Forming Fiberglass Sheet

The first step is to cut a pattern from blue insulation foam and wrap it with clear packing tape.

Forming fiberglass sheet.

This process involves utilizing a core material such as end grain balsa wood polyurethane foam vinyl foam or honeycomb between two laminate skins. Next cover the taped pattern with a mold release wax. It is found in cars and other vehicles as well as in some houses. The resin is applied in multiple layers to increase strength and to attain desired thickness.

If you apply pressure to fiberglass it will bend but its elastic nature means that once pressure is released the fiberglass will spring back to its original shape. In our 45 years we have built tooling to produce over 12 000 different parts some simple but many challenging shapes as well. In a kit you will have a pre measured can or bucket of resin. Add the hardener according to package instructions.

Pacific metal stampings takes pride in our ability to form the most complex shapes using tooling produced in our own tool and die shop. As a fourth of july treat a tip on how to bend fiberglass. Fiberglass molding frp grp is a process in which fiberglass reinforced resin is formed into useful shapes. Fiberglass is a lightweight yet very strong material that has many applications.

A word of caution i use an electric heat gun and an infrared thermometer to monitor the temperatu. Mcmaster carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595 000 products. First build a smooth flat surface as large as the biggest panel you want. Fiberglass mat will require about twice as much resin as woven fiberglass for proper saturation.

Extra strength can be built into parts by means of sandwich core construction. Now cover the pattern with woven fiberglass cloth and wet out the resin. Measure an appropriate amount of resin in a metal container. Cold forming plexiglas sheet can be cold formed bent at room temperature in a smooth arc and held to a radius by forcing the material into a curved channel support.

Free formed fiberglass gets most of the hull mold surface smooth without sanding but at a cost you must use developable shapes for the easily faired surfaces. Make sure to leave a section uncovered this is where the foam will be melted. Mixing and applying the fiberglass 1. A large can or metal bowl will work but it should be of.

Here is how it works.