what cloth should I use to fiberglass
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=59138
Printed Date: May 16, 2024 at 3:09 AM
Topic: what cloth should I use to fiberglass
Posted By: yngcapone
Subject: what cloth should I use to fiberglass
Date Posted: July 09, 2005 at 11:35 PM
I know how to use bondo but I dont know how to use fiberglass and I wanted to make a custom housing for my tv in my car, what kind of cloth do you glue to the surface so you can apply the resin?
Replies:
Posted By: abovestock
Date Posted: July 10, 2005 at 1:56 AM
usually the least expensive fleese you can find at a fabric store.
Posted By: HottAccord
Date Posted: July 11, 2005 at 2:20 AM
Yeah anything that stretches, mostly polyester/fleece is the best fabric to use. Good luck!
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Im a fiberglass whore!!
Posted By: Steven Kephart
Date Posted: July 11, 2005 at 2:26 AM
I personally prefer grill cloth as it doesn't soak up nearly as much resin. This layer is purely to supply a surface to apply the fiberglass on, so all the extra resin is wasted IMO. I've tried it once and will never use it again for that reason. Steven Kephart Adire Audio -------------
Posted By: yngcapone
Date Posted: July 11, 2005 at 2:37 AM
Thanks
Posted By: Poormanq45
Date Posted: July 11, 2005 at 11:08 AM
I'm with steven on this one. If you do use fleece don't mix acitone with it. This will keep it a little thicker so it doesn't soak up as much.
Basically any type of cloth will work if it can stretch a little. If you have an old sheet laying around that'll work
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Posted By: abovestock
Date Posted: July 12, 2005 at 1:39 AM
Think of it this way, the thick fleece layyer is just one more heavy strong layer of the box that means one less layer of glass to put on later. Besides the fleece is cheaper than grille cloth.
Posted By: Steven Kephart
Date Posted: July 12, 2005 at 2:31 AM
Fleece is not nearly as strong as fiberglass mat/cloth. It is not intended to be a structural layer, but a surface to lay down your structural layers. And sure it may be a little cheaper than grill cloth, but considering it takes 3-4 times the resin, grill cloth becomes the cost effective solution real fast. I'd much rather have the enclosure that weighs less (less resin/thinner walls) and is just as strong. Steven Kephart Adire Audio -------------
Posted By: Poormanq45
Date Posted: July 12, 2005 at 10:08 AM
Again I'm with steven on this one.
EVen though the fleece costs less then the grill cloth, the amount of resin that it soaks up brings the total cost to MORE then it would cost for the grill cloth.
Also, the fleece layer is only a base layer. Its only purpose is to give you something to build on.
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Posted By: yngcapone
Date Posted: July 12, 2005 at 10:21 AM
When I use fiberglass what are the steps
Posted By: Poormanq45
Date Posted: July 12, 2005 at 11:09 AM
You mix the resin with the proer amount of hardner(read resin can to see how much hardner to use). Mix that together as good as you can.
Then take your paint brush and dip it in the resin/hardner mixture and apply a light coating on the surface you're working on. Then lay your matt/cloth down ontop of that. Then dip your brush back in the resin/hardner and "stab" it into the matt/cloth until there are no more white spots. If parts of the matt/cloth are still white that means that you need to apply more resin/hardner.
Oh yeah, before you ever even mix the resin/hardner you should cut your fiberglass to length/size.
Lay down one layer and soak it thouroughly. Then you can lay down another layer and soak it thoroughly. As long as you soak the fiber enough you can lay down as many layers as you want before it dries.
Note: The part will get pretty hot(~120 degreesF). DOn't worry that's just the chemical reaction between the resin and hardner.
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Posted By: Steven Kephart
Date Posted: July 12, 2005 at 11:20 AM
Very well said Poormanq45. Your the first person that I've seen apply resin to the surface before the mat, which I prefer. It makes it much easier to soak the mat through, and holds the mat in place. I do want to add a couple small things that I find helpful. When using mat, tear it to size instead of cutting. The frayed edges will mesh together much better, providing a flatter surface. Also, cut down the bristles of your brush to about 1" long. This will make it easier to stab out any bubbles. Remember, the more bubbles in between layers, the weaker the fiberglass is. Steven Kephart Adire Audio -------------
Posted By: Poormanq45
Date Posted: July 12, 2005 at 11:56 AM
YEp. For brushes I recommend going to your local walmart. They have black ~1.5in brushes for ~$0.25 a piece. They work very well.
Steven: I don't know why more people don't apply the resin first. It holds the mat in place very well.
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Posted By: yngcapone
Date Posted: July 12, 2005 at 12:07 PM
I've seen pictures of people using fiberglass for their trunk molds and everything but it looks like they dont use the fiberglass hairs just the resin. I dont know if they dont say they used it and they do or what but at the end it doesnt look like theres hairs on it. What I want to make is like a custom mold for my tv in my console and maybe later on if I get good a molding for my trunk. Also I was on a guys website and he was using liquid plastic or something to mold stuff together like little plastic things do any of you know what that is or where can I buy it. Thanks.
Posted By: Poormanq45
Date Posted: July 12, 2005 at 12:53 PM
OK, about the "hairs" you say, that's called fiber mat.
It is there, it's just that when you saturate it with resin it all but disappears. It's semi-transparent.
OK, now for you specifically. Can you make the initial mold for your TV mount out of Plywood/MDF or something like that? If so do that. Then put a layer of fiberglass over it, in the manner that I said in an earlier post.
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