|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
21 Jun 2006, 10:23 (Ref:1638327) | #1 | ||
Rookie
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 55
|
Fibreglass for my car
so..... I brought the complete materials in order to Fiberglass my car..... unfortunatly.... I hit a few delays in getting to the stage where I need to use these materials.
I understand that the shelf life for some of these materials is 6-12 months.... .... I have had them for 3 years..... and they have been in the loft of my garage... so have had some reasonably cold conditions.... Any ideas as to what would happen if I tried to us this? Or should I buy again? |
||
|
21 Jun 2006, 11:49 (Ref:1638357) | #2 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,686
|
Knock up a couple of small pieces as a test?
|
||
|
21 Jun 2006, 12:53 (Ref:1638386) | #3 | ||
Rookie
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 67
|
I've never had a problem with out of date materials not perfoming as they should, at least with polyester resins. Curing times with old epoxy resins seems to change the older it gets (seems to speed up) but the end product seems satisfactory.
Phil |
||
|
21 Jun 2006, 17:23 (Ref:1638528) | #4 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,074
|
Measure the amount of catalyst you put in very carefully and adjust it according to experience. I have access to disposable syringes and a 5 ml one is excellent, as 4% is the default amount, but I've varied it between 2 and 6%, according to the weather mainly (temperature). 4mls in 100mls resin, and I rarely mix more than that, even for a big job, as that's about the amount I can use before it starts to go off.
John |
||
|
22 Jun 2006, 21:48 (Ref:1639416) | #5 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 126
|
I use to build racing yachts and kit cars out of grp for a living its 20cc a kg
for resin and the same bit less for gel coat on a normal day reduce catalyst for hotter days. if resin has started to form crystals then do not use. agree with Denis do test pieces frist,on erith marsh is sprayglass international they do sell stuff to joe bloggs if in dout replace. wet or sticky grp is no fun as it wont set or cure if its gong off |
||
|
23 Jun 2006, 09:21 (Ref:1639616) | #6 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,448
|
Here's a tip, not sure where I learnt it from, but I always do it on a hot day. When you have mixed the resin and hardener in a pot, put that pot in another larger contaner with water in it for the period you are using it. That way you have effectively water cooled your resin mix while you are using it. It gives you that little longer.
|
|
|
26 Jun 2006, 15:20 (Ref:1641713) | #7 | |||
Race Official
Veteran
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 2,479
|
Quote:
|
|||
|
26 Jun 2006, 15:57 (Ref:1641734) | #8 | ||
Rookie
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 55
|
Many thanks for all this.... very useful..... I'll post the results in the next month or 2.....
Any more suggestions / tips... keep em coming! |
||
|
26 Jun 2006, 16:07 (Ref:1641741) | #9 | ||
Race Official
Veteran
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 2,479
|
OK.
Fibreglass tip of the day no 1 - Know Your Catalyst. Did you know there are speeds of catalyst? In the winter my supplier gives me "fast" catalyst. This is great if its very cold in your garage and you don't want to wait days for your resin to harden... but don't keep it around once the weather gets warm. Get it mixed up and accidentally use it in the summer and you'll find yourself with your brush stuck in a solid pot of just mixed resin ;-) |
||
|
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
fibreglass? | DanJR1 | Racing Technology | 5 | 24 Apr 2006 08:01 |
Fibreglass panels | Carlos | Racing Technology | 12 | 28 Mar 2005 19:33 |
painting fibreglass | Werewolf | Racing Technology | 3 | 4 Mar 2005 16:18 |