounds about right

No mould yet but I have a few ideas in mind.

The first is to just lay tinfoil over the door panel (the section I want the speaker) and FG it as a base.
Once that is cured, attach a wodden ring for the speaker and raise it useing dowels or the like.
Then use fleece and pull it over the whole thing and FG the fleece with just resin first then build up with matting and eventually use a bit of body filler to build it up and sand it nice. The body filler is easier to sand.

The other option would be to find an old door panel from a vehicle that had raised speaker sections and use that to shape the FG around. More expensive route but less hassle. But could find really old and wrecked door panels.

That is exactly the route to follow if you want to build speaker pods. It is not the more difficult option, as to find something suitable from a donor vehicle will take more time than to just build one from scratch.

Good luck - it should be fun!

[BlumTRD]

Hi . Davidsons , they have a few branches . And to clean you hands and sticky parts , brushes etc . Use surf , take the dry powder rub into hands . We use it at the taxidermy . Just make sure you wash the brushes clean afterwards , omo and resin . And let it dry wel afterwards . Between layers , place your next before its dry , kind really sticky .

[Gertc]

The guy at the paint centre told me to use acetone to clean your hands. I used normal thinners to clean my hands and brush. It worked fine for me.

I used some mutton clove to cover the top and bottom parts of the mould. Stretching it to give me a smooth curve.

[Polarbear2008]

Hi Scooter

Below are a few links that might help with the fibreglass project you're after:

http://www.mobileelectronics.com.au/for ... opic=43524
http://www.carstereo.com/help/Articles.cfm?id=63

Hope it helps.

You will also find a lot of info if you google the car audio scene, as a lot of chaps there seem to know their stuff regarding fibreglass work.

There was also an article in Speed and Sound not to long ago - will try to find it for you.

[Jaws]

Good luck - the hardest part is the sanding to get everything smooth -lots and lots of sanding - Get some body filler to help fill up the smaller gaps and imperfections.

[Mud Dog]

Acetone for cleaning is right, although the washing powder works as well if it's not 'gelled' yet. Good luck.