Cost to build a mold for a top deck???

I'd love to hear from those of you who have made molds and created top and bottom decks. There have been some great builds on here and I'd love to try a new design i have for a top deck. I'm just curious what I can expect to spend in materials to do it? I'll use a SN bottom deck so I dont have to worry about that part.
 

shawn_NJ

Chasing waves.
Location
Daytona Beach
Here was my condensed checklist, minus vac supplies.
Tools needed:
-Good high CFM compressor with a good air dryer, filter.
-Gelcoat Cupgun
-HVLP gun for PVA
-Radius'ing tools
-A few kick ass sanders, Random Orbial, Detail, I also bought a $300 Fein MM.
-Air grinder
-Box of every grit sandpaper between 36-1500
-8" Buffer/polisher
-A room you can completely trash with resin, gelcoat, glass, and that will stink for 6months+, I would never do this in an attached garage!

-Figure about 10-12gallons of tooling resin depending how carried away you get. Your buying 15gallons, being they come in 5gal buckets.
-1/3-1/2 roll of chopmat
-2 gallons of duratec or similiar surface primer (I used 3)
-1/2 Gallon of PVA
-5-7gallons of bondo
-1 gallon of 2part foam
-Couple sheets of divinycell for flangling ($$$)
-Bucket of polishing compound
-2 containers of release wax
-2lbs of molding clay
-5-10boxes of nitrile gloves, $hitton of mixing cups, chip brushes, measuring containers, ect. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE the consumable costs. This easy goes into the $100's of dollars.
-Many gallons of acetone (Not cheap after the 4th or 5th trip to lowes)
-Atleast one $100+ full face organic vapor N100 rated mask.

I am missing stuff, but you get the idea. Its VERY expense to do right. Not trying to discourage, just know what your getting involved in...lol Then vacuum bagging has a ton of other material costs involved

Making the mold is actually the easy part. Making your plug PERFECT is the hardest part that takes 500x longer then the mold.

LW17.JPG
 
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Flash-FX

No Square..No Round..FX-1
Good job Shawn! :notworthy: You did forget the white Tyvek suits and MASKS you need to wear because of all the SANDING DUST and FUMES that are created with a project like this. And YES, trashing the room is a understatement!!!!

After the extended sanding periods, your mind starts to wander....You're only 1/2 way there....(from going crazy)....Wearing the white suit is a dead giveaway.
 

shawn_NJ

Chasing waves.
Location
Daytona Beach
Good job Shawn! :notworthy: You did forget the white Tyvek suits and MASKS you need to wear because of all the SANDING DUST and FUMES that are created with a project like this. And YES, trashing the room is a understatement!!!!

After the extended sanding periods, your mind starts to wander....You're only 1/2 way there....(from going crazy)....Wearing the white suit is a dead giveaway.

LMAO! Very true. I only used the suit twice, no joking around I just became immune to fiberglass itching after the 3rd 8hour glassing session.
 
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Foximus

CFL Cheapass.
Location
Oviedo, Fl
Also dont forget the 30 rubber squeegies you have to buy because you keep losing them in a cluttered workspace.... At least for mine...


I stopped itching after I built the first 550 hull....


Shawn, when are you making your second hull?
 

shawn_NJ

Chasing waves.
Location
Daytona Beach
Also dont forget the 30 rubber squeegies you have to buy because you keep losing them in a cluttered workspace.... At least for mine...


I stopped itching after I built the first 550 hull....


Shawn, when are you making your second hull?

Good call, I think I bought 10 of those harbor frieght yellow squeegy boxes.

One of these years I will finish.
 
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