mat and cloth not sticking

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=122834
Printed Date: May 09, 2025 at 9:44 AM

Topic: mat and cloth not sticking

Posted By: american59
Subject: mat and cloth not sticking
Date Posted: July 25, 2010 at 6:36 PM

I don't have much experience with fiberglass and this is the first time I have tried to create something with tight corners and contours.

I'm fabricating a console and other hardware for my car. I tried glassing the insert that goes around my steering colum first and I can't get a clean edge where the glass makes a 90 degree bend. No matter what I try it will lift at the edge and if I try glassing anything beyond 90 degrees or upside down it will not hold.

I've tried 8.5 oz twill cloth and 3/4 oz mat with no success. I'm using US composites products and I have tried their 635 thin epoxy and the B-440 polester resin and had about the same results with each. The polyester resin seemed to hold slightly better but not well enough.

What am I missing here? I have a lot of work in my console mold and don't want to mess it up. I posted a couple of pics and was hopeing you guys could give me ideas on how I should approach glassing the console to get nice clean edges and corners where the gauges will go.

posted_image

Thanks, ted

Replies:

Posted By: speakermakers
Date Posted: August 11, 2010 at 11:06 PM

If you are still looking for answers on this I have some insight documentation and pics. post back and I will share.

Posted By: masterodisaster
Date Posted: October 03, 2010 at 5:31 PM

TELL US!

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Posted By: antwone230
Date Posted: October 16, 2010 at 10:10 PM

can you use fleece instead of fiber glass mat to make it stronger maybe?

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BOOM, All day every day

Posted By: masterodisaster
Date Posted: October 16, 2010 at 11:48 PM

I guess it's just foggy what you're trying to do. If you're trying to adhere to something while creating an angle have you tried "kitty hair" (resin and glass shreds in one product)?

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Posted By: antwone230
Date Posted: October 17, 2010 at 11:08 PM

Sorry, I am making a fiber glass box for a sub. That why I was wondering if you could use fleece becauase I have a bunch of it. So you can use fleece? And whats kitty hair?

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BOOM, All day every day

Posted By: Velocity Motors
Date Posted: October 18, 2010 at 9:26 AM

I'll tell the forums one of my secrets for glassing on vertical surfaces and aggressive angles.......... tin foil !

Lay down as many layers as you want and then spray the last layer with a wax ( Turtle Wax, Mother's, etc ) as a release agent for the tin foil. Use a flat foam roller ( for painting ) and roll the foil onto the surface until it contours to the curves, angles or flats. For larger flat vertical areas, you can use cardboard to support the middle of the flat section and then place something under the cardboard to help suspend and put pressure on the glass.

Allow it to cure and remove the foil afterwards. Make sure that you remove ALL the foil because if you do not and your going to use body filler to smooth out the project, body filler doesn't adhere to foil very well.

Hope this tip helps you guys out and let me know how it goes.

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