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Ed,
Having
built A Cozy, I learned a couple thing about fiberglass. First of all for
complex curves, you need to use BID cloth, It will flex and contour to
most shapes. Also, I would definitely use the BID from a roll (like
fabric), and definitely not BID tape, which has a bound edge. Also cut the
selvedge edge off of the BID cloth. If you have any areas that have excess
BID, just cut a dart in it, to remove the excess cloth. Try to get the
excess on the next layer in a different spot if possible.
Keep
you epoxy warm. Heat it with a lamp, if you're doing it in the
morning. I used MGS, and loved it. It is thin, wets out good, and
has a very high TG ratio.
If you
have another epoxy already, just warm it up to get it thin, and brush it on
sparingly. You want it to wet out, but definitely not running off.
Brush it on, and then hit any white spots with a little
more.
If
you're doing 3 layers, wet in your first two, but when you put on the 3rd, don't
add any more epoxy. Stipple it with the brush. Using a hair dryer
will help pull the epoxy up the the new layer. If you have any white spots
left that just won't wet out. Use just a dab of epoxy.
My
.02
Steve
Brooks
Ok, you fiberglass types. I need some
guidance. I can (and have) slapped resin on glass cloth and obtained
a functional (if heavy) item. However, I am about to start work on my
new radiator ducts and I would like to do better. My ducts will be
approx. 4"x4" at the inlet and approx. 9"x10" at the core. There might
be as much as 1 psi pressure on the walls (if I should ever be so lucky to go
that fast).
There a some semi compound curves at the corners
of the duct as it slopes inward from the top and bottom from the core to the
inlet.
I need your recommendation about the weight and
weave of the cloth. I have previously used the cloth tape as it was easy
to manage, but it required several layers and it is a bit heavy. Like I
said functional but not pretty nor light.
I would like your guidance on how best to apply
the sheet to the mold. In the past, I basically wrap the foam mold in
duct tape and the lay resin on it followed by raps of the cloth tape and more
resine. I am told that using sheet rather than the tape and first laying
it out on aluminum foil to wet it and then cut it in sizes say to fit a side
of the 4 side foam mold with a bit for overlap with the adjacent sides was one
way to go.
Any suggestions would be
appreciated.
Ed
Ed Anderson
RV-6A N494BW Rotary
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