Anyone ever work with fiberglass?

[n20capri]

Want to try my hand at working with fiberglass...anyone ever use it or build something with it? I want to make a battery tray and while I could certainly use aluminum I wanted to try fiberglass.

There are so many things out there it's confusing...The consensus seems to be alternated (criss crossed) layers of mat and cloth of course saturated with the resin (and a slow hardener). I was looking for a kit but wanted some better advice. Links are always good...I've read home depot sells the supplies but I did a quick search on their site and didn't find anything.

I'd make a tray shell out of some sort of thin wood then wrap with the fiberglass. I've been reading a lot about speaker boxes and they say they need like 7 layers but the boxes are strong enough to stand on. Thoughts?? Advice...

Thanks

[ProTouringASC]

Want to try my hand at working with fiberglass...anyone ever use it or build something with it? I want to make a battery tray and while I could certainly use aluminum I wanted to try fiberglass.

There are so many things out there it's confusing...The consensus seems to be alternated (criss crossed) layers of mat and cloth of course saturated with the resin (and a slow hardener). I was looking for a kit but wanted some better advice. Links are always good...I've read home depot sells the supplies but I did a quick search on their site and didn't find anything.

I'd make a tray shell out of some sort of thin wood then wrap with the fiberglass. I've been reading a lot about speaker boxes and they say they need like 7 layers but the boxes are strong enough to stand on. Thoughts?? Advice...

Thanks

Head over to www.westsystem.com and look through their info. Epoxy based resins are a bit easier for custom work as they are less effected by temperature while you are doing the layup, plus it is much more resistant to chemicals once cured.

In the near future I will be making door panels using a foam core with this system.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

[86capri62]

Fiberglass is not too hard to work with if you have all the proper tools and and chemicals. Fiberglass should resist to battery acid so I think it's a good idea. Make sure to have all your material cut to proper size and fit before you start with the resin. The use of a hard paint brush is in my opinion the best to apply the resin and to get all the air out. Get acetone to clean the brush after each use. Do not mix too much resin at the same time. I like to use a soft plastic container to mix the resin because when it is cured and hard you just twist the container and the resin crack and get loose and fall off and you can reuse the container again. Good luck!