Posted by EastCoastStar
heyy, ive done fiberglass work before, but not to the extent that i want to do now. i want to make something out of fiberflass.
when i was looking up on the internet on how to get it started, everyone said get two part polyurethane foam. now, two part polyurethane foam comes in 2 bottles, and when mixed, it makes foam. however, i want to make this without a mold, and the say again, if you dont want to use a mold, and want to make something purely by hand, make the basic shape our of two part polyurethane foam.
how would i make a shape with the foam if its 2 liquids? i wont be able to shape it becuase it will lose its shape right away. then when it totally turns to foam, i wont be able to shape it. so how do i do it?
i was thinking maybe getting a bucket, mixing the foam, then just start cutting away at it with a file and knife to shape it.
any ideas? anyone done anything like this before?
any feedback is welcome.
Posted by Cycovision
No! When you mix those two chemicals together they expand very rapidly into a solid, mechanically strong but soft (easily dentable) honey-comb material. When I say rapidly, I mean it'll mushroom out of that bucket of yours in front of your eyes!
You would then have to carve the shape you require using hacksaws, stanley knives and files and then apply a finish of some kind, usually several layers of fiber glass fabric matted with synthetic resin, either sprayed or painted on with a paint brush. Not dissimilar to paper mache, really.
I'm not an expert on the subject but I have worked in a factory that made canoes and paddles and so have played with polyurethane a little. It's fun stuff!
Posted by EastCoastStar
awesome, thanks cyco! thats what i was figuring. how lond should i let it sit before i start hacking away at it haha just a few mins? or overnight?
Posted by Cycovision
I think it needs to set for around 12 hours if you want to do it properly
Posted by EastCoastStar
awesome, will give it a go! thanks for the advice
Posted by procterdc
Anythin u don't know cyco? Your like a walkin encyclopedia lol. I shall call u cycopedia
Posted by Cycovision
I know! I was thinking that when I posted it
It's just coincidence, basically my working life has gone:
School - University - Canoe factory - Engineering factory + day release college - computers - web development - PC Repairs - web development again.
I'm still not settled so don't be surprised if I try to be an expert on ballet dancing or such like before long...
[ This Message was edited by: Cycovision on 2007-12-06 20:25 ]
Posted by EastCoastStar
Hey cycopedia, someone told me that I should just use a regular block of styrofoam, not 2 part.
But then I don't think the turn out would be so smooth. I think with the 2 part it would be a lot smoother, because the bumps in regular styrofoam.
Posted by Cycovision
Sorry but I don't know the details, I only worked there for a little while
But yes, the two part stuff we used was much denser and more solid than Styrofoam.