impactiq

My Feedback: (57)

Hello all, I have a few questions about fiberglass cloth. I understand the weight (3/4 oz. ,4 oz., etc...) used to determine the how much the cloth weighs. BUT..... the part that is throwing me is what style of cloth to use for a fiberglass fuse. What thread count per inch should I use? What style of weave should I use? Crow's foot weave style...???...???(kind of lost here [][][])

Thanks, Mark

dreadnaut

My Feedback: (5)

CSTSales.com has a lot of good info on this. I find that the higher thread count fabrics build lighter because they require less resin to wet out.

Mike James

Just to add another opinion...

Do spend some time browing various composite suppliers' web sites, and you'll learn what everybody else does, which is a good way to start. Still, the shape of your parts and how you choose to build them will affect your decisions.

Personally, I use plain weave cloth... More 2 oz. and 6 oz. than anything else. but if you can afford to have a wide variety of weights around and make some test parts, that's the best option. Let's say you've selected a taget layup weight of "8". An "8" layup could be built with 4 layers of 2 oz. cloth, 2 layers of 4 oz. cloth, 1 layer of 2 oz. cloth and one layer of 6 oz. cloth, etc.. You will just have to look at your results and see what you prefer.

Varying the type of cloth, the direction of the cut. (in line with the weave or at a 45-degree angle... "on the bias") whether you use a gel coat or epoxy layer first, whether or not you paint in the mold, whether or not you use internal renforcements (more bits of cloth and/or wood parts) and whether you hand layup or vacuum bag will all change your results too.

It's really not so complex, once you've made a few parts. You'll start to develop a feel for it, and realize that you can mix and match a variety of materials to make roughly-equal parts.

impactiq

My Feedback: (57)

Thanks Guys for the info. Mike, I have learned alot from your posts and your web page (others here on RCU too. ). It is nice to have a resource for info like this.

What I have noticed is one can get 40x40 (thread count per inch) at $10.00 for a 3 yards (51 in. width) while in another place one can get 60x58 thread count at 38 in. wide for $5.30 a yard. I guess since I will be laying up a multi-layer part..... I should apply the "biggest bang for a buck" rule here.

Mike James

Thanks you!

Hey, check out Aircraft Spruce as an important resource. They distribute almost everything, and often at prices below the major composite suppliers. ( http://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/cm/index.html )

Have fun, and show us your results here, when you're ready.