leaving fiberglass over masking tape
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=28033
Printed Date: July 22, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Topic: leaving fiberglass over masking tape
Posted By: soup
Subject: leaving fiberglass over masking tape
Date Posted: March 08, 2004 at 11:48 PM
Ok, so i used the masking tape to get the proper contour when I am joining the gauge bezel I made to my dash... Do i have to put a release agent (tinfoil, pam, etc) overtop of the tape, or can i just let the fiberglass stick to the tape and leave it there... it makes sense that I could just leave the tape.. it wont look as nice but who cares once i cover it up with more mat and paint it.
I am wondering because i have never seen anyone just leave the masking tape on the fiberglass....
Replies:
Posted By: JakeJ
Date Posted: March 08, 2004 at 11:59 PM
As long as You can get the piece back out after the resin cures, I don't see why not. Resin stuck to tape, tape stuck to dash. I have not done very much fiberglass work so I am not an expert. Good Luck!!
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Wyoming 12volt Enthusiast
Posted By: soup
Date Posted: March 09, 2004 at 2:49 PM
well the fiberglass will be completely cover the tape... I guess the best way to describe what I am doing would be, say I had a dash with a hole for a 4" speaker, could I just put masking tape over the hole, then put a layer of mat over the tape and rest of the dash. So the resin wouldnt adhere to anything where the tape is, but the same layer would adhere to the rest of the dash.
Posted By: JakeJ
Date Posted: March 09, 2004 at 5:03 PM
If the glass is going to be permanent have you thought about not using any tape? Fiberglass matt would span a hole. If there is some reason it is necesary try to use as little as posible to insure a good bond to the serface. ------------- Wyoming 12volt Enthusiast
Posted By: soup
Date Posted: March 09, 2004 at 5:42 PM
not having a strong enough bond is not what I am worried about, I am worried that leaving the tape on there will cause a problem. I cant just put the mat over the whole with nothing behind it because of the fact that fiberglass is air inhibited.. I have tried to fiberglass over air before and it doesnt work that well at all. It is just like having one giant air bubble.
I jsut see everyone always putting down the tape, then putting down tinfoil, then putting down mat... I understand why you would want to do that if you need to remove the piece, but in my case, once I use the tape for the shape, I want to just fiberglass overtop, and never have it removed... here, ill draw a little diagram of what exactly I am doing
Basically I have a corner like this, the black lines
are a corner at one point of my dash. The red is
the masking tape that I am talking about, and
the blue is the fiberglass. So the adhesion won’t be
a problem. From this drawing, it looks like I could
just throw some filler in there, or mask it off, tinfoil,
then bond the mold after... but trust me, it is a
lot more complex that I have int eh drawing, if I
can lay down the tape, it would make a 2 hour
job 5 minutes.
Posted By: JakeJ
Date Posted: March 09, 2004 at 6:03 PM
Well soup it sounds like you know what your doing and how to do it. If I were you I would not wory about leaving the tape. ------------- Wyoming 12volt Enthusiast
Posted By: JakeJ
Date Posted: March 09, 2004 at 6:05 PM
Let me know how it turns out. Good luck! ------------- Wyoming 12volt Enthusiast
Posted By: devilsquid
Date Posted: March 09, 2004 at 6:57 PM
get the blue tape that painters use because it doesnt leave a residue and removes easily...then when you do your work, you can remove your fiberglass creation, remove the tape, then permenantly adhere your fiberglass to the dash via liguid nail or some other method.... -------------
Posted By: soup
Date Posted: March 09, 2004 at 9:18 PM
I know I can do that, but I dont want to have this piece removeable.. i would have to take pictures of it to show you why i cant remove it, its too hard to explain... but it would be about as hard as fiberglassing a basketball, then removing the fiberglass from the ball all as one piece. I just want to know if over time the fiberglass will deteriorate, or have a chemical reaction to the tape.
Posted By: pureRF
Date Posted: March 09, 2004 at 9:32 PM
No would will be fine. you CAN leave the tape
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dream it, build it, fiberglass it
Posted By: soup
Date Posted: March 09, 2004 at 11:02 PM
awesome, thanks pureRF, thats going to save me a lot of time.
Thanks again
Posted By: devilsquid
Date Posted: March 09, 2004 at 11:04 PM
i think i get what your saying...and leaving the tape should be fine.
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