fiberglass experts - need help with resin ..
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
fiberglass experts - need help with resin ..
I have several DIY fiberglass repair books - Eckler's and Glas Ra - that describe in pretty good detail how to do fiberglass repair but don't cover the subject of resin. Other than Eckler's resin mentioned in their publication nothing is said about what type of resin to use.
Is there a specific type of resin that should be used for exterior body repairs? .. Some months back I did some underbody fiberglass repair on the right side behind-the-seat tub well using a Tap Plastics resin called Isophthalic polyester resin. This stuff worked really well.
Tap Plastics also has a part "B" laminating polyester resin and a part "A" surfacing resin. The Isophthalic resin is also a laminating resin and is said to dry harder than the part "B" resin.
Is there a certain brand of resin that should be used for our Corvette body repairs? . . Is it necessary to use a surfacing resin to complete a body repair? ..
I tried the archives and search function for info, but........... KAPUT! ..
Is there a specific type of resin that should be used for exterior body repairs? .. Some months back I did some underbody fiberglass repair on the right side behind-the-seat tub well using a Tap Plastics resin called Isophthalic polyester resin. This stuff worked really well.
Tap Plastics also has a part "B" laminating polyester resin and a part "A" surfacing resin. The Isophthalic resin is also a laminating resin and is said to dry harder than the part "B" resin.
Is there a certain brand of resin that should be used for our Corvette body repairs? . . Is it necessary to use a surfacing resin to complete a body repair? ..
I tried the archives and search function for info, but........... KAPUT! ..
#2
Le Mans Master
It depends on the type of fiberglass you are working on. The three basic types used on Corvettes are polyester, Gennite and SMC. Anything older than 69 is polyester. I wouldnt get too hung up on what polyester resins. Most any will work fine on Corvette bodies, as will most of the modern epoxy and urethane based products. But when working on the later stuff with the Gennite and SMC panels, you should use the modern epoxy or urethane products.
#3
Drifting
Agree with Wayne. The polyester resin you can buy at Walmart works as good as any other. Your books may have mentioned it, but do not use the woven cloth to do your repairs. Get the random fiber mat instead. It will lay down in the contours easier an be somewhat less noticeable when you are finished.
tc
tc
#4
Race Director
The blue colored laminating resin, available at most boat repair shops, is what you want for structural repairs.
Doug
Doug
#5
Drifting
If you use an epoxy resin, it won't continue to shrink over time like polyester resin will. It's pretty frustrating to see a squiggle line in your formerly perfect paint job a few weeks or months later. I can see all of the repairs in my vette that were done with polyester resin, but I can't see any that were done with epoxy resin.
#6
Le Mans Master
MRG,
I have used most of the TAP plastics line and that ISO resin is nice stuff. In most, if not all cases you will be finishing that repair with a skim coat of something like Evercoat 870 in which case you want to use a laminating resin which will allow a great bonding surface for the filler. IF you use a finishing resin, you will need to sand all the wax off the surface prior to using any filler. For underbody repairs I would add a few drops of TAP surface hardener to your laminating resin.
Scott
I have used most of the TAP plastics line and that ISO resin is nice stuff. In most, if not all cases you will be finishing that repair with a skim coat of something like Evercoat 870 in which case you want to use a laminating resin which will allow a great bonding surface for the filler. IF you use a finishing resin, you will need to sand all the wax off the surface prior to using any filler. For underbody repairs I would add a few drops of TAP surface hardener to your laminating resin.
Scott
#7
Race Director
I had good luck with Ecklers on my 66 and none of the repairs have shrunk or shown through. One thing I believe in is putting a heat lamp on it (not too close) for awhile to enhance the resin/hardner cure out.
Dan
Dan
#8
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Mar 2005
Location: Rocklin California
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MRG,
I have used most of the TAP plastics line and that ISO resin is nice stuff. In most, if not all cases you will be finishing that repair with a skim coat of something like Evercoat 870 in which case you want to use a laminating resin which will allow a great bonding surface for the filler. IF you use a finishing resin, you will need to sand all the wax off the surface prior to using any filler. For underbody repairs I would add a few drops of TAP surface hardener to your laminating resin.
Scott
I have used most of the TAP plastics line and that ISO resin is nice stuff. In most, if not all cases you will be finishing that repair with a skim coat of something like Evercoat 870 in which case you want to use a laminating resin which will allow a great bonding surface for the filler. IF you use a finishing resin, you will need to sand all the wax off the surface prior to using any filler. For underbody repairs I would add a few drops of TAP surface hardener to your laminating resin.
Scott
#9
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Great info .. This will help a lot! ..
If I understand correctly the Evercoat 870 is used to finish the repair - a la 'Bondo' .. ? ..
For panel bonding adhesive I believe I read in the forum last week that the bonding adhesive that Corvette Image sells is considered to be the best, or one of the best, to use. What have you guys used in the past that worked for you? . .
I plan to order body panels from Sermersheim's very soon. This will include the left front top fender panel, lower parking panel, upper and lower nose, and bonding strips.
Just wanna make sure I don't screw up on this project up by using the wrong materials! ..
Thanks for your help, guys. ..
If I understand correctly the Evercoat 870 is used to finish the repair - a la 'Bondo' .. ? ..
For panel bonding adhesive I believe I read in the forum last week that the bonding adhesive that Corvette Image sells is considered to be the best, or one of the best, to use. What have you guys used in the past that worked for you? . .
I plan to order body panels from Sermersheim's very soon. This will include the left front top fender panel, lower parking panel, upper and lower nose, and bonding strips.
Just wanna make sure I don't screw up on this project up by using the wrong materials! ..
Thanks for your help, guys. ..
#10
Safety Car
I bought some resin at a salvage auction and the cans are not labeled except for the fact that they are polyester resin. How can you tell the difference between laminating resin and a finishing resin?
Charles
Charles
#11
Le Mans Master
When cured, the finishing resin will have a dull waxy coating on top while the laminating resin will not. All you need to add to a laminating resin to make it a finish resin is a few drops of surfacing agent.
#12
Safety Car
Charles
#14
Safety Car
Charles
#15
Race Director
When resin goes bad, it starts to gel up. That is all that happens to it. Too thick and you can't work with it.
resin color should tell you what kind of resin you have.
I know thet the bluish tint stuff I got from boat shops was laminating resin. finishing resin is probably pinkish, or grey or some other color, not sure what.
Sounds like a little research would tell you what you need to know.
Doug
resin color should tell you what kind of resin you have.
I know thet the bluish tint stuff I got from boat shops was laminating resin. finishing resin is probably pinkish, or grey or some other color, not sure what.
Sounds like a little research would tell you what you need to know.
Doug