how much power can a non glassed box take?

[TeamHT]

I personally have no problem with people glassing, if anything, the finished effect after paint. But to think its required to make a box strong is what I don't understand.

[meade916]

nobody ever said it was "required". I will still do it for all my boxes. I usually brace AND glass not just glass though. A little bit of overkill but that is how i prefer to do it.

[727Designs]

I usually just brace mine well, never had an issue. I resin the inside and sand it smooth, but it's obviously not for strength. I have however used mat and glass the inside of a box that I was already tight for space on and didn't have the room to sacrifice by adding bracing. Not that bracing wouldn't have worked just as well though.

[meade916]

P.S. - for most boxes, for most low to medium powered applications, i agree fiberglassing is just an un-needed expense and mess. But if you start running a lot of power later on, depending on the situation, then it might be time to start thinking about it. You still don't HAVE to. On a smaller less powerful setup, i probably would not glass the inside either.

I did glass the one in the Lexus because bracing in that box is a little tougher to come by. The magnet and port take up so much room i can't just run them back/forth, up down and across like i would like. Bracing is minimal, but with glass and the shape/size of the box, it will never have a problem. It all really depends on your situation whether you should glass or not.

[HHR Ed]

Just painting resin on does not add any strength. The best way to strengthen boxes is to add layers of wood because it is a rigid reinforcement. And add bracing as to make it even more rigid.

If you plan on using fiberglass to add strength, you must use mat and resin in either many thick layers, or in odd, curved shapes.

To see what I mean, you can lay a thin layer of just resin down and let it cure. Then see how strong it is on its own.

SPOILER: It won't be very strong at all. It can flex and crack easily.

Then lay 1 or 2 layers of mat and resin and let it cure. Then pick up the hardened mat and bend it. It will bend quite easily. Much more easily than a layer of wood.

Now cover a baseball bat in tin foil and lay 2 layers of mat on it and resin it. Let it cure and then peel it off the bat. Now try and bend it.

It will be much tougher to bend.

Now try this trick.

pour resin into a bucket. make that 4 parts resin. Then add 1 part sand. Then 1-2 parts portland cement. Then add 1 part chop strand fiberglass strands.

Now pour it into a tray as to make a thin sheet maybe just a few mil thick. Let it cure and peel it off the tray.

Now you will have something almost indestructable

[meade916]

Just painting resin on does not add any strength. The best way to strengthen boxes is to add layers of wood because it is a rigid reinforcement. And add bracing as to make it even more rigid.

If you plan on using fiberglass to add strength, you must use mat and resin in either many thick layers, or in odd, curved shapes.

To see what I mean, you can lay a thin layer of just resin down and let it cure. Then see how strong it is on its own.

SPOILER: It won't be very strong at all. It can flex and crack easily.

Then lay 1 or 2 layers of mat and resin and let it cure. Then pick up the hardened mat and bend it. It will bend quite easily. Much more easily than a layer of wood.

Now cover a baseball bat in tin foil and lay 2 layers of mat on it and resin it. Let it cure and then peel it off the bat. Now try and bend it.

It will be much tougher to bend.

Now try this trick.

pour resin into a bucket. make that 4 parts resin. Then add 1 part sand. Then 1-2 parts portland cement. Then add 1 part chop strand fiberglass strands.

Now pour it into a tray as to make a thin sheet maybe just a few mil thick. Let it cure and peel it off the tray.

Now you will have something almost indestructable

you aren't bending 3 layers of 29oz mat. Maybe that 3/4 oz mat some people use but not the stuff i use. 1 Layer might bend but not 3 You are right though, the shape will also make it stronger. I also like the way you think with that brew of sand, concrete, resin and fiberglass Now that sounds strong, and permanent LOL

[SnowDrifter]

Just painting resin on does not add any strength. The best way to strengthen boxes is to add layers of wood because it is a rigid reinforcement. And add bracing as to make it even more rigid.

If you plan on using fiberglass to add strength, you must use mat and resin in either many thick layers, or in odd, curved shapes.

To see what I mean, you can lay a thin layer of just resin down and let it cure. Then see how strong it is on its own.

SPOILER: It won't be very strong at all. It can flex and crack easily.

Then lay 1 or 2 layers of mat and resin and let it cure. Then pick up the hardened mat and bend it. It will bend quite easily. Much more easily than a layer of wood.

Now cover a baseball bat in tin foil and lay 2 layers of mat on it and resin it. Let it cure and then peel it off the bat. Now try and bend it.

It will be much tougher to bend.

Now try this trick.

pour resin into a bucket. make that 4 parts resin. Then add 1 part sand. Then 1-2 parts portland cement. Then add 1 part chop strand fiberglass strands.

Now pour it into a tray as to make a thin sheet maybe just a few mil thick. Let it cure and peel it off the tray.

Now you will have something almost indestructable

I want to try this

[k3n12ock]

Screw bracing, resin, and all that nonsense. Be like me and just use particle board & deck screws. I don't even use Gorilla Glue glue anything like that. Just cut the wood and then screw them together.

[SnowDrifter]

Screw bracing, resin, and all that nonsense. Be like me and just use particle board & deck screws. I don't even use Gorilla Glue glue anything like that. Just cut the wood and then screw them together.

You fancy huh?

I use cardboard and hot-glue

[Leo1103]

Just painting resin on does not add any strength. The best way to strengthen boxes is to add layers of wood because it is a rigid reinforcement. And add bracing as to make it even more rigid.

If you plan on using fiberglass to add strength, you must use mat and resin in either many thick layers, or in odd, curved shapes.

To see what I mean, you can lay a thin layer of just resin down and let it cure. Then see how strong it is on its own.

SPOILER: It won't be very strong at all. It can flex and crack easily.

Then lay 1 or 2 layers of mat and resin and let it cure. Then pick up the hardened mat and bend it. It will bend quite easily. Much more easily than a layer of wood.

Now cover a baseball bat in tin foil and lay 2 layers of mat on it and resin it. Let it cure and then peel it off the bat. Now try and bend it.

It will be much tougher to bend.

Now try this trick.

pour resin into a bucket. make that 4 parts resin. Then add 1 part sand. Then 1-2 parts portland cement. Then add 1 part chop strand fiberglass strands.

Now pour it into a tray as to make a thin sheet maybe just a few mil thick. Let it cure and peel it off the tray.

Now you will have something almost indestructable

tottaly going to try that next time I get paid