How to Cover With Fiberglass Cloth Using Polycrylic
Polycrylic is a hard protective finish created to provide a layer on objects that absorbs the small damages associated with typical wear and tear. When used with fiberglass cloth though, it also acts as an adhesive, holding the cloth in place and helping to build a waterproof layer around the covered object. Fiberglass cloth with polycrylic applied firms in place, conforming tightly to the covered object, without adding much additional weight to the cloth, making it light enough for use as a RC airplane skin, while remaining strong and durable enough for covering model boats or surfboards.
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Things You'll Need
- Fiberglass cloth
- Sharp scissors
- Mild liquid soap
- Sponge
- Cloth
- Polycrylic finish
- Paintbrush
- Foam brush
- Sandpaper
- Tack cloth
Instructions
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1
Place the fiberglass cloth over the part that you wish to cover. Cut the cloth to fit with a sharp pair of scissors, leaving about one-fourth inch on all sides to allow for any shrinkage or adjustment. Remove the cloth and set it aside.
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2
Clean the surface with a mild liquid soap and water mix, using a sponge to remove any dirt. Rinse off with clean water, then pat the surface dry.
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3
Brush a thin layer of the polycrylic over the surface with a paintbrush. Make sure you cover the surface completely by overlapping each row of the finish by about an inch.
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4
Drape the fiberglass cloth back onto the covered surface. Brush the cloth with a foam brush from the interior of the surface to the edges to remove any wrinkles.
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5
Apply a second layer of the polycrylic over the wrinkle-free fiberglass cloth to close the pores in the fiberglass and adhere it even more securely with the surface beneath.
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6
Wait for the polycrylic to dry overnight. Trim the edges from the cloth with the scissors. Sand the edges even with the edge of the surface with a medium-grit sandpaper. Go over the entire surface of the cloth with fine-grit sandpaper to smooth the polycrylic out, removing any imperfections, such as brush strokes. Wipe with a tack cloth after sanding to remove residue.
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