Fiberglass Overlay?
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=69998
Printed Date: April 29, 2024 at 2:15 AM
Topic: Fiberglass Overlay?
Posted By: sh1bby69
Subject: Fiberglass Overlay?
Date Posted: January 04, 2006 at 12:50 AM
I own a mazda3 and I plan to overlay the the dash with fiberglass so I can paint it. I also plan on doing the doors as well. Would it be possible to for me just to overlay the the sections I need and just sand it down? My dash consist of 3 sections? If I were to put the same amount of layer on each section will it be even?
Replies:
Posted By: xtremca2003
Date Posted: January 04, 2006 at 12:54 AM
Do you want a shinny dash or are you lookin gto just change the color. If you have a vinyl dash you can buy vinyl dye (paint), that can flex with the material.
Chris
Posted By: sh1bby69
Date Posted: January 04, 2006 at 12:57 AM
xtremca2003 wrote:
Do you want a shinny dash or are you lookin gto just change the color. If you have a vinyl dash you can buy vinyl dye (paint), that can flex with the material.
Chris
I want a shinny dash and no it's not vinyl. It's plastic. But there shouldn't be any problem w/ just overlay the fiberglass correct? It'll be my first fiberglass job.
Posted By: xtremca2003
Date Posted: January 04, 2006 at 1:43 AM
If its your first job, I would go to a junk yard and buy a 10 dollar dash out of a junker and try different things on it to get it down. Fiberglass is easy, but can be tricky to work with. You could glue some thin box carpet or grill cloth down and resin over it. Thin helps because it doesn't bulk up on the dash. You only need to use enough spray adhesive to hold it for a short time, then resin away, and finish from there. Remember not to plug up any screw holes etc.
Good luck and let us know.
Chris
Posted By: sh1bby69
Date Posted: January 04, 2006 at 1:52 AM
xtremca2003 wrote:
If its your first job, I would go to a junk yard and buy a 10 dollar dash out of a junker and try different things on it to get it down. Fiberglass is easy, but can be tricky to work with. You could glue some thin box carpet or grill cloth down and resin over it. Thin helps because it doesn't bulk up on the dash. You only need to use enough spray adhesive to hold it for a short time, then resin away, and finish from there. Remember not to plug up any screw holes etc.
Good luck and let us know.
Chris
Thanks for the tips chris. I really want to start the project mid this month to get ready for the show season. You think 1 or 2 layers should be good?
Posted By: sh1bby69
Date Posted: January 05, 2006 at 12:04 AM
Would there be an alternative to fiberglassing? Would I just be able to sand it down and just paint it?
Posted By: ssnds
Date Posted: January 05, 2006 at 1:50 AM
i'm not sure what the mazda dashes are like. in my impalla ('03). the dash has a texture on it. i know i could just sand the texture down.. then primer and paint.. i am pretty sure.. a guy at a local shop wanted to do that to the dash since i had to cutomize it for the flip on monitor. (the monitor was hitting the dash up above.
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SSounds
Posted By: deagle50ae
Date Posted: January 05, 2006 at 8:36 AM
you could prolly just mix up some bondo and go over the dash with it and sand it smoother than a baby's ass. I dont think fiberglass is called for here unless you're goign to be RESHAPING or redesigning your dash with monitors and such. just my .02c
Posted By: tuscani
Date Posted: January 06, 2006 at 11:58 PM
Fiberglass doesn't like to stick to plastic very well, Your going to have to sand it down and rough it up very well to create "ridges" in it so the FBglass has something to grab onto.
I would suggest getting a different dash to try before wrecking yours, or pay to get it done, or leave it as is.
FBglass is alot of work, and you have to have ALOT of patients.
Posted By: jfunk06
Date Posted: January 07, 2006 at 5:07 PM
Another trick i picked up (i forget from where) is to drill a few holes. And have the resin seep through it onto the other side. This way, it wont be able to move, if you just put alittle FB patch under each hole you should be fine. This will ensure it is gripped down on the dash. I would also suggest getting a donor dash too.
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Govenor of Jimcinati
93' GMC Safari XT
Posted By: placid warrior
Date Posted: January 08, 2006 at 12:44 PM
Guys...if the dash is vinyl and its not going to be modified, DONT USE FIBERGLASS...theres absolutely no point. sure u can drill holes and all that good stuff but its still not the greatest thing to do when all u want to do is make it smooth. Take out the dash, if its got any soft vinyl on it then scrape it off including the glue/foam or whatever else they used, clean it up with some sort of wax and degreaser and then some soapy water, rinse it off very well...let the peices airdry or wipe em down with a cloth/towel u know is very clean. If u wanna be extra careful then u can use rubber gloves so the oils of your fingers dont get on the project. Once the piece(s) are clean and dry sand down the texture on the dash, spray it off, then wipe down with a tack cloth...Primer your piece(s) with a high build primer, depending on the sanding job u will need about 3-5 coats with sanding inbetween the layers, this will make the project smooth, then u can paint it and clear it...no fiberglassing is needed.
Posted By: hellbilly007
Date Posted: January 21, 2006 at 1:15 PM
I have no experience doing such, but I was told to sand dash down and use 2-3 coats of FG resin. The resin can be sanded down and painted. Just my $0.02 tho.
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Slowly but surely working towards something. Not sure what though.
Posted By: StlS_Ron
Date Posted: January 21, 2006 at 3:45 PM
i agree no need to apply fg to this. another product to consider is "oem" brand metal glaze. its a polyester filler same as bondo or rage gold, but sands much eaiser. i would condier using this on youru dash if it is made of Hard plastic and will not flex. My 2 cents. Clean it, Run over the texture with 36 grit or 80 grit to gouge it. metal glaze it. sand and finish. Best idea posible is to goto the junk yard pick up something similay are try on that first ------------- Ya my radio sucks.
Oh by the way I cant spell!!!
Posted By: HottAccord
Date Posted: January 22, 2006 at 7:41 PM
Placid Warrior is right...a lot of people seem to think to get that "fiberglass" look on the dash, that you need to use fiberglass when you really dont. There's also another way to prep your dash, you can actually just brush on some resin to harden the surface. You may need to do a little sanding afterwards...then u can drop on some bondo, sand some more, prime and paint etc...  ------------- Im a fiberglass whore!!
Posted By: suicidecustom
Date Posted: January 23, 2006 at 11:35 AM
I think the problem here is that everyone thinks that fg resin and bondo will adhere to oem plastic and it absolutly will not do so. when a lot of these people make fg parts for their dashes, door panels, etc, they are bonded to the plastic using duramix 4040 or similar product. man if you want your dash smoothed and painted follow placid warrior's advice, its the only way you will properly get the job done and be show worthy.
Posted By: H-a performance
Date Posted: January 23, 2006 at 12:59 PM
if the dash is plastic just sand off texture prime sand prime again if needed, and then paint. do not use any glass or body filler on plastic without proper prep and then it still might lift after time.,
Posted By: jlord16
Date Posted: January 23, 2006 at 8:52 PM
DONT bother with FG unless you either wanna change the dash or rebuild sections of it, its too much effort wen u can do it just as good by cleaning it, good 2 coats of primer then floow thru with normal paint and laquer as stated above ------------- Clarion DB36MP
Infinity Kappa Perfect 10"
Respone 800w Mono
ALPINE MRP-F250
*Custom fabrications*
Posted By: 97blackrodeo
Date Posted: January 24, 2006 at 8:22 AM
Here is a little write up I found to work well for me. Trick is not to build up each coat of primer too high. Let it dry and then spray again. https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=71371&PN=1
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