First fiberglass experience not so good

Hi all. After reading this website for the last couple weeks, and going through every tutorial I could find a link to, I attempted my first fiberglass layup this weekend.

I have recently raised the drivers seat in my Jeep and wanted to raise the lid of the center console/armrest. My idea was to simply make a 2 inch thick, hollow box to mount on top of the existing console lid.

I began by making the bottom of the new piece. I removed the existing console lid and covered it in blue painters tape, as I read over and over. I think spread a light coating of resin over the tape and let it set. Next, I added 5 additional layers of glass and resin, and let the entire unit dry.

Yesterday, I attempted to remove the console lid from under/inside the fiberglass and was shocked at my inability to do so. The fiberglass was flexible, just as indicated in these forums. However, it was glued VERY STRONGLY to the tape. After about 2 hours, I gave up.

Today, I tried again. Same thing, I simply could not get the fiberglass to release from the tape. Finally, I got pissed of and started to use a screwdriver to separate them. As you can imagine, this ended up gouging the console lid pretty badly AND broke a significant amount of the fiberglass off. When I did finally separate the fiberglass from the console by force, all the tape went with the fiberglass.

My question is, what could I have done to avoid this? Everything I've read said that the blue tape is the best to use, but that can't be true. Is there some kind of release agent I should have put on the tape? If not, what the hell went wrong? I now have a useless chunk of fiberglass, a torn up console lid, and am covered in fiberglass.

u need a mold release. Just get some wax and spread it over the tape before u apply the fiberglass, I know they make actual 'mold release' but most waxes will work for this.

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"Shiny chrome when used in conjunction with bikini models is particularly effective in inducing brain deficit disorder"

02 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Monster System on its way.

When you say "wax"...candle wax?...car wax?...hair wax?

if you go to a reputable custom shop or install bay, you shuould be able to buy some PVA, it's a specially formulated, awful smelling, green release agent.  Works very well, i keep a big bottle of it at the bay. Where are you located, i might be able to ge you some.

I hate it when you f**k up and in the end all you have is resin in your arm hair..... welcome to fiberglass!

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PVA! thats the stuff! I cant ever remember that name for squat.

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"Shiny chrome when used in conjunction with bikini models is particularly effective in inducing brain deficit disorder"

02 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Monster System on its way.

Thanks guys. You're making me feel a little better, at least not the total c**k-up I felt like a little while ago. I gotta remember that practice makes perfect, and if this were easy, there would be a lot more people doing it.

Is this the stuff?

thats the stuff. And dont go thinking ur dumb or something cuz u screwed something up. U should check out the interior of my car sometime. Thats some messed up fiberglassing , and I can't event fix it cuz I'm too busy doing stuff for other people that I have no time for my own stuff..... oh well.... just dont let little sh*t discourage you, thats how u end up failing. Best of luck with glassing and dont be afraid to ask questions

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"Shiny chrome when used in conjunction with bikini models is particularly effective in inducing brain deficit disorder"

02 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Monster System on its way.

if you don't mess up how will you know your doing it right in the first place

foil works but it will stick for eternity

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Doesn't matter if the foil sticks to the bottom side of a project. Just don't use foil if you need smooth contours or if your working with a thin peice because the foil lines will come through. I've found that PAM spray works well for a cheap mold reelase and only $ 1.75 per can

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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA

hey fellas, what about the new "non-stick" foil? anybody try that yet? it might work, probably spay it with pam. i had a bit of trouble with reynolds foil when i was doin the spyder last year, but it might be worth a try with the non-stick stuff and pam. 

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instead of all that, just use wax paper.  Most people have some in the cabinet, and it works great.  I know body men who use it all the time.

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"just remember, in the end, everything you do is just everything you've done"