epoxy and fiberglass matt

71kidcasper · #1 09-11-2006, 08:35 PM

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.

RODMAN · #2 09-11-2006, 09:42 PM

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..

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

strick · #3 09-12-2006, 12:38 AM

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

strick

dcobbett · #4 09-12-2006, 09:22 AM

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)

71kidcasper · #5 09-12-2006, 06:14 PM

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.

strick · #6 09-13-2006, 12:25 AM

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

Here are a few pics of making fiberglass sheets from a molding table. Thats regular old matt being used with epoxy.

strick

71kidcasper · #7 09-13-2006, 06:27 PM

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.

Miles Offshore · #8 09-13-2006, 07:58 PM

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.

strick · #9 09-13-2006, 08:13 PM

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

71kidcasper · #10 09-21-2006, 06:20 PM

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.