Fiberglass question (Yay, another noob question from me)

K

Kennay

Squarenose for the _____
Location
Myrtle Beach, SC
I've been reading tons of threads lately about reinforcement, foothold installs, refoaming, ect... and to be honest, this fiberglass business is new to me. I understand the concept, but I need some help finalizing my materials list.


I notice alot of you praise US composites, and I have been browsing their site for the last couple days. They have all sorts of different cure time stuff, thickness, ect.. and quite frankly it's confusing.

I was wondering if someone could tell me what I need for reinforcement, installing footholds, and reglassing in the tray after I've hacked it up for refoaming. Money is a little tight, and I don't want to order the wrong stuff.

I'd like to go ahead and get a gallon of epoxy kit.

If someone could tell me specifically what kit I should order, and what weight mat and type that I need, that would be freakin awesome. I have gathered a general idea, but I know I will end up ********ing it up. I'm pretty good at that ;)
 
thegoldenboy

thegoldenboy

RN Surgery... soon
Location
Toronto
1 gal of epoxy resin with fast hardner (mix smaller batches up so you don't waste a lot) First time glassing you'll run out of pot life time (amount of time the epoxy takes to start reacting. Small pots usually go in 10min or less. The pot you have the resin in will harden and it won't be spreadable after 10mins give or take.

12oz biaxial cloth (fiberglass sewn together), easy to wrap edges with, resistant to fraying/unravelling.

5 measurable pots (plastic cups with measurements on them)

5 - 2" coarse bristled brushed (for applying/spreading epoxy)

1 fiberglass roller (squishes out excess resin, cosmetically makes you glass job smooth, and tight)

1 quart of acetone (good for cleaning prep prior to glassing & roller cleanup)
 
Frosty

Frosty

New York Crew
Location
Western New York
and remember, you don't wanna use too much epoxy - just enough to wet out the cloth... any extra needs to be sqeegied away. too much epoxy left on will make it weaker. use the roller or squeegie to get all excess epoxy and air bubbles out.

also, from what i have experienced, the slower the cure time, the better the mechanical bond. the only time i use fast hardener is during the winter when the temps are very cold... as it's tough for me to regulate the temp in my shop with just a wood burning stove.
 
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thegoldenboy

thegoldenboy

RN Surgery... soon
Location
Toronto
I use fast hardner all the time, when I reinforce I do 1 side at a time with the ski on its side. Plenty of time for proper layup.

I am building my own hood this winter from scratch. I will use the slow hardner for this process.
 
K

Kennay

Squarenose for the _____
Location
Myrtle Beach, SC
Cool! Thanks for the help.

So you are absolutely sure I should go with the fast vs. the medium? 150 or thinner? I know what you mean, I will definitely be slow getting the hang of it to start off.

Also, how many layers of the 12oz would I need to properly patch the tray back up after refoaming? Is the 12oz biax a good overall weight mat to go with for most things?

How many yards should I order for footholds, minor reinforcement, and patching the tray back up? Also, I'd like to have a little left over just in case I want to do some minor projects, I just don't want a great big bundle left over.

I REALLY appreciate it. I must admit, I'm a bit nervous.
 
thegoldenboy

thegoldenboy

RN Surgery... soon
Location
Toronto
It all depends. I do most of my work in the winter because we can't ride. Garage temps hover around 70 degrees when its warm. The problem is that I don't leave my heat on overnight (kerosene). So I use fast hardner and a hang a regular lightbulb on a socket to provide a bit of extra heat right to the patched area.

Get the slow for your first time.

12oz is a good overall mat I find. Great for patches, repairs, reinforcement, etc. it is a bit heavy, thats all, but I wouldn't be concerned with the weight, strength is more important.

Just go for it, nothing to be nervous about. Its only fiberglass. If you screw up, rip it oiff and try it again.
 
chrisdoc0608

chrisdoc0608

insulting
Location
rocky mount, nc
u puttin holds in that sj kennay? i used the medium and it was good.... just make sure you dont mix too much up at a time or you will waste a lot like i did :pat: when you do the holds make sure you lay a few layers of mat across the tray as well so it is reinforced between the gunwhales
 
K

Kennay

Squarenose for the _____
Location
Myrtle Beach, SC
chrisdoc0608 said:
u puttin holds in that sj kennay? i used the medium and it was good.... just make sure you dont mix too much up at a time or you will waste a lot like i did :pat: when you do the holds make sure you lay a few layers of mat across the tray as well so it is reinforced between the gunwhales
Click to expand...

Yes siiiiiiiiiiir! I am pulling the busted ass engine out sometime this week.

I can't wait to get started
 
K

Kennay

Squarenose for the _____
Location
Myrtle Beach, SC
I am waiting on the guy from XFT to email me back about the footholds I want..... they aren't being mass produced yet, I guess.

They are the only one's I've found that I like (By looks)
 
K

Kennay

Squarenose for the _____
Location
Myrtle Beach, SC
Anyone have any tips on what to do to the bond line? Should I just mix up epoxy and filler or? Foam, then glass over it? I don't recall reading about it specifically when scouring the build up threads.

thanks as usual!

I'm trying to reinforce the bond line, if it wasn't obvious :D
 
JonnyB

JonnyB

Location
Round Rock, TX
Kennay said:
Anyone have any tips on what to do to the bond line? Should I just mix up epoxy and filler or? Foam, then glass over it? I don't recall reading about it specifically when scouring the build up threads.

thanks as usual!

I'm trying to reinforce the bond line, if it wasn't obvious :D
Click to expand...

Thats a 50/50 question some foam and sand others use 404+ epoxy/harnder fill in the bondline then put glass on top of that while its still wet. I used 404 and did 3 layers of 17oz 4", 7", 14"
 
Frosty

Frosty

New York Crew
Location
Western New York
JonnyB said:
Thats a 50/50 question some foam and sand others use 404+ epoxy/harnder fill in the bondline then put glass on top of that while its still wet. I used 404 and did 3 layers of 17oz 4", 7", 14"
Click to expand...

i've done it both ways... i prefer the 410 micro balloons with epoxy/hardener. It's almost self leveling... unlike the foam which rises up like a loaf of bread. and if you do the epoxy/harderen/410 and put your first layer of glass over the bond line at the same time, you get a kickazz mechanical bond.
 
W

wydopen

Guest
foam in the bondline???...use filler and epoxy...much stronger and you will get a better bond if you lay the glass over the filler when its still green
 
K

Kennay

Squarenose for the _____
Location
Myrtle Beach, SC
Thank you! i just didn't know if that much filler and epoxy would add unnecessary weight, and perhaps crack from being so thick, and in a high flex area.

:cheer:
 
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