posted
ok say ive already used a base layer of fleece to start my project and then add 2 layers of may or cloth keeping it relitivly smooth and then i put one more layer of fleece on and then paint on one more layer of thin resin, how smooth will it come out? is it going to require a ton of filling and sanding still? will it come out smoother if i use fg cloth instead?
quote:Originally posted by Big Truck: ok say ive already used a base layer of fleece to start my project and then add 2 layers of may or cloth keeping it relitivly smooth and then i put one more layer of fleece on and then paint on one more layer of thin resin, how smooth will it come out? is it going to require a ton of filling and sanding still? will it come out smoother if i use fg cloth instead?
it will be very smooth. but VERY VERY weak. a layer of fleece provides barley any strength at all. a layer of resin adds no strength at all. my FIRST fiberglass project when i was really just not knowing what i was doing at all i used one layer of fleece and about 14 layers of resin. the whole thing cracked when removing it from the car. i had to chop it out of the car with a hatchet. it broke apart like weak plastic. i hope the thing you built like that isnt for a box because if the weight of the woofer doesnt make it cave in, when you turn it on the amount of flex in the box structure combined with how brittle a layer of resin soaked fleece is it will sure implode when you blast the subs. fleece or cloth or anything like that adds little to no strength when soaking it in resin. thats why they make fiberglass mat and cloth. its glass. you soak it in the resin and it turns into a glass/plastic compound. polyester resin does what it says, create polyester. thats for durability fibers of glass (fiberglass) is for strength. the only reason people use fleece is because it provides a basic form to work with when fiberglassing. if youve already done all that, id recomend adding an even 7 layers of mat and resin over top of it.
one thing about polyester resin by itself is its very brittle like a peice of candy. other ways to get a brittle structure...use too much hardener, use too much heat, etc. basically if it takes less than 10 hours to dry it probably didnt add much strength at all even if you used mat with it like you are supposed to.
-------------------- Need fabrication help? AIM Me at capo don zoni. I have built everything. Don't bother if your completely new to this. I'm not here to baby anyone. If you do your research and still can't figure something out then ask. Posts: 86 | From: Connecticut | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
i dont think my first post was clear enough, im going to use the fleece as my base and then add a couple layers or fiberglass mat or cloth on top of that, then for the final layer i am going to use fleece again to try and get a smooth finish, will that work? has anyone tried that before?
posted
yes your first post was not clear. essentially what you would have is a structure made from two layers of mat. the fleece layers wont add much strength at all. youd be wasting your time because it would break when you put the weight of a sub on it.
-------------------- Need fabrication help? AIM Me at capo don zoni. I have built everything. Don't bother if your completely new to this. I'm not here to baby anyone. If you do your research and still can't figure something out then ask. Posts: 86 | From: Connecticut | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
if trying to find an easy way to get a smooth finish maybe fiberglass isnt for you. do you reallyneed glass? it sounds like you dont want to spend the time sanding, i dont blame you sanding is a long hard journey to smoothness.
-------------------- Need fabrication help? AIM Me at capo don zoni. I have built everything. Don't bother if your completely new to this. I'm not here to baby anyone. If you do your research and still can't figure something out then ask. Posts: 86 | From: Connecticut | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
I've made kick panels that dried in less than 10 hours and I'd be willing to bet you couldnt front on them for being weak when they got 5 layers of chopped mat over fleece.......
Posts: 34 | From: Birmingham,AL. | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
If it is a curved piece with no flat areas, you should have no problem; If there are flat areas, just brace it anyway you can.
As for an alternate way to smooth out a rough surface, go to the local paint store and get some Featherfill or Gelcoat, basically, it is filler in a can that you spray through a gun. We prefer FeatherFill due to availability It cuts down on finish time tremendously. Later
Posts: 58 | From: Beaumont, TX | Registered: Jan 2003
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