epoxy and fiberglass matt
 

I have been fiberglassing for several years with polyester resin and building things with epoxy. Now that I am using the two together I am finding out that epoxy does not break down the chemical that hold matt together. I am having trouble going around corners with it. Are there some tricks to this or is there a different matt I should be using. In the past when I was using polyester I seemed to be able to shape it any way I wanted to.

Re: epoxy and fiberglass matt
 

When ever I used epoxy it was with a vacuum to pull the epoxy in.I am not sure but you may have to cut your own matt because the epoxy will not wet the matt ,I believe the matt is bonded with starch. Aha.. :D What I have done is use what I call horse blanket and cut it up to make your own matt to do your corners.Good Luck

Re: epoxy and fiberglass matt
 

Cut smaller pieces for the corners and dip them into the resin and squeeze out the excess then place into the corners.

strick

Re: epoxy and fiberglass matt
 

71kidcaspar,

I've heard about this matt for epoxy, but I've never used it and I have not talked to anyone at the web site about it.
http://www.shopmaninc.com/mat.html
(see matt for epoxy)

Re: epoxy and fiberglass matt
 

Strick, Does this technique work equally well on both inside and outside corners? I'm not having as much trouble with the inside corners its more with the outside corners.

Re: epoxy and fiberglass matt
 

It should. Sometimes it's better to wait a bit and let the piece get nice and sticky before you put it on. I've never tried the stitched matt other then whats in the 1808 and I like 1808 a lot. Epoxy will wet out regular matt you just have to work it in real good. Vacuume bagging would be the way to go. Thats above my level of intelligence :D
Here are a few pics of making fiberglass sheets from a molding table. Thats regular old matt being used with epoxy.
http://www.casdvm.com/photos/In%20Th...g/DSCN2731.jpg http://www.casdvm.com/photos/In%20Th...g/DSCN2733.jpg http://www.casdvm.com/photos/In%20Th...g/DSCN2734.jpg http://www.casdvm.com/photos/In%20Th...g/DSCN2736.jpg
http://www.casdvm.com/photos/In%20Th...g/DSCN2741.jpg

strick

Re: epoxy and fiberglass matt
 

Strick Do you think you could describe the steps that you use when laying up sheets on your table. Also, how I can build a layup table. Just seeing those pictures has given me some wonderful ideas. I would really like to try it myself. Also, I would like to email you some pictures of my project so you can help me post them and I will start a thread on it.

Re: epoxy and fiberglass matt
 

Hey Strick- I really think you should move to the east coast- fishings much better than the left coast. preferably in the mid-atlantic region- maybe va beach- i know a few good realtors,lolol. Man you do pretty work.

http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/...es/respect.gif

Re: epoxy and fiberglass matt
 

Jason used to have a description on this site which is were I learned about molding tables. I cant find it now. I used a piece of malanine sp? board from lowes or Home depot. wax it real good 4-5 times buffing as you go. You can gel coat or use durateck and then start laying up on top of that. There are many variations but thats the basics. I'm out of here...going hunting for 4 days.

strick

Re: epoxy and fiberglass matt
 

Strick, when using gel coat or durateck on your molding table do you allow them to dry before laying up the glass. Also, in some of your pictures I noticed that you were making molds with something that didn't seem to be melamine. I'm refering to the transition piece between your livewell and the seat that you constructed, which turned out beautiful by the way. Also I sent Jason a PM and he informed me that the pages that you refered to were lost when the website was revamped in january.

Re: epoxy and fiberglass matt
 

Melimene [sp?] is usually a thin sheet material, kind's like Formica which can be used too.

When building a layup table it need's to be made with material's that will not warp.

Typical for our use would be a panel that can be setup and taken down just laid on a few sawhorse's.

A sheet of decent 3/4in plywood and a sheet of 3/4in MDF [Mediun Density Fiberboard] glued together Then a sheet of Formica glued on each side with the exposed edges of the wood sealed should work well.

The Formica on the bottom side help's to keep it balanced and sealed from moisture.

Storage is important too and can be a pain with limited storage room.

I use the regular mold release wax to wax it. It's available from the fiberglass supply house's.

Strick use's a bunch of 3/4in MDF to build mold's, like the one for his leaning post and motor bracket.

He knock's 'em out quick. He's a mold building son of gun. :)
He's taken Bigshrimpin under his wing now, teaching him the ropes. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...5/DSCN5236.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...5/DSCN5238.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...5/DSCN5244.jpg

Re: epoxy and fiberglass matt
 

Ah....the infamous "Burro Brand" sawhorses show their faces once again. That means the California boys are busy mixing resin....and it aint for surfboards.

Re: epoxy and fiberglass matt
 

Looks like the cats out of the bag. Thats Bigshrimpin's project so I'll let him do the posting on that one. I've been holding his pic's hostage.

71kidcasper- To answer your question I let the duratec set up till it is still a little tacky then start the lay up. Never worked with gel coat. MDF makes good one off mold material.

strick

Re: epoxy and fiberglass matt
 

Strick, If I wanted to use MDF for one off molds does it need to be sealed or coated with something so that there isn't any problem with release.

Re: epoxy and fiberglass matt
 

Is that a bracket that your building ???????

Re: epoxy and fiberglass matt
 

Yep. :D I told he's a mold building madman.http://bestsmileys.com/thumbs/7.gif

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/SeaCraf...ine%20Bracket/

Here's the 1st one Strick built.

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/SeaCraf...s/DSCN3964.jpg

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/SeaCraf...s/DSCN3965.jpg

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/SeaCraf...s/DSCN3966.jpg

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/SeaCraf...s/DSCN3973.jpg

Re: epoxy and fiberglass matt
 

RB - that's the MDF mold it's held together with epoxy and 1708 4" tape. The inside is all that matters. Seams are bondo and clay then the inside is coated with epoxy. The epoxy sinks into the MDF and dries hard. It needs to be sanded and coated again, waxed with part all or another mold release wax. Then you can layup the part.

This is treading on new ground for me . . . Chucks pretty much doin all the work and making me feel like I'm doing something to contribute (instead of just drinking beer).

The angles and the measurements were tricky. We drew the footprint on the back of chuck's 20sf to get the shape right. It's really going to look good when it's done.

I'm still at work now and I'll be here again sat/sun (my second 60+ hour work week in a row), so no worky on the bracket for me this weekend.

Re: epoxy and fiberglass matt
 

1 word WOW

Re: epoxy and fiberglass matt
 

HeHe Strick will not say much, but I can brag on him. :D