How to Do Fiberglass Dye Setting

Colored resin changes the appearance of fiberglass.

A fiberglass dye setting is the process of dyeing the resin and using it over your standard fiberglass sheets. It is impossible to dye fiberglass after the resin hardens, as the resin creates a barrier between the fiberglass sheet and the resin. If you want to change the color of fiberglass after it hardens, you will have to paint it with paints designed for use on fiberglass. Dyeing fiberglass and setting it permanently is not difficult, and uses the same steps as traditional fiberglass installation.

Things You'll Need

• Fiberglass resin
• Large plastic container
• Resin dye
• Stirring stick
• Plastic gloves
• Resin hardener
• Fiberglass sheets
• Foam paintbrush

Instructions

1. Pour as much resin as you plan to use with the fiberglass into a plastic container. Put on plastic gloves.

2. Add the resin dye to the resin mixture. Stir the dye into the resin with a stirring stick until it forms a uniform color. Add additional dye if the color appears too light.

3. Add the hardener to the resin mixture. Typically, a ratio of five parts resin to one part hardener is enough to quickly set the resin.

4. Paint the dyed resin onto the base surface. Add the fiberglass sheets over the resin. Paint an additional resin layer over the fiberglass sheets. Add enough resin to fill in the mat. Allow the resin to dry for two or three hours.

5. Repeat the resin and fiberglass sheet application until your surface has the desired thickness. Add one final layer of dyed resin over the surface of the fiberglass to complete the setting and installation. Allow the fiberglass to dry for 24 hours.

References

• Ask the Builder; Painting Fiberglass Doors and Finishing Tips; Tim Carter; 2011
• "The Fiberglass Repair and Construction Handbook"; Jack Wiley; 1988