my first fiberglass box
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Fiberglass, Fabrication, and Interiors
Forum Discription: Fiberglass Kick Panels, Subwoofer Enclosures, Plexiglas, Fabrics, Materials, Finishes, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=116252
Printed Date: April 29, 2024 at 3:51 AM
Topic: my first fiberglass box
Posted By: pcana11
Subject: my first fiberglass box
Date Posted: September 10, 2009 at 7:18 PM
Im building a sealed fiberglass box for a Memphis Power Reference 12. This aint my first box, but my first fiberglass box. What all materials will i need, how many layers of each of the materials as well?
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Replies:
Posted By: deeg money
Date Posted: September 11, 2009 at 9:35 AM
you will need mdf wood, fiberglass mat or cloth, fiberglass resin, some type of fleece to stretch over the box and glass, cheap paint brushes, a fiberglass roller is always nice, bondo for smoothing out everything once your finished laying down the glass, some plastic pieces to apply the bondo. Well thats all I can think of right now. But I am pretty sure there is a forum post somewhere about most of this and number of layers needed and all that. Look at the top of the main fiberglass forum page. Dont forget to post pictures or we will kick you OFF the site That was a joke but for real post pics! ------------- Deeg money
"If you cant be good, be good at it"
Posted By: pcana11
Date Posted: September 12, 2009 at 8:42 AM
Thanks deeg, its not pretty so far being my first fiberglass box. I already had the frame and the fleece stretched over it
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Posted By: deeg money
Date Posted: September 12, 2009 at 8:51 AM
the biggest thing I have learned when glassing is to take your time getting the wood part of the box perfect. You have to make sure everything is very stable and perfectly semetrical or it will show when your done with the box. Also making sure that you sand any rough edges off the wood is alway very helpful too. Just make sure you take your time and go slow to prevent mistakes! post some pictures of what you got going on now
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Deeg money
"If you cant be good, be good at it"
Posted By: mgd man
Date Posted: September 13, 2009 at 11:28 AM
three layers of .5 once mat and one layer of cloth should do ya. that will give you strength in all directions of stress when you really get them speakers beating. it might cost a bit more for materials, especially resin, but, it'll be a very solid platform.
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Glass'n 20,000sq ft can be interesting, but it's just another day.
Posted By: mgd man
Date Posted: September 13, 2009 at 12:06 PM
sorry i meant 1.5 mat, typo
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Glass'n 20,000sq ft can be interesting, but it's just another day.
Posted By: pcana11
Date Posted: September 17, 2009 at 7:30 PM
yea, i traded a memphis pr 12 for $60 dollars and half a gallon of fiberglass resin, gonna start hardening tomorrow
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Posted By: pcana11
Date Posted: September 17, 2009 at 7:44 PM
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Posted By: deeg money
Date Posted: September 18, 2009 at 8:57 AM
dude dont glass it yet. You need to pull the sub ring out more. You dont want it to be even with the box!! also you dont need to have the fleece all around the box. If there is mdf then there is not need for it. That will create a ton of extra work. Let me know if you have already dont it. If you havent I will help you through the process so you dont have to go through so much trouble.
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Deeg money
"If you cant be good, be good at it"
Posted By: pcana11
Date Posted: September 18, 2009 at 10:32 AM
well the only reason i was doing it around was just to seal it off. I aint really worried about how it looks for my first one. were actually building a frame for my brothers 2 15s and gonna make the rings coming out a pretty good bit and all. i was just testing for this one. I was planning on taking the fleece off from around it before i started too
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Posted By: deeg money
Date Posted: September 18, 2009 at 11:29 AM
trust me, with all of the sanding and things you are going to have to do, it is really nice to have a nice piece of work in the end. Plus if you do it right this time you will definetely know how the next time. Why do something if your not going to do it right? you can go it your way but your not going to be happy with the out come. I have been down that road and its very expensive. I promise you wont regret it if you just take your time and take it back apart and do it right.
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Deeg money
"If you cant be good, be good at it"
Posted By: pcana11
Date Posted: September 18, 2009 at 7:11 PM
im gonna take the fleece off from the sides and start doing it tomorrow. finally got the resin
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Posted By: sooverworked
Date Posted: September 18, 2009 at 8:40 PM
deeg money when u gona post some new pic of the dash! looks good! ------------- just for fun
Posted By: deeg money
Date Posted: September 18, 2009 at 9:00 PM
pcana, you should def raise the sub ring and bring it out some so it stick out a little farther than the box. Then you wont have to make those dips on the side. You want to pull the fleece really tight from all angles to give it the natural look. Well no matter what you do post your pics. good luck. sooverworked, I have a few new pics of all it sanded down and the hole cut for the column but I am out of town now and havent really got to much done on it. Next week I will def post some early in the week when I get home from tampa. Thanks for compliment! ------------- Deeg money
"If you cant be good, be good at it"
Posted By: pcana11
Date Posted: September 19, 2009 at 10:52 AM
they are raised up. im gonna do the hardener now but what should i do with the sides of the boxes that are just bare wood?
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Posted By: deeg money
Date Posted: September 19, 2009 at 12:26 PM
you will want to cover it in carpet or vinyl to match whatever vehicle you are putting it in. you could use suede or anything like that to match the look you are going for.
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Deeg money
"If you cant be good, be good at it"
Posted By: pcana11
Date Posted: September 19, 2009 at 12:48 PM
o, i cant do paint or anything on the rest of it?
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Posted By: pcana11
Date Posted: September 19, 2009 at 4:36 PM
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Posted By: pcana11
Date Posted: September 21, 2009 at 7:32 PM
 This is the semi dry version, last layer of mat, start the whole bondo process tomorrow. do i just sand down the fiberglass and get all the imperfections out before body filler? -------------
Posted By: ianarian
Date Posted: September 21, 2009 at 7:46 PM
Yes sand of all peaks and pieces that stick out before body filler.
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This is what I do for FUN!
Posted By: pcana11
Date Posted: September 21, 2009 at 7:52 PM
alright, thanks ianarian, and when i mix the filler, should i mix it with fiberglass resin also or just apply it by itself
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Posted By: briankmizell
Date Posted: December 29, 2009 at 11:44 PM
Most people mix resin with the filler so it will flow out easier. It tends to get quite messy doing it that way so you can do it with out if you like. Just make sure that when you apply the filler you wipe it donw nice and firm with the spreader so it wll adhear good. I cant give you an exact measure on how much resin to put, but my guess would be 3 parts filler 1 part resin.
Posted By: pcana11
Date Posted: December 30, 2009 at 10:47 AM
thanks brian, but me and one of my friends finished that box, it turned out very nqice being my first fg job. sounds great too. but thanks for the input, ill remember it on my next fg project
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