Fiberglassing on a Budget, Please Help.

[caine0]

I've tried to read as much as I can about fiberglassing in the past couple of weeks, but I'm still a little scared to go ahead and start my project. I'm on a very tight budget, as I am trying to save all the money I can for my engine and suspension right now. Just for the record, I'm trying to build a fiberglass enclosure in my spare tire well for a single 10" sub. So far I have purchased the following:

All the MDF I will need
Bondo No. 488 Fiberglass Mat 75dm2 - Two Packages
Bondo No. 499 Fiberglass Cloth 75dm2 - Two Packages
Bondo Polyester Fiberglass Resin With Hardener - 32 FL OZ (946mL)

All of these items, excluding the MDF, cost about $40 Canadian at Walmart. Just so you know, I'm NOT looking for a show finish. I'm just looking to free up the space in my hatch area. So, down to the questions.

I read somewhere that you can use old t-shirts and stuff like that instead of fiberglass mat/cloth (can't remember which). I can't find the site I read this at, so does anybody know what kind of material the shirts have to be made out of in order for me to be able to use them? If I can use those t-shirts instead of the cloth or something then I'll just return the cloth/mat and get my money back.

And my second question is, what order do I lay everything down in? Do I go:

Removable layer (tin foil with pam or something) - Resin - Fiberglass mat - remove from well - resin - fiberglass cloth
OR
Removable layer - Resin - fiberglass cloth - remove from well - resin - fiberglass mat

?

Any DETAILED websites would also help, thanks guys.

 

[alanw6]

Your list looks good, but you are going to need more material than that to do a spare tire well enclosure. I think about 4-5 packages of mat, and the cloth won't really be essential for your needs. You're looking for a quick buildup and strength, so the mat is better suited to this.

You'll probably need more than a quart of resin, a gallon would suit you better.

As for the process: foil (which you can tape down with masking tape), then resin/mat in layers.

Here's a tip: get a can of cheap spray glue. lay the foil down, then apply an even, light coat of glue. Cut the mat into workable squares/strips and place it so the glue holds it in place. Then apply the resin. I've never seen the glue interfere with the curing process.

The materials will cost a little more, but you can probably handle the little more expense, which is better than running out of material right in the middle of the project.

Good luck! And don't forget cheap brushes and gloves!

Alan

 

[MyEarsHurt]

I am fiberglassing this weekend I am using this page as my pseudo-bible...

http://web.njit.edu/~cas1383/proj/main/

Good luck! I am in the same boat, all my supplies were $40 at home depot, I bought the stuff today because my sub was hitting a little too close to my convertible window...see link below. So I am making a fiberglass sub "box" in my spare wheel well.

(http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/4/web/484000-484999/484771_109_full.jpg)

 

[Nottoofast50]

You can use fleece instead of mat after the first layer. Soaks up a lot more resin and gets it harder quicker. I'm going to be glassing my spare well after i get my car back(in the shop getting parts right now). Let me know how it goes, post pics! Anyone know how many cubic feet are in the spare well anyway?

 

[MyEarsHurt]

I was curious about the amount of sq ft in the spare tire well too, so I measured. It was about 2 ft in diameter, and about 8 inches deep. I have not taken a math class in a while, but I remember the forumla to be...

Pi (3.14) * Radius squared * height = volume

Using this I did the following:

3.14 * 1 ft (radius) * .75 ft (8/12 inches) = 2.3 sq ft of space


If this doesnt look right or if my forumla is off, let me know.

 

[zeusmoto]

nope you have it right. its pi times the radius squared times height. for volume

 

[Nottoofast50]

Thanks man... i've been trying to find out how much space is in there forever and my car is not here so I couldn't measure it.

 

[MyEarsHurt]

Well I started my fiberglassing project, and when its all done I will post pictures and the process I used in a new thread, should be up by July 1st.

 

[caine0]

Thanks myearshurt. Maybe I'll have pics of mine by then as well to add to your new thread. I saw what happened to your window when you first posted the thread about it.. that sucks

I think I'm ready to do it this weekend, weather permitting since I'll be doing it outside. I'll post back if I have more questions, or pics and stuff. thanks guys.

 

[derek200517]

Fiberglassing

To do fiberglassing, you go with: Removable layer - Resin - fiberglass mat- remove from well - fiberglass mat - resin - fiberglass mat - resin - then if there are any low places, you use the fiberglass cloths - then resin again - repeat this procedure until you think its strong enough!