fiberglass?
07-28-2003, 10:46 PM
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Hull Making
Best to go get a book from the library or do some serious surfing on the net.
Lets just say there is way too much to it, try and explain how its done in one little post.
Simple explaination,
You need a mold. If you have to make one, you need a plug.
When you think the plug is perfect, sand it some more.
Lots of cloth and resin to lay the mold up. Make it nice and thick so it won't flex. Once thats done coat the mold in PVA or if you are real cheap, floor wax. lay up the hull halves in the mold. Some good fiberglass tools and mixing pots help a lot. When cured, join them together, and you have a hull.
Peter
Visit www.climatemodels.com
Lets just say there is way too much to it, try and explain how its done in one little post.
Simple explaination,
You need a mold. If you have to make one, you need a plug.
When you think the plug is perfect, sand it some more.
Lots of cloth and resin to lay the mold up. Make it nice and thick so it won't flex. Once thats done coat the mold in PVA or if you are real cheap, floor wax. lay up the hull halves in the mold. Some good fiberglass tools and mixing pots help a lot. When cured, join them together, and you have a hull.
Peter
Visit www.climatemodels.com
07-30-2003, 07:58 PM
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fiberglass?
Greg,
Here is a thread that I started that nobody ever answered...
http://www.rcuniverse.com/showthread...149&forumid=43
The plug that you questioned about is the thing that you want to make a mold of.
Basically it means you have to build the boat before you can make a mold for it.
The cost and time for doing this is what makes the $300 price tag for fiberglass hulls almost seem worth it.....believe me!
I made a mold of an ABS boat that I already had and it took me quite a while to get it right.
This first time I used a plaster mold because I thought it would be easier....WRONG!
Anyway, there are a lot of resources on the net for making fiberglass parts using existing parts and making plugs and molds.
However, most have nothing to do with boats and you have to use the process to suit your needs.
The basic process is as such:
1. Make male plug.
2. Clean, seal and make sure plug is smooth.
3. Wax the plug 3-5 times waiting enough time between coats for the prior to dry.
4. Spray the waxed plug with PVA (poly-vinyl-acetate?,It's a release agent.
5. Apply fiberglass cloth onto the plug (first few layers should be a fairly tight weave, subsequent layers can be mat to get the smoothest finish on the mold)
6. Add any strengthening needed to keep the mold from flexing and let the mold dry.
Now here comes the mold prep which depends on how often you intend to use it.
1. Remove the plug from the mold, clean and sand it.
2. Primer and paint the mold (use a tooling gelcoat if you intend to reuse the mold otherwise use few, like 6, coats of paint) sanding inbetween coats
3. Again, wax the hell out of the mold and apply a few coats of PVA.
4. If you want to get a nice gelcoat finish, this is where you apply it, just spray the stuff right into the mold(again, a few coats).
5. Apply fiberglass over the gelcoat, like the mold use cloth that is smooth in the first few layers as it may show through the gelcoat.
6. Wait for it to dry and then remove your new boat.
My first hydro was a cat that I made from foam and fiberglass, no mold.
The materials that I used for the hull bottom turned out to be too heavy and that prototype made a quick trip to the dumpster after burining up my ESC and motor.
I do plan on making another cat using the fiberglass-over-foam method and if I'm happy with it I will make a mold..
Here is a thread that I started that nobody ever answered...
http://www.rcuniverse.com/showthread...149&forumid=43
The plug that you questioned about is the thing that you want to make a mold of.
Basically it means you have to build the boat before you can make a mold for it.
The cost and time for doing this is what makes the $300 price tag for fiberglass hulls almost seem worth it.....believe me!
I made a mold of an ABS boat that I already had and it took me quite a while to get it right.
This first time I used a plaster mold because I thought it would be easier....WRONG!
Anyway, there are a lot of resources on the net for making fiberglass parts using existing parts and making plugs and molds.
However, most have nothing to do with boats and you have to use the process to suit your needs.
The basic process is as such:
1. Make male plug.
2. Clean, seal and make sure plug is smooth.
3. Wax the plug 3-5 times waiting enough time between coats for the prior to dry.
4. Spray the waxed plug with PVA (poly-vinyl-acetate?,It's a release agent.
5. Apply fiberglass cloth onto the plug (first few layers should be a fairly tight weave, subsequent layers can be mat to get the smoothest finish on the mold)
6. Add any strengthening needed to keep the mold from flexing and let the mold dry.
Now here comes the mold prep which depends on how often you intend to use it.
1. Remove the plug from the mold, clean and sand it.
2. Primer and paint the mold (use a tooling gelcoat if you intend to reuse the mold otherwise use few, like 6, coats of paint) sanding inbetween coats
3. Again, wax the hell out of the mold and apply a few coats of PVA.
4. If you want to get a nice gelcoat finish, this is where you apply it, just spray the stuff right into the mold(again, a few coats).
5. Apply fiberglass over the gelcoat, like the mold use cloth that is smooth in the first few layers as it may show through the gelcoat.
6. Wait for it to dry and then remove your new boat.
My first hydro was a cat that I made from foam and fiberglass, no mold.
The materials that I used for the hull bottom turned out to be too heavy and that prototype made a quick trip to the dumpster after burining up my ESC and motor.
I do plan on making another cat using the fiberglass-over-foam method and if I'm happy with it I will make a mold..
07-30-2003, 09:04 PM
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fiberglass?
Also check out the 'Composites Fabrication And Repair' forum under airplanes.
I'd never seen it before today but it's loaded with info on making parts and such.
I'd never seen it before today but it's loaded with info on making parts and such.
07-30-2003, 09:15 PM
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fiberglass?
Ok, after looking around the aforementioined forum I came across this guys website....simply awesome information on fabricating composite parts!
His name is Mike James and I really have to hand it to him, it's one helluva place to get info on making parts.
http://www.nextcraft.com/fiberglassing.html
His name is Mike James and I really have to hand it to him, it's one helluva place to get info on making parts.
http://www.nextcraft.com/fiberglassing.html
07-31-2003, 03:24 PM
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fiberglass?
http://pub208.ezboard.com/fjimsrcboa...cID=2325.topic
This is a guy that has taken pictures of the process of building a plug & fiberglass mold for a mono.
This is a guy that has taken pictures of the process of building a plug & fiberglass mold for a mono.
09-18-2003, 11:19 AM
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RE: fiberglass?
09-22-2003, 09:37 AM
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RE: fiberglass?
Here is a very helpful site also.
http://www.fiberglast.com/showproduc...lines-120.html
Hope This Helps,
George
http://www.fiberglast.com/showproduc...lines-120.html
Hope This Helps,
George
