Fiberglass question

Hey everyone! First time posting and first time owning an XJ (not a jeep). Recently purchased an 82' xj650 seca (silver w blue stripes)
I'm in the process of tearing down and rebuilding everything and got to the point of sanding off the finish on the tail piece, then noticed tiny stress cracks in the fiberglass.
I was thinking of supporting it from the underside with a metal strip, bonded together with epoxy.
OR should I just lay some additional fiberglass mesh on the back side? I'm just trying to take away some flex.
Sorry if this is in the wrong section, I didn't see a bodywork section.

 

You can probably get away with putting some underneath.

 

Is it fibreglass or ABS plastic? NOt that it matters much you can reinforce with glass matting. I repaired my FZ fairing in this way but instead of resin I used ABS 'solvent weld' glue that (UK) plumbers use on waste pipe joints on the matting layers

 

Unsure if it's ABS or fiberglass. I don't see any strands so, ABS?
You're saying you used PVC pipe glue on ABS? And it worked? Now I have a dilemma....the ease of glue or the aggravation of glass.

 

Or both.

You can soak fiberglass cloth in ABS pipe glue (not PVC, you want the black stuff) and stick it on. Works pretty good. You just want to sand down paint a little to get to bare plastic. And wear gloves. That stuff is a pain to get off your hands.

 

Ok, sweet! I'm going to try that. Thank you!

 

Just to avoid future confusion ABS glue in the UK is mostly clear (not black) -I guess this is because most waste-pipe is white or grey.

 

@a100man This is the clear glue l use for pipes. Going to try it with fibreglass on one of my panels.

 

Thats the stuff.. doesn't cure as quick as resin though so be patient.

 

In the US waste pipe can be either white or black. White is PVC. Black is ABS.

Internets tell me UK white drain pipe is still PVC, and ABS is grey. Both are waste pipe, both are plastic, but nit the same plastic.

Clear glue likely is mostly solvent. Black ABS glue is solvent with some plastic in it. Assuming whatever you got there is actually ABS specific, I am uncertain how well it would work for glassing.

 

Hmm maybe some confusion between 'drain' and 'waste'.. generally waste is up to 1.5" (40mm) is used on sinks, showers, baths and basins and anything on this page below marked 'solvent weld' be it black, grey or white is ABS..
https://www.wickes.co.uk/Products/H...ittings/Solvent-Weld-Pipes+Fittings/c/1000550

Drain pipe for rain water 68mm (and 110mm for sh*t) however is PVC as you suggest - actually I didn't know that.

 

In the US they call it DWV - Drain, Waste, Vent. Black is ABC, white is PVC, I think it's intentionally color coded that way. There is grey pipe, but that is electric conduit. Also PVC.

They use ABS inside walls and floors and such and PVC anywhere that it's visible. ABS, I think, lasts longer, but does not stand up to UV light.


The ABS stuff you want is something like this:



Specifically for ABS, not "multipurpose" or some such thing.

Basically, I wouldn't trust the clear stuff to have enough dissolved plastic in it.

 

Thanks for all of the info!
Gonna sand the underside and use some glue primer for adhesion. Basically, sand, glue primer, glue, fiberglass mat then coat w more glue. Yea?

 

Sounds about right. I would just make sure to soak the mat in glue before sticking it on. You can do it while it's on there, but it might not be as easy to do.

I usually use a plastic packaging bubble for that, free to get and easy to throw afterwards.

 

Good tip. Thanks!