where to start to learn 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=76628
Printed Date: April 28, 2024 at 4:09 PM
Topic: where to start to learn fiberglass?
Posted By: carstereonewb
Subject: where to start to learn fiberglass?
Date Posted: April 22, 2006 at 4:25 PM
I am wondering what you guys would suggest as a good starting place to learn fiberglass. I want to get into custom car work but am only 17 so i can't get a job at stereo shop until i'm 18 for insurance reasons. As a result i learn on my own dime and was wondering what small projects would be good to start with to get a good experience of FG. thanks for the help. ------------- If the cars not shaking the radio's to quiet
Replies:
Posted By: notalentkustoms
Date Posted: April 23, 2006 at 12:03 AM
I have my own customs shop, I started with a box for 12s, then went onto kick panels, door panels, and OI just finished doing my first dash. Man all I can say is start small and most importantly PLAN PLAN PLAN o did I say PLAN. Search this forum search the web read and research. and dont be discouraged if your first job isnt great practice makes perfect. Chris ------------- Late, Luna
Owner-No Talent Kustoms
99 Eclipse - 
96 Eclipse - *New Project*
Posted By: carstereonewb
Date Posted: April 23, 2006 at 12:44 AM
Thanks for the idea's. Do you have any more pictures of your eclipse? i am going to be gettin one for graduation buying it off my neighbor and he has already done quite a bit so for $5300 i figure its a good price https://car.lutronx.com. It's a big upgrade from the 1986 honda civic i am working with now. (but can't complain had some fun beating out and working on a 300$ car. anyway was just looking for some pictures and maybe idea's that would be fun and challenging but not over a novice's limit to try. Thanks again. also picture of a niiiiiice eclipse. 
------------- If the cars not shaking the radio's to quiet
Posted By: sprawl85
Date Posted: April 23, 2006 at 4:36 AM
first off that eclipse looks a little OVER styled. I'm not a big fan of the whole evo kit thing on most cars... some are ok. This looks like a combo of an evo kit, drift kit, and then some. A little too much I think. But everyone has their differnt styles that they like.
Oh yeah and the whole reason I posted here. Don't start on small hard to work on projects when you fiberglass. Start on a larger easier to work with project if you have the funds available. A sub box or whatever is a lot easier to work with than say a guage pod. Start with something that you don't plan on having many curves in too.
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fiberglass reminds me of peanut brittle... but fiberglass tastes better!
Posted By: carstereonewb
Date Posted: April 23, 2006 at 8:54 AM
sounds like a good idea. glad you suggested it though because my next idea would have probably been to try something to small for my own good. my favorite part about that eclipse is mainly the paint job. better picture of paint job here. Also, how much harder is it to get an exact measurement of volume in a FG box sinze there are generally curves and you are not just measuring length width and depth? ------------- If the cars not shaking the radio's to quiet
Posted By: sprawl85
Date Posted: April 24, 2006 at 2:30 AM
not too bad... you can use the peanut packing stuff to figure it out. Should be a sticky at the top of car audio, or fiberglass forum. Build your mdf frame... then wrap it with fleece and then before you fiberglass or resin anything you can fill it with the peanuts to measure the volume and redo it if you need to.
Oh and yeah that is a beautiful paint job. Someone has some mad skillz
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fiberglass reminds me of peanut brittle... but fiberglass tastes better!
Posted By: Velocity Motors
Date Posted: April 24, 2006 at 9:11 AM
Do a search on this site under FIBERGLASS and INTERIORS forum for ideas, short cuts and also support for any project that your after. I think most of the projects have been accounted for or asked about here on the forums and if not, post them and I'm sure someone will be able to help you with your project. First and foremost make sure that you have the proper tools & arm yourself with the proper techniques as this will reduce your project time by 50 % or more.
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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA
Posted By: torquehead
Date Posted: April 24, 2006 at 8:44 PM
I agree with all of the above ideas and inputs Mr. carstereonewb, but, I like to subject people of your age that show up at my shop with a "Full-On-Experience" approach. A kid (15yrs.) brought his (someday) 1985 Chevy Silverado in and wanted me to do some small jobs when I had time. He didnt have the full time cash to keep my interests, I had to turn the job(s) down over and over. I decided to not take the "feel bad" approach for the youngster, instead, I put his butt to work on his own truck with him using his own money with only my guidance. So, here we go. It initially scared him when I told him to REMOVE THE INTERIOR! But, with my 5-10 minutes here and there, we/he made good progress. I didnt interfere much at all. Custom door panels, half of the original dash + fabrication, removed factory seats-installed recovered buckets, fabricated his own one-off center console which was adjoined with the overhead console(one piece)! ......on his own, at 15. Like I told this kid, and like NOTALENTKUSTOMS said....PLAN!!!! PLAN YOUR WORK, WORK YOUR PLAN! Jump right in no matter what part you want to conquer. No matter the shape/object you start with, you may as well learn the nature of fiberglass and use it as well. You can always remove it or refinish it a different way. The KID had some areas that was rough. He chose to add 1/4 inch upholstery foam and vinyl to certain areas, which saved alot of time till finish. Just stick to this site and your knowledge will swell. Keep us up on your progress. Let us know what you tried, and ask more and more questions along the way.
Posted By: carstereonewb
Date Posted: April 25, 2006 at 5:13 AM
thanks for all your encouragement/suggestions. ------------- If the cars not shaking the radio's to quiet
Posted By: pmh61
Date Posted: April 25, 2006 at 8:20 PM
WOW torquehead i wish i had someone like you in my area that would do that for me i am 21 now and trying FG on my own but i have always wanted to try since i was about 16/17 but no one really cared to help or offer what you have. What a guy you are
Posted By: carstereonewb
Date Posted: April 25, 2006 at 8:42 PM
yea im pretty good friends with the stereo shop around here and tehy will give me materials around at there cost but still would be nice to have someone looking ver my shoulder.
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If the cars not shaking the radio's to quiet
Posted By: slimmatic
Date Posted: April 25, 2006 at 8:54 PM
I'd suggest just diving in. That is what I did. Before you do that, of course, spend hours reading posts on this forum and others. My first project was my door panels. I completely fiberglassed them and added speaker/tweeter pods. Like stated above, have a plan for what you will do. Fiberglass is nice since you can always sand it down and rework it. It may take a lot of time, but you will learn. Some of my biggest tips would be that if you are fiberglassing a piece of your interior, reinstall it after it drys slighty, and let it fully dry in your car. Otherwise it will shrink and not fit right. And also... also check to make sure things fit before continuing. Good luck.
Posted By: torquehead
Date Posted: April 25, 2006 at 9:23 PM
An 11 car car-port allows me to let a few less fortunates come in at a time and get to the grind, I never sugar coat it for anyone though. But Ill never hold anyone back from their creativity...I remeber how I started out!!!! Anyways, if you want to learn fiberglass....GET TO IT! Start with an image of the end product in your mind...read all of the forums and build-ups from the Demo cars you can...apply your own similar or even an identical operation that will give you the desired result......THEN JUMP RIGHT IN AND GET BUSY BOY!!! Also, have fun, dont discourage yourself WHEN you screw up, think of a solution to the challenge at hand and over-come it.
Posted By: playr747
Date Posted: May 04, 2006 at 2:19 PM
I've been doing it for years now, I started when I was 17 working at tweeter's. I had the pleasure of learning the basics from one of the best. He was in on the first Installer Challenge. I say just parctice and offer your services for free even to your friends to start. Have them buy the materials if you choose.
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