How To..

[loganberry]

fiberglass, havnt seen a thread for this *unless im on drugs*

do you make your thing out of wood, wrap it in fabric (do you use anything like flece) start placing resin on in layers? do you need that hair stuff ive seen steve used, if so what...and whats that green stuff ive seen people put on towards the end, is it bondo stuff?

can you make a how to, like a list of 1 2 3, and what items do you need....and if there is something like this already, please tell me...thanks

[dwright27]

i wanna know where to buy 5 gallon buckets of duraglass.

ive got free access to rolls on roills on rolls of chop mat

ive got a bag soi big you can even lift the mofo by yourself

[pstone11]

Just check in Tim's corner of the forum, everything you need is in there.

[loganberry]

found this and it sounds really cool, som1 let me kno *tim* if im missing something, but i really wanna try fiberglassing

This is for practice, before you build your speaker boxes.

OK you’re going to need some supplies, fiberglass mat or cloth, resin and hardener (you can get a kit with everything in it at most box stores automotive section the kit is the perfect size to practice with. I prefer cloth over mat, less of a mess but mat is stronger), a box of disposable gloves, respirator, a piece of foam insulation, cheap paint brushes, plastic spreader (3 pack next to the Bondo in automotive), sanding block, a pair of scissors, and sandpaper, and a mixing tray (if you buy a kit it’ll come with it if not get the disposable paint mixing tray and toss them out after you use them) and a tack cloth.

Take your piece of foam insulation, from above, cut your fiberglass cloth with one inch extra on all sides.

Put on a pair of gloves and respirator, (to be honest I don’t use a respirator but I tend to work outside) MAKE SURE YOU USE GLOVES TRUST ME THE BURNS ARE NOT WORTH IT. Mix your resin and hardener according to the instructions on the side of the resin can or one the hardener tube or can. (Sorry, but you might get a different brand then I use and it might need more or less hardener then the stuff I use.)

Center your fiberglass cloth over the foam insulation. Now if you’re working on the flat just pour your resin and hardener mix on top of the fiberglass cloth and used the plastic spreader to force the resin hardener into to cloth. (You can dip your cloth in the resin/hardener mix if you wish but I find it just makes a bigger mess) Spread and work you resin/hardener mix all over the cloth, over the edge of the foam. You’ll need to work fast but neat. Work from the center to the edge, using the spreader work out any air bubbles. If you’re working on vertical start at the top and work your way down and out to the edge, using the brush to apply the resin hardener mix and the spreaders to work the mix in and air out. (I put a spot of the resin hardener mix top center to hold the cloth in place). If you’re working over head, then a spot of resin/hardener in the center to hold the cloth and work from the center out, using the brush to apply the resin/hardener and the plastic spreader to work the mix into the cloth.

Let the resin/hardener dry, read the can it’ll tell you how long it’ll take to cure.

Sand, I use a med. grit sandpaper to smooth the lump and bumps, the smoother you laid it the less sanding you’ll need to do. Try not to sand through the first layer of fiberglass. Dust it off, use a tack cloth to get all the dust.

Apply a second layer just like the first.

Repeat until you’ve built up the layers of fiberglass to the thickness you need. (I always use at least two)

To finish sand again, use a tack cloth to take off the dust.

If you’re going to paint use Bondo to fill in any low spots, sand prime paint.

If you’re going to use cloth or vinyl; use spray glue to hold everything.

If something isn’t clear or doesn’t make since post and edit and I’ll try to help.

[LSN2meBoom916]

i wanna know where to buy 5 gallon buckets of duraglass.

Just check in Tim's corner of the forum, everything you need is in there.

Correct.

I got a few PMs askin for "how to's" on glassing for SUPER NOOBS...I asked Tim about it and he said he's ok with me doin it...This summer I will be doin a FULL "noob friendly" tutorial on it...for those lazy bastards... that have it SO NICE...yet can't even look through the member builds and fiberglass/fab section here (smd) and ACTUALLY LEARN THEM DAMNSELVES....I will be holding their bed wetting hands through it with step by step pics n all.

Till summer....

1: The forum...

2: Member builds/show off section

3: Fiberglass/fabrication section

4: Timmay's Corner^^

PM Any of the folks that have posted stuff in those sections on specific stuff.

Other than that...Grow some nuts, buy some supplies, and start experimenting.

No one gets good at it doing by sitting around on their ass...or asses.

end rant.

[Torres]

yeah...really there's tons of threads that show fiberglassing. ESPECIALLY in tims section. that's basically a big how-to section in itself

[Forevrbumpn]

whats fiber-glass?

I dont understand

[LSN2meBoom916]

fiberglass, havnt seen a thread for this *unless im on drugs*

Muuust be on some dem damn druuuuuuugs eh?

whats fiber-glass?

I dont understand

Fail.

You sir.....are fiberglass.

[Forevrbumpn]

I seriously need to get back to glassing, Iam tired of doing boring MDF enclosures

[LSN2meBoom916]

Some one this site was askin how to do some doors a while back....

I am anal bout me records and shit and whatnot....so I found my reply to his Q back in sep 2007.

Enjoy:

WOW-

Ok Here's a rough break down of glassin ur doors.

-Once you have ur "design" or gameplan and how you see it FINISHED in ur head, you need to delete or cut out as much of the door behind the place ur gonna put ur mids to give the midbass woofer some air to play in.

That part is not crucial but making some room MIGHT be helpful.

-drill some holes all around the perimeter of the door edge where it MEETS the area you will be glassing. (See Pstones Doorpod builds and most in the Fglass section show what I mean-I'm talkin swiss cheese it w/ the drill)

This is so the resin can seep/flow all the way through the door and dry into a "plug" behind the panel making ur pods/build ons attach firmly AT THE SEAM.

-Once you have it full of holes about 1/2"-1" all the way around the edge, you should position ur MDF mounting rings. You can do this either by using Glue/hot glue/CA glue/crazy glue etc and DOWELS cut to length to give the angle you want (I show this in MY BUILD of the pods for my integra/member section)

-After you have your rings all positioned/mounted to the panel, you can stretch some polyester or cotton Tshirt material over the whole thing, and resin the area you to be the "pods".

Look through GP2K2's glass werk he does this OFTEN.

-AS FOR THE RESIN!!!!

OK-Resin by itself is just STICKY liquid.

Applying it on its own will make NOTHING BUT MESS.

Resin comes with A CLEAR-LIQUID-HARDENER called MekP (methyl-Ethyl-Keton-Peroxide).

It's in a lil clear tube.

you will HAVE TO thoroughly mix this into the resin, or it will NEVER get hard.

The suggested mix is 12-15 drops (not squirts...single drops) per 1ounce or resin.

This is NOT the only mix ratio that will activate the resin hardening... but the second you mix it it will start to get warm, then hot, and as it gets hot it will turn into HARD plastic. THE MORE HARDENER YOU USE THE FASTER THIS WILL HAPPEN! Be careful...start small...practice often.

When it's mixed it should have the color of dark maple syrup and smell nasty like chemicals-

MAKE SURE YOU DO THIS IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA!

The fumes will make you dizzy (and kill ur brain cells) and they ARE FLAMMABLE so be careful around open flames/cig's etc.

The MORE clear hardener you add, the HOTTER the mix will get, and the FASTER it will get hard.

Make sure you either use small amounts or resin until ur comfortable with the dry time and confident you can get it where it needs to be b4 it's dry or you will waste a shitload of resin real quick.

So...

Add resin to hardener in something that will not melt (cheap plastic or WAXED PAPER CUPS will melt under the heat+chemical reaction-use something sturdy or non plastic.

Paint it on with a brush and keep a small cup of ACETONE handy (get some with ur supllies-1gal is a good size, 32oz is ok too)

Acetone is gonna save you $$ and time in brushes-when ur done painting-hopefully b4 ur bruss is a solid chunk of plastic-put the bristles in the acetone-it will "melt off" the excess resin and keep ur brush usable for the next layer of resin.

I would pre-cut a bunch of glass mat and have it handy in all sizes and shapes-so you can add it as needed and not run out b4 ur resin does.

Another really good way to add strength and reinforce crazy shapes is to pull apaprt the chop mat before hand and add it in lil "bundles" you can roll them back in to these bundles after you pull it apart form its "mat form"

I would recommend some latex or nitrile gloves too-resin is NOT good on ur skin-technically it is very harmfull stuff and you should eb careful w/ it-once it's on ur clothes or shoes-it will NOT come off.

once you have the nice surface all painted up w/ resin, let it dry about 1/2 hr or till it's barely tacky to the touch.

After that-PAINT it again with resin and you can paint the inside w/ resin too (mixed as described above)

-If the back end of the panel is open-YOU'RE IN LUCK! (if not you can open it up w/ saw or dremmel)

Once it's all nice on the front w/ a layer or 2 of resin-flip it over and start painting it w/ resin on the backside/inside of the pods.

I would say-Paint it w/ mixed resin/hardener, then lay some glass over that and the resin will help it stick in place then you can paint over that w/ ur brush and kinda "tap out" the air pockets/bubbles/etc.

The resin soaked mat will "slide around" on ya so be carefull to tap w/ out pushing it away from where you want it eventually dried.

Let it dry and repeat that until it's nice and strong all over-a good 1/8"-1/4" inch should be good n solid.

You can build it from behind and the "ugly" glass wil not matter the front should be nice and slick form the stretch if you got a nice form the 1st time-if not-Bondo Filler and RAGE or any GOLD filler (in that order) will SAVE you.

More info avail upon request...but I only post this now...cuz It was already written.

<--back to the HW :mad:

Edited April 29, 2008 by LSN2meBoom916