Working with Fiberglass

[dwilson]

I'm a real do it yourself kind of guy.  When I got into racing and bought my FZR it needed work so I started playing with fiberglass to do repairs.  Then I wanted to customize some parts and have done well with glass.  I'm doing pretty good with it and have made a few nice pieces by hand without molds but I'm starting to realize my limitations....

I usually use cloth, I've used mat but the cloth seems to like me better.  I usually spray a light coat of 3M 77 spray adhesive on the cloth, lay it on and get out any air with an acid brush.  Then I lay on the resin brusing it back and forth to get the coat as consistent as possible.  When ever working with 9o degree angles, I use 2 pieces and join them in the joint.  The main problem I get is the glass lifting off around curves or when wrapping it around the edge of a body panel.  I try to push it down with the brush, or adding a little extra resin, but it still lifts back off.  I'm also not sure about how much resin is too much.  I just slop a bunch on and wipe the extra off with the brush, then wipe the excess resin off the brush onto a piece of cardboard or something.  

Would it be easier to hold the piece in place with the gel resin and would the gel be easier to manage?  If anybody has worked with gel resin, I'd appreciate your input.

Whenever I make a piece with flat parts, I make them seperately on a piece of cardboard lying flat on the floor.  After it dries I cut the piece into the shape I need and build the curved areas or add more flat areas.  Anyone know of any better ideas?

[tshort]

I'm afraid I can't help you with your question, as I'm a real beginner in all this.  But I learned a lot just reading your post.  

And as I've got a seriously messed up set of bodywork after my getoff on Saturday, I'd love to know your recommendations re what brand/source you use for your glass materials.  Where do you buy it?  What do you get?  I need to repair some holes, scrapes, and cracks/breaks.  Thanks for any advice.

[dwilson]

***Don's guide to fiberglass repair***
You'll need
Resin (1 quart) (from Pepboys)
Extra tube of hardener
Fiberglass cloth
Acid brushes, any will do but these are cheap.  Home Depot calls them tin handled brushes.
Paper cups (NOT STYRAFOME)
Coarse sand paper
2 sided file, coarse on one side, less coarse on the other (optional).
3M 77 Spray adhesive
Scisors
Rubber gloves
A place to breath (aka outside)

Take your busted up panel off the bike, clean it and sand down around the crack/abrasion.  Sand the inside of the crack if you can.  You need to do this to give the resin something to stick to, otherwise it may peel.  If you have pieces broken off, tape them in place on the outside of the panel, if you can do the body work on the inside for reasons of appearance, it helps.  Put your gloves on (if you like your skin) and cut the cloth a couple inches bigger than your crack/abrasion, spray it with a light coat of 77 and put it in place.  With an acid brush tap it down and get it as tight on the surface as possible, especially in cracks/holes.  The key is to make sure their is nop air bubbles between the cloth & body.  Mix up a little resin, an ounce or two is usually more than enough, mix in a few drops more hardener than you need, don't go crazy with the hardener as it can make the resin to hard and even crack in the future.  Dab the resin onto the cloth and brush it off the edges.  It's pretty easy, just takes some practice.  If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.  

[tshort]

Awesome, Don.  Thanks!!  I'll be glassing...

[tzracer]

Remember to wear gloves and a respirator when working with fiberglass resin.

I never had any problem with glass mat or cloth sticking around bends once it was wet, might want to try different techniques. I push with the tip of the brush if it seems to be lifting. For larger pieces of cloth I will prebend it before adding resin. The pros use small rollers to get rid of air bubbles and get it to lay flat.

[dwilson]

The fumes off resin are bad.  I use it outside and keep the cup & project a few feet from my face.

I've heard of the rollers.  A body guy was telling me recently about a pizza cutter looking thing with some kind of a pointy pattern (cerated?) on it.  Said it makes little holes and pushes everything around.  My next step is to go buy some gel resin & see what that does.  I also considered asking Airtech whatthey use.  Their glass stuff is beautiful, but they use molds.

[MZGirl]

I was searching the web and found this article on Do-It-Yourself Composites:

http://speedtoys.com/~eric/misc/composites.html

Sounds interesting.  I'd like to try making my own bellypan for the MZ.  If I could make a mold that could be used over and over again, that would be great.

Oh boy, another project!   ;)

[MightyDuc Racing]

Man...I just used my gloves and slapped the cloth and resin on at the same time and kept smearing it in with the gloves.  I guess after reading this thread I'll do it the proper way this time.  FWIW...it all held up really well at Moroso with only one spot cracking again where the bike landed.  Not too bad.  Thanks for all the good info! :)

[tshort]

Cool link (speedtoys).  Thanks.

[MZGirl]

Here's another good link that my husband just sent me:

http://www.fibreglast.com/

LOTS of videos and books listed on their site, as well as materials that can be purchased on-line.

[Arnziffel]

Don ,

you may want to try soaking the cloth first then applying around the corners or edges and maybe giving yourself a little extra material to lap over.

instead of using the cups I have used the same kidney shape plastic pan that I brought home from the hospital for a couple years, after in hardens just twist the pan and the old stuff comes right out.

If you need to make a pattern, like say an ear for the windscreen, cut it out of a manilla folder and tape it to the upper and you can glass over the top of it.

 the tool you are refering to is a dough docker and they come in many different styles and shapes.

hope this helps
Keith W

[dwilson]

Thanks for the tips Keith, the re-usable pan is a great idea.  I'll give it a try & the dough docker next crash  ;D

MZ Girl, I just made myself a pretty nice belly pan for my FZR last week.  If you're trying to make one I can send you pics of mine & post some instructions.