How to Do Fiberglass Fabrication
Working with fiberglass is very easy and very hard, because of the nature of the medium. You can make anything out of fiberglass, so there are no limits to what can be done, you just have to make the right molds, and work with the resins and strips. To be successful you should have a clear understanding of what it is you want to make, and how to build your molds.
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Things You'll Need
- Wood or foam mold making materials
- Fiberglass
- Resin
- Mixer
- Bowl
- Resin brush
Instructions
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First lay out all your mold pieces for the object you want to fabricate. Make it simple to put the entire object together from the pieces, but also do not make your pieces too complex.
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2
Measure the pieces carefully and cut your mold materials to size.
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3
Assemble your mold material using wood frames and foam, plaster, wire or any other material that is suitable to your particular mold. If you are creating a round object, a wire frame is probably going to be needed. For simple square objects, wood and foam will suffice.
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4
Apply a mold release compound to your mold surface. This will help you break the fiberglass off of the mold once it is dry.
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5
Layer you fiberglass strips onto the surface of the mold. Each strip should crisscross in the same fashion for a more consistent body. Lay them carefully and smooth out any wrinkles or faults before you begin to apply your resin.
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Let the fiberglass and resin harden, then break or remove the fiberglass from the mold.
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7
Sand, prime and paint your final project.
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Tips & Warnings
For complicated molds, wrap your fiberglass around the frame first, and take your time to see how the part will take shape. Smooth out all wrinkles and then apply the resin. A spray resin or fiberglass gun can also be used for larger projects.
Fiberglass resin is sticky and toxic. Take care when working with it, and always do so in a well-ventilated area.
