Learn me fiberglass?

In reply to David S. Wallens :

That talks about how to use gel coat, but not whether it's actually needed.

If you're going to paint the surface, there's no need for gelcoat.  Typically gelcoat would be used instead of paint. 

I do quite a bit of fiberglass work on old race car bodies. Not really concours level work, but I do try to make them structurally sound and aesthetically pleasing (they look good). 

I strictly use polyester. I have heard great things about epoxy, but I have never used it, primarily because of the expense and because I have excellent results with polyester. I do believe that the modern polyester formulations are significantly stronger and easier to work with than the formulations from 25-30 years ago. 

Generally I do not use gel coat. I find that a skim coat of body filler works just as well to produce a smooth, primer ready surface. Lately I have been using spray polyester filler (slick sand) over fiberglass repairs, and I have been mostly happy with the results.

-chris r.

T,his is going to sound stupid , 

but how do you  check if the roll of fabric I have is fiberglass  or nylon etc,

 I got it at the swap meet the other day , it's a pretty fine weave , but it's white/ ivory color like

fiberglass ,

When we were kids we used old bed sheets for the fiberglass cloth when we covered our wooden skateboards with fiberglass ,  We thought we were cool !

I'd be looking for information on fiberglass fuel tanks and what's necessary to make them...

Fiberglast  I used these guys for all of my fiber work when rebuilding my boat, some great videos and great explanations on their site about whty to use which materials. 

stroker said:

I'd be looking for information on fiberglass fuel tanks and what's necessary to make them...

 

Vinyl-ester resin is fuel proof.  I've used it to repair extended range tanks on a C-210.

pinchvalve (Forum Supporter) said:

Fiberglast  I used these guys for all of my fiber work when rebuilding my boat, some great videos and great explanations on their site about whty to use which materials. 

Fiberglast is great for information but Aircraft Spruce has the same materials at better prices (the last time I looked).

intrepid said:

I do quite a bit of fiberglass work on old race car bodies. Not really concours level work, but I do try to make them structurally sound and aesthetically pleasing (they look good). 

I strictly use polyester. I have heard great things about epoxy, but I have never used it, primarily because of the expense and because I have excellent results with polyester. I do believe that the modern polyester formulations are significantly stronger and easier to work with than the formulations from 25-30 years ago. 

Generally I do not use gel coat. I find that a skim coat of body filler works just as well to produce a smooth, primer ready surface. Lately I have been using spray polyester filler (slick sand) over fiberglass repairs, and I have been mostly happy with the results.

-chris r.

Chris, instead of body filler try using microballoons mixed with your resin of choice.  Sandable and very light weight.  Also a slurry of this mixture can be used over foam core before the first layer of glass.

Dusterbd13-michael said:

In reply to SV reX :

I hadn't thought of hose. I had thought of foam house insulation or poker table foam, but not hose. Genius!

Foam house insulation will melt with most resins.  There are foam core materials  for this purpose.