J666AYP
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| posted on 15/10/19 at 02:09 AM |
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Fibreglass help needed
Hi all,
Having a much needed break from the mechanical side of things on the project and I'm going to put some time into the bodywork (and maybe make it
look like a car instead of a pile of old metal!)
My plan is to have a 1 part body consisting of the rear tub, arches, side pannels and scuttle stopping at the front firewall as I'm going to use
flared front sections to aid in cooling. I have loads of old body parts and GRP sheet laying round that I'm going to use to make up the body
then use that to make a sectioned female mould from and go about it that way.
Does anyone have any advice on the mould making process, or the best resin/matting/gelcoats to use?
I know it's a load more work than needed but I like the idea of a smooth body tub with no joins.
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Charlie_Zetec
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| posted on 15/10/19 at 10:01 AM |
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Although I work in the GRP industry, this isn't my area of expertise - however I know that the team at
East Coast Fibreglass have a great reputation for both supply of products and advice.
Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity!
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Theshed
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| posted on 15/10/19 at 10:31 AM |
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I am at exactly the same point (see below) and know exactly what you mean about taking a break from mechanical matters - I have been plumbing for
months! I am cutting and trimming and extending existing panels to fit my toy.
I suggest that you watch the videos produced by Easy Composites as well as those by East Coast Fiberglass. They do a great explanation of making a
split mould. My understanding is that specialist tooling and mould making resins are the best but are made with production in mind. Having said that
they are not that much more expensive.
 
Description
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Angel Acevedo
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| posted on 15/10/19 at 12:25 PM |
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Even though it is not a car type of channel, I stumbled upon Sail Life channel on Youtube, there are a couple of videos which deal with the makong of
a rudder which I guess is one of the best videos I´ve seen on Mould Making and part producing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IjN9Sgm2qs
IIRC Fred w b has done a also a full body so you may vheck his build log of CANAMSA
Beware of what you wish.. for it may come true....
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steve m
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| posted on 16/10/19 at 07:13 AM |
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I watched the vids of the guy making the boat rudder, very interesting, but just making the mould for the rudder took 3 weeks
and 16-19 hours a day !!!
Thats was probably spelt wrong, or had some grammer, that the "grammer police have to have a moan at
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Angel Acevedo
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| posted on 16/10/19 at 02:27 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by steve m
I watched the vids of the guy making the boat rudder, very interesting, but just making the mould for the rudder took 3 weeks
and 16-19 hours a day !!!
That´s why a LOT of us buy ready made CRP parts instead of going the full monty.
Beware of what you wish.. for it may come true....
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T66
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| posted on 16/10/19 at 03:31 PM |
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East Coast fibreglass are suppliers of everything, offer courses and have their own youtube channel.
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minibull
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| posted on 18/10/19 at 02:06 AM |
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As others have said East Coast Fibreglass as well as on site guides they are helpful when you talk to them. The only bits of advice I'd give
when it comes to mould prep there are no real short cuts. If you leave marks and iregularities in the mould, you get to spend the time saved there in
removing them from the finished piece. As to the moulds themselves there is no need to go over board making them many layers deep for one offs. My
preference is to use lighter grades of CSM for more irregular shapes, you need a couple more layers to give a bit of rigidity, but it's easier
to squeeze around tight bends. If you aren't used to using grp have plenty of gloves otherwise you'll be sticking to everything and clean
rollers regularly in acetone. I also just buy multi packs of cheap paintbrushes for spreading the resin and cheap plastic kitchen measuring jugs and
spoons, as I can't be bothered trying to clean these.
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907
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| posted on 18/10/19 at 06:39 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by steve m
I watched the vids of the guy making the boat rudder, very interesting, but just making the mould for the rudder took 3 weeks
and 16-19 hours a day !!!
Wow and I thought that aluminium was time consuming 
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Mike Wood
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| posted on 18/10/19 at 05:59 PM |
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Useful practical books:
Competition Car Composites by Simon McBeath, published by Veolce (earlier versions published by Haynes):
https://www.veloce.co.uk/shop/products/productDetail.php?prod_id=V4905&prod_group=Performance%20Tuning%20&%20Modification&
The above book has very practical advice on mould making as well as thinking about where you do your grp fabrication (I.e so the smell and stickiness
does not enter the home!)
How to Restore Fibreglass Bodywork by Miles Wilkins, published by Osprey. Reprint available from Lotus Books in Germany:
http://www.lotus-books.com/additions.html
I find Allscot Ltd in Glasgow an excellent source of materials: https://www.allscotltd.co.uk
Cheers
Mike
[Edited on 18/10/19 by Mike Wood]
[Edited on 18/10/19 by Mike Wood]
[Edited on 18/10/19 by Mike Wood]
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J666AYP
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| posted on 19/10/19 at 06:46 PM |
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Thank you for all the input gents, been very helpful as always. Have had a look into the videos and the supply company's and have one of the
books on order.
From what I have seen the prep of the mold is 99% of the process, so now my task is to get the dummy body smooth as glass. I see alot of filler dust
in my future...
Jay
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Angel Acevedo
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| posted on 20/10/19 at 03:03 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by J666AYP
Thank you for all the input gents, been very helpful as always. Have had a look into the videos and the supply company's and have one of the
books on order.
From what I have seen the prep of the mold is 99% of the process, so now my task is to get the dummy body smooth as glass. I see alot of filler dust
in my future...
Jay
Extra points on laying a good quality mold (mould??) is that you get to lend it to fellow locostbuilders to make their fiberglass parts....
That is "Free of Charge"....
As the complete stranger did on one of the videos I recommended...
( A couple of drinks too much) Don´t judge me too harsh...
Beware of what you wish.. for it may come true....
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