Prop Artist New to Fiberglass

Hi,

This is my first posting. I tried to follow the rules, let me know if I need to delete or edit anything.

I am a prop artist with a small shop. I specialize in pirate props and just started playing with some resin and fiberglass mat (I bought at Marine West and learned my first lesson, I paid too much) Anyway I have few questions that I hope will be easy to answer.

Fiberglass Mat: Is there a way to make the fibers in fiberglass mat less noticeable (in a finished piece)? I don't mind the resin tinting everything amber I am talking about the fiber pattern. Will sanding remove that or greatly reduce it? Is there a different type of mat that I could use? The light catches the little bumps and I know I can sand them down but will that remove the visible fibers to a degree?

The Shining: It seems everyone working in fiberglass wants that nice shine, I need the opposite. I would like the fiberglass to be as flat or matte as possible. I don't want it hazy or opaque, just not shiny. Is there a different resin to use or a technique to remove the shine?

Strength: How strong is resin without the fiberglass? I know it's weaker but in many cases I just need something sealed so it can get wet and doesn't need to hold a ton of weight. For example I might build a small chest out of cardboard and use the mat and resin on the inside, paint the outside and then apply resin over the paint. Or is there a material that I can use that is clear? (yes, I can make cardboard look like aged wood and rusted metal :)

Well thanks in advance for any answers. Fibers

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MasterWerxStudios

I am a prop artist with a small shop. I just started playing with some resin and fiberglass mat.

Fibers: How do you make the fibers in fiberglass mat less noticeable (in a finished piece)?

Flat or Matte Finish: How do I get the set resin to be flat or matte?



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MasterWerxStudios