Fiberglass work

Anyone have experience working with fiberglass?

I've done plaster molding before and I'm told fiberglass is pretty similar.

 

Sno was asking about that a few months ago. There are a few 'glassers here, hit the search utility and/or get in touch with Sno.

 

Fabrication or repair? Not that I know anything about either, but I have some parts that I'd like to do some work on. I'd love some info too.

Greg

 

Fabrication more so then repair.

I've been looking at a lot of BMW cafe racers. I like the single seat style with the rounded (domed?) back section and I'm thinking of desiging a piece that will attach to the seat pan.

I've made the general shape I want out of some scrap cardboard, it's pretty basic.

I asked mainly because I'm curious about what supplies I'll need. I found a shop locally that sells fabrication supplies in any amount, bulk. Looking over all the things they offer I was a bit overwhelmed with so many options for materials.

 

Yup Sno, that was it. I still have trouble using that search function. Simple it is but remember how technically inept I am. I'm still practicing. Hess, did any of this get you the answer you were after?

 

Not really, no...but I did spend a good 30 minutes or so looking at those concept vehicles! Cool stuff.

I'm thinking of hitting the book store this weekend and picking up a DIY guide on fiberglass. I've got 2-3 ideas that (i think) would look awsesome on a cafe or street figther XJ.

Nothing says "mod" like custom made body work

 

I've done some fiberglassing and I fixed a fairing on a Seca II. I would look on line for fiberglassing info to get you started. For what you're thinking of doing I'd use some bondo to smooth over the fiberglass and have a nice surface to sand a million times and then paint. Make sure you use chemical resistant gloves, a full respirator, and safety glasses. I've had resin flick up into my eye before, not fun. The resin and fiberglass is super toxic. Even when you sand it wear a respirator. I have some friends who know about fiberglassing all kinds of stuff so if you have any questions let me know. Good luck.

 

Thanks for the links!

Some useful stuff there, I printed 36 pages total

Next weekend is going to be fun and messy as all heck

 

I've done a little bit of fiberglass work, but most of my experience has been with carbon fiber and kevlar. And I have to say that fiberglass is a lot easier to work with.

It doesn't sound like your project is to difficult.

Everything I've done I've always started by making a mold for what I'm doing. So your first choice is what kind of mold you want to use. Either a positive or a negative mold. Both can look good at the end, It just depends on where you want to put the work in. In the mold making or in the finishing of the product.
The negative mold is going to give you a lot nicer surface finish and won't require as much work after the part is made. But the negative mold requires a lot more work.
The Positive mold is going to be a lot easier to make because all you ahve to do is create the shape you want, then take a little bit of material off so that the final part is the right size. This process is quite a bit simpler.
In my oppinion this part is were the time taken improves the final product

The best and cheapest mold material i've found is either insulation board, or can foam, "Great Stuff Foam" Both work very well for making a mold because you can fairly easily form them into the final shape.
A large array of tools can be used to shape the foam to its final shape.

As for the fiberglass itself, you can either use fabric(comes on a roll) or mat(the loose stuff they make boat hulls out of). I would suggest for its ease of use, using the fabic.

Its really not that hard of a process if you have a little bit of common sense when your doing it.

I've probubly got more hints and tips I can give you, but for now, I will start with some of the basics (Mainly cause I'm tired of typing)

 

Thanks for the idea on the negative mold. Being as i'm designing a piece to attach to the seat pan I'll play with both pos and neg to see what works best.

I've done quite a bit of plaster work as well as ceramics and polymer clays. I hope those experiences help a little.

Pics of what I've got in mind as soon as I get the time

 

I have a styrofoam skull that I want to use somehow and turn it into a headlight. What would you guys recomend. I know I can't use it directly on the bike, but I figure I could use it as a mold. What do you fabrication guys think would be the best way to do that? I could then cut out the eyes and use some cheap walmart driving lights for the lights, so whatever I do probably needs to be fairly heat resistant. Any ideas and help would be appreciated??