Where can I learn on HOW TO LAY FIBERGLASS??

Any help will be better than none.

thanks

 

Do a search in the audio section. I have done several write ups there on how to make a fiberglass enclosure. Laying glass is laying glass no matter what you are making. But if yo uare repairing something there are some differences. What are you looking to do?

 

I am looking to widen my rear panels to accomodate my 18x12 inch wheels, they stick out a bit and i dont wanna waste money on ACP parts, so will experiment with some used quarter panels!!! If i mess up, no big deal I will still have my stock panels

 

Why don't you add the mini-tubs and change the offset on your rims? That's what I've seen most of the folks do.

 

I know how to "GET LAID" in fiberglass... sorry, I just couldn't resist.

 

Then you should check out two part foam or A?B foam...some places have different names for it. Either way it is a two part expandable foam that is very easy to shape. You can form it to the quarter, then shape it, and then pull a mold of the shape. Once you have the mold you can make as many flares as you like. If there is a local fiberglass supply shop in your area they should have everything you need.

 

Your gonna need a couple of good books. I have been doing fiberglass on and off for about 35 years. Its not hard to do, but its not easy to do without knowing what your doing. Its hard enough to do it right that I can't possibly take the time here to even get you started. What you want to do is not too hard, but I would sure get some books on automotive glass with plenty of pictures and how-to. All our local auto parts stores and our regional plastics supply stores all have books on doing custom automotive fiberglass work. I was lucky to get 'trained' as a teenager by guys that built race cars, AND I also bought all the books I needed to learn additional techniques as I needed them. Good luck to you! It will be a fun experience, dirty and stinky and messy, but FUN.

 

Suggest that you use fiberglass, but use Polyester resin. It is a lot easier to work with then the epoxy resin. Mixing the poly and the hardener is listed on the container and it goves you the work time.
Caution: once it really starts to set up the container will burn your hands if you are not careful. It will be "SMOKIN". If it is you waited to long to apply it.
1. Glue styrofoam blocks together and carve out the design you want (use the most dense you can find)
2. Lay the form on a piece of pywood.
3. Once you get the form you want sand smooth and cover with Saran wrap. That cling stuff does great.
4. About three layers of glass works great. (cut them ahead of time)
5. Spray the Saran Wrap with parting compound.
6. Pour and mix your polyester in an aluminum turkey pan or similar pan, and prepregnate your glass (use rubber/surgical gloves) by getting them soaked in the pan really good and after the glass is soaked smooth with your hands on your mold until all the bubbles are out of it.
7. Once it is all laid out mix up a smaller batch and smooth it on as a topcoat. (they do sell dyes for the polyester black and a few other colors) so you can dye the topcoat. The black comes out like GLASS.
8. Let dry 48 hours.
9. After it dries, sand, smooth, use bondo on it, cut away excess with a dremel cutter and sand where needed.
There are some seam fillers where you can fill the joggles and voids at your attachment points, but I can't think of the name of the stuff off hand.
Consider how you are going to attach it prior to laying it up.
Just glueing it with the resin WON't work. You need some type of fasteners on a flange.
Main this is patience as persistance. I guarentee that the 2nd layup will look better than the first and so on.
Have fun. It's messy, but the results look good if done right.