First Project - Headliner
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=45735
Printed Date: April 28, 2024 at 9:47 AM
Topic: First Project - Headliner
Posted By: novakid
Subject: First Project - Headliner
Date Posted: December 21, 2004 at 11:22 PM
well, i've been lurking around here for a couple weeks and have been reading up on fiberglassing for about a month, hung out with a guy a couple of times who has been fiberglassing for about 38 years and bought the glassmans dvd set.. whew...
So here's my situation:
I need to build a headliner in my 67 Nova, since there is no headliner currently, I have shaped one in the car out of cardboard and poster board and covered it all in duct tape and brown shiny packing tape. The problem will be of course that I am going to have to do the layup in the car (upside down no less) aargh !
Here is my plan:
wax the tape with TR mold release a few times
layup with 1 oz chopped mat (probably 3 layers)
Hope to hell I can get the damn thing out when I'm done (will probably remove the rear window for this)
bondo,sand and then upholster in tweed
any suggestions, thoughts
Thanks !
Replies:
Posted By: Carbonb
Date Posted: December 22, 2004 at 12:17 AM
Why would you fiberglass the headliner? Doing a mold with something above you is going to be really messy.
I think that you should figure out another way. If you have a roof you can just use a thin layer of foam, and then cover with whatever material you want.
Posted By: ravenndude
Date Posted: December 22, 2004 at 12:18 AM
if I were you I'd use just a few (3 or so) layers of FG cloth instead of mat. That'll cut down on the sanding att eh ends as the cloth normally give a more finnished look then the mat (pre-sanding).
You aren't realy looking for support in the head liner (unless you plan on installing sh*t in there). so the least amount of layers the better.
Since you are doing this inside of your car make sure you mask everything before you start with the resin. That'll be a real pain if you get resin on your seat or any kind of matterial.
Good Luck and Have Fun!!!
Posted By: daverulz
Date Posted: December 22, 2004 at 9:25 AM
I've never tried this method, But I think it might work. Use 3m spray adhesive to attach the first layer of fiberglass matt/cloth to the mold you have made on the roof. Then apply the resin. when the resin cures, pull it out and add a couple more layers. Then sand it an dcover it. In theory it should work...I guess.
Posted By: ravenndude
Date Posted: December 22, 2004 at 10:48 AM
pulling it out would be the hard part. If the FG is not flexible before or after removing it, shances are you would have to remove the windsheild or rear window to fit it in.
A friend from highschool had a 60 or 70s nova and if i remember corectly you won't be able to pull the headliner out of the car if it is solid.
Posted By: 97Avalonxls
Date Posted: December 22, 2004 at 11:02 AM
you could use that powder stuf that allows you to skip the matt entirely, plus it gets super viscous (sp?) and you can basically spackle it onto the roof, my recommendation if you ar egoing to do this, it is no problem to use against gravity.
Posted By: novakid
Date Posted: December 22, 2004 at 12:25 PM
The reason I have to do at least the first layer upside down is because this is an old car and there was an old fabric liner with steel bows that supported it, when i got the car there is nothing but bare metal there. i liked the one idea about spray gluing some matt up and then putting the resin down into the mat. My concern though would be that this thing has to be able to release so i can take it out of the car to upholster it. too late on the fabric versus chopped mat, I just bought 50 yards of chopped mat (it was cheap 65 bux for 39" roll x 150 feet) My mat is supposed to show up today, so maybe I can get something done over the weekend (christmas and all), i'll post pics of my progress.
Posted By: auex
Date Posted: December 22, 2004 at 6:52 PM
Carbonb wrote:
Why would you fiberglass the headliner? Doing a mold with something above you is going to be really messy.
I think that you should figure out another way. If you have a roof you can just use a thin layer of foam, and then cover with whatever material you want.
I agree, you should use a sheet of 1/8 inch foam. Put some clips in it then wrap it in whatever you want. It would be much simpler.
If you have never worked with fiberglass before, then this is NOT a good first project. ------------- Certified Security Specialist
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Posted By: placid warrior
Date Posted: December 22, 2004 at 9:19 PM
daverulz wrote:
I've never tried this method, But I think it might work. Use 3m spray adhesive to attach the first layer of fiberglass matt/cloth to the mold you have made on the roof. Then apply the resin. when the resin cures, pull it out and add a couple more layers. Then sand it an dcover it. In theory it should work...I guess.
Actually that would work, Ive heard of it before, although it was contact cement that was used, any adhesive that will cause the fiberglass to stick should work.
Posted By: novakid
Date Posted: December 27, 2004 at 11:55 PM
here are some pics (so far) of how the headliner is coming.
did it just as i planned and found out that 3 layers of 1oz mat are extremely thin - they were needed to at least get the shape of the thing without falling on my head as me and my daughter layed it up-side down. Once it cured to a reasonable level, I pulled it out and layed it on the floor. From there I picked up another gallon of resin and some 3 oz mat (huge difference thickness wise) and layed it up tonight (actually just got in from trimming the edges with a razor blade) funny the thicker stuff cures way faster than the thin stuff - or i just put a ton more resin in the fabric since I was now on top of the thing. I was gonna post some pics but the site is telling me that the pics need to be 30kb or smaller (mine are too big) I'll try to find a place to post the pics and follow up in my next posting, next will be bondo/sanding...
Posted By: novakid
Date Posted: January 20, 2005 at 10:59 PM
 
here is a pic of the makeshift mold (tape,cardboard,posterboard).
and also a pic of the headliner out of the car. Someone mentioned that this was a bad first project (some days i agree.. hahaha) but overall it really doesn't matter - I am now on my third gallon of resin and now the fiberglassing is the easy part. The bondo and sanding inside curves is now more of a pain. This project REALLY made me realize the importance of a GOOD mold
and what happens when you slam one together - you will end up spending time fixing shortcuts.. I doubt I will do another headliner - alot of work! BUT it was so worth it experience wise. Plans still include a dash and doorpanels - Time to learn to build molds with foam next...
Posted By: realitycheck
Date Posted: January 21, 2005 at 8:34 AM
Excellent job man keep us posted on how it turns out, I'm glad you were able to make it work and get the results out of it that you wanted.
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Learning the trade one fiberglass creation at a time!
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