I want to learn fiberglass.

[wolfix]

Since I have discovered this site I have gone from what I thought I wanted to what I want to build. Everytime I come across fiberglass unit I am so impressed. When I came across Gaston's purple TD I simply fell in love..
Then today I came across this TT on another site...... I stole a pic from the site so here is where you can see more......
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/index.html



This is what I want...... Smaller and some changes, but the basic concept. I want it out of fiberglass.

I am not stupid, but I have a hard time learning anything from just reading about it. I need to see it live..... Then I grasp the idea.

Is there anywhere in the country where they teach fiberglassing? I gave some thought to asking someone to teach me and I would pay them, but i haven't gotten around to that.

Just an idea....

[Dale M.]

Fiberglass can be self taught... I do lots or repairs on fiberglass dune buggy bodies and in past have laid up boat hulls....

First off all most of the really neat things that you see made of fiberglass are made up in molds..... Somebody designed the prototype (plug) and made a negative layup of plug (mold), then plug is removed. Then mold is prepped with wax and release agents and the final finish surface (gel coat) is applied first, its actually a reverse process of outside in layup.... Some layups are down manually with cloth and resin and human labor, some layups are shot in with chopper guns that mix resin/catalyst and shredded fiberglass in a nozzle and is them sprayed on plug or mold (usually reserved for "production" work....

You can do a one off project by making a form and laying glass over it from the conventional base to finish surface if you want. BUT the one off process over a form is a LOT of careful layup and FINISH work (translates into hours of sanding with POWER tools and nasty resin/glass dust (wear respirator)....

Lots of information on web sites about how to do it....You can self teach...

Remember everything you use in working in "glass" is disposable, paper buckets, paint brushes, clothes, .... IT gets everywhere!!!!... Put trap or drop cloth on floor etc.....


Dale

[madjack]

...1) goto westsystems or RAKA websites, and get their manuals on working FG 2) goto "gaston"s albums and read/look at how he did that fantastic purple creation of his 3) buy a respirator and a lot of sand paper 4)if you want an all FG unit...no wood/screws/etc, look carefully at what "hoot" and "glassice" are doing....good luck
madjack

[glassice]

go get some one else kid favor toy truck to make a mold from get cheep repair kit ask some one that has put on fiberglass finger nails on to help i will try to pass ways to be cheep about it .Hoot .And a worker of mine wants to make 1000 of small one BOB and H0OT are different co in diff parts of the world but for just 1 are 2 there easer way to do it

[glassice]

Hoot is hoot and bob is bob bob wants to build a Small trailer about the sides of the one hoot is doing so will be clearing the worm wood off( 10 foot x 20 foot 3-d router good time to cut plug for the old bat mobile) it will cut the plug out in 2 are 3 hr. mold in 2 days marking 13 to 15 days after start . Bob work for me and hoot work for hoot (poor guy)