Fiberglass question

[Stoobings]

anyone know how to keep the 'glass from sticking to a blue styrofoam mold?? i've been just laying it down directly on the styrofoam..... am i missing something here?

[JamesG]

what are you trying to make?

[davipu]

car wax

[johncam4]

a what???

[Stoobings]

undertail.  its coming along quite nicely (for my first time with fiberlass) i guess.  i'll try to get some pics up at some point.  thanks

[Argon5W]

I don't think it will work the way you are doing it.  You will need to stick the fiberglass to the foam plug then sand the glass from there to use as a plug.  After you have a good plug you can wet sand and then cover with mold release to build you negative mold for finished parts.  The other option is to use modeling plaster or clay on the foam to build your female mold.

Richard

[JamesG]

There are actually alot of ways to do it.  The method I've developed over quite a bit of trial and error is to start out with a basic foam plug, carved into pretty much the right shape.


don't mind the ugly guy in the pic.

Then coating that with wall plaster (it is MUCH easier and quicker to sand and shape that bondo or fiberglass resin). Sand it to shape and then coating it with resin. The resin soaks into the plaster and bonds with it. But it CAN crack and split if you bear down on it too hard.



But generally they hold up pretty well until its time to tear it up. Which is VERY SATISFYING!!!



:mrgreen:

Hope this helps.

[Kerry]

Cool!  PICTURES!!  

(We want MORE....!)

[Stoobings]

that info is great.  does the fiberglass part release from the wall plaster/resin mold easily? or do i still need some mold release as Argon5W suggested? i read somewhere that duct tape works as a "mold release"...
very cool pics

[JamesG]

No you always have to use mold release, both wax and spray on mold release. Resin, either epoxy or polyester is basiclly a glue, and behaves as such.  So you have to use some kind of separating barrier on a very smooth, glossy finish. Otherwise the mold wil stick to the plug.  I destroyed quite a few plugs and molds at first learning that fact.


www.aircraftspruce.com sells all the tools and materials that you will need to get going properly. They even have books and starter/learner kits.