Fiberglass repair?

[boncrshr]

Anybody know of any good resources for learning how to repair fiberglass??

I am having to learn a whole new skill set with this boat thing! The funny thing is that on the maiden voyage, the only problems I had were with the trailer....and I hope it stays that way! Gonna replace wheel bearings this week.

[fulleraviation]

For the aircraft stuff I do, I use West Marine products. They also have how to flyers that they charge ?? .35 cents or something like that. Their epoxy resin is the best I have used. The automotive fiberglass resin is garbage!!

Just my 2 cents, and unfortunately I end up doing quite a bit of fiberglass work!

Rut

Just went to the tool box. It says free! West System User Manual 002-950. Pretty complete and can't beat the cost.

[boncrshr]

Excellent! I will run by there and check out their flyers....I know I can figure it out...just need a few visuals.

[ES-hustler]

Fiberglassing

In my opinion, West System brand is the best. Very easy to use and very very strong. They also have different powder fillers you can use to make foam-like or paste-like consistencies depending on what your application is. I've been working with it almost my whole life with my dad. We have even used it on the bottom of leaking aluminum boats with no problems just to show you how well it will bond to stuff.

If you buy the pumps with the containers it makes it very easy to use: a 1:1 ratio, 1 pump resin to 1 pump hardener.

There is plenty of stuff out there on the net about using it especially googling around wooden boat building.

[Amphiman1]

fiber glass repair

try tiger hair.....excellant stuff Amphiman1 approved.....

[LarryW]

try tiger hair.....excellant stuff Amphiman1 approved.....

Ive heard of kitty hair. Long stand.

I also have a fiberglass question, What about the harder top layer? Is that gel coat? How do you fix that if its chipped off?

[Amphiman1]

fiber glass /paint

kitty hair is for thin repairs., tiger hair is for heavy repairs, scramblers, trail blazers, whitman and robinsons. layer a touch up color match or, add spot puddy then final layer

[fulleraviation]

I always use the fiberglass cloth and not the mesh personally.

Rut

[kahn]

Repair

I use the cloth on my Planes. But its just minor repairs most of the time. Took me a little practice to get it down to where I was happy with it.

[curbdog17]

In my opinion, West System brand is the best. Very easy to use and very very strong. They also have different powder fillers you can use to make foam-like or paste-like consistencies depending on what your application is. I've been working with it almost my whole life with my dad. We have even used it on the bottom of leaking aluminum boats with no problems just to show you how well it will bond to stuff.

If you buy the pumps with the containers it makes it very easy to use: a 1:1 ratio, 1 pump resin to 1 pump hardener.

There is plenty of stuff out there on the net about using it especially googling around wooden boat building.

Does anyone know if this "paste-like" filler would work well to fill some small holes where I drilled out some rivets?

[mark m.]

Does anyone know if this "paste-like" filler would work well to fill some small holes where I drilled out some rivets?

Yes. That's what the fillers mixed with the epoxy are designed to do. Works great. Just go with the West system brand and you can't go wrong.

[curbdog17]

thanks Mark