fiberglass help

[D Koe]

i'm new to this fiberglassing thing, and i recently used my trunk as a mold to make a fiberglass sub box. after it dried for a day or so, i took it out but when i tried to peel off the painter's tape from the bottom, alot of it still stuck onto the bottom... i was wondering what i should do to just make my box look nice. like the bottom of the box is still sticky although it's quite dry. should i bondo it or just leave it taped? :???:
i read up from http://www.ajquick.com/cars/tutorials/fiberglass.php and they used fiberglass for the base instead of MDF.... umm was it alright to do that? lol

[5thgcelica]

if its still sticky/tacky its not dried all the way. try leaving it out in the sun.
this time of year, glass gets hard to work with... the cold messes with the resin and it seems to take FOREVER to dry.

also, you need to lay SEVERAL layers of glass all over to give it strength. those few layers that makes up your mold wont be enough, chances are if your subs are turned up a decent a mount, you'll blow a hole in the box.

it'd be nice to see some pictures, to help keep you going in the right direction.
and i wouldnt worry about the tae. let the piece dry some more, and get off what you can.

[D Koe]

http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/SP_A0226.jpg
(bottom right corner is the sub i'm using)
http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/SP_A0229.jpg

http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/SP_A0230.jpg

http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/SP_A0231.jpg

http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/SP_A0232.jpg

here's some pics of what i'm working on. the last picture is the trunk space i have... lol, any suggestions? and so i should wait for all of it to cure so i can take the tape off easier?

[BanginJimmy]

it would have been alot easier to make all those flat peices out of wood then used the glass for any curved parts.

[D Koe]

haha no kidding man... i'm still new at it so i had no clue what to do.. :yes:

[5thgcelica]

if it were me, i wouldnt even worry about the tape right now.

start layin more glass on the inside (some chop mat) get it to be a bit stronger and sturdier. a decent box has usually 7-9 layers of glass to insure that you wont blow a hole in it.

just make sure you are mixing your chemicals properly and stirring them completely.
let the glass flash over some and start to get tacky, then go ahead and put it in the sun. it'll help it dry faster, but dont put it in the sun right away, can cause it to flash too hot and you start to get bubbles and shit in the fiberglass.

[D Koe]

sooo... i'm still stuck on this thing... lol. i'm not sure if my supports can hold the sub's pounding... anyways, take a look :D i'm about to start fleecing and fiberglassing the rest of it tomorrow... i'm just going to see how it turns out. if the box busts, i'll just get a shop to do it - haha

http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/SP_A0281.jpg

http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/SP_A0282.jpg

http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/SP_A0283.jpg

http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/SP_A0284.jpg

http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/SP_A0285.jpg

http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/SP_A0286.jpg

http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/SP_A0287.jpg

[gobraves00]

instead of wasting time doing that, why not start over and try another approach.i mean are u going for fiberglass cause how it looks, or durability, maximize space in trunk.ive played with fiberglass for awhile and have learned how expensive that shit is just to play around.

[BanginJimmy]

LDF isnt my choice material but for this it will work fine. You have plenty of support in there for the sub. The hard part now it to get the fleece over that without wrinkles. Its looking good so far, keep us updated.

[5thgcelica]

did you layer anymore glass on the inside to give it strength? cause it looks a little thin still.


but..i like your design, simple..should work.. just make sure you add enough glass to make it durable.

[D Koe]

i added a few more layers of fiberglass cloth so i don't know if it looks very thick. i tried using the mat stuff but it turned out messy and the threads wouldn't lay down. but i'm just going to try this out and if the box blows, i'll restart using an MDF base and build up from that :D lol. it's like sex, you're not gonna be the best at it the first time. haha :idb:

[5thgcelica]

best way ive found to lay chop mat is to rip your pieces up, and brush some resin on what you want to glass, then lay your piece of mat on it, and then brush more resin on it... it'll be a little rougher, but much stronger.

[D Koe]

thanks for the tip. i guess i'll ahve to go out and buy some chop mat tomorrow before i put on the fleece.. lol. i have 3 days to finish this! bondo and paint =)

[5thgcelica]

3 days eh? lol.... okaaayy good luck.

[BanginJimmy]

dont rush it or you will regret it. Take your time, do it right and you'll be much happier with it.

[rickgiblin]

sorry, its gonna take more than 3 days... i watched devin (5thgencelica) build his trunk over about 2 months or maybe even more... and good luck tough. just make shure that your not using not enough materials and make it strong. if you think something isnt

[Bishop]

sorry, its gonna take more than 3 days... i watched devin (5thgencelica) build his trunk over about 2 months or maybe even more... and good luck tough. just make shure that your not using not enough materials and make it strong. if you think something isnt
yeah since he built it all by his self jackass lol

[5thgcelica]

haha... craig and devin customs FTW! lolz



yeah man. dont rush it. you'll kick yourself in the ass if you break something cause you were rushing. take your time, it'll be worth it in the end..i mean..shit..look at this..and it was worth the 6 weeks of pain in the ass work.

http://www.importatlanta.com/events/2006/dfury2/imgs/DSC_0086.JPG

[rickgiblin]

yeah since he built it all by his self jackass lol

lol, what are you talking about... you were just the little mexican that he picked up on the side of the road for help...



























































just playin... with alot of help from craig also. craigs paint ftmfw

[Bishop]

just playin... with alot of help from craig also. craigs paint ftmfw
lol thank you

[D Koe]

damn.. that's nice. well i'm not really rushing to do a bad job, i'm just working as fast as i can, piling as much fiberglass at a time =) i did use some mat today and added more layers to the inside. but right after that i started on the fleece and didnt really let it dry. but this is what it looks like now:

http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/SP_A0289.jpg

http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/SP_A0290.jpg

http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/SP_A0291.jpg

http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/SP_A0292.jpg

http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/SP_A0293.jpg

http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/SP_A0294.jpg

yes.. i know... it looks like a really loose vagina, but i'm not sure what to do all that excess fiberglass on the sides and the fleece... should i just cut it off? aaahhhh :doh: lol - there's already about 5 layers of fiberglass cloth.. need more?

[rickgiblin]

hey, your located in duluth... would you like me to come over and help you with the basics... cuse to me, it looks like the top is just sitting there, what you should of done was stapled your fliece to the sides so that it was just one whole piece... im not exactily shure how your doing that, but with the excess glass that you didnt use on that mat, just cut it off and reuse it somewhere isnt as strong. its a great concept though... simple, i like it. let me know if you need any help, o and if you need it painted, i can paint it for you in duluth at my bros shop.

[D Koe]

i actually used wood glue and glued the fleece onto the sides so hopefully that's stuck enough.
here's what it looks like now.. lol
http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/SP_A0295.jpg

http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/SP_A0296.jpg

http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/SP_A0297.jpg

http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/SP_A0298.jpg
the grill is on there just to show if it fits.
i guess next is to bondo and sand? i knocked on it and pushed my weight on the box, and since it didn't dent, i'm guessing its strong enough?

[5thgcelica]

you're going to want to take some glass and wrap it all around from the fleece onto the sides of that tub you built..

and you're probably gonna want a good 7-9 layers of glass all over. but you're gettin there...you're doin decent for your first time...hell..practice makes perfect right? keep it up.

[GermanMuscle]

yea thats awsome....keep practicing so you can do my box when its that time:D

[D Koe]

sooo.. i guess it didn't really work out too well to rush... but i'm still not done! :D i'm gonna start working on it in 2 weeks, but i'll be busy till then. but for now, i already installed it in the S2000.

http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/SP_A0300.jpg

http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/SP_A0301.jpg
(pictures were pre-installation, no wires yet but it looks clean now)

just gotta use that bondo thing and sand, then paint... white then a red grill? match the paint. oh, and i added more layers for mat, around the sides too... it's sounds pretty good i think, but if i crank up the gain on the amp to full, there's like this hallow echo sound..? umm is that normal?

i'll put up some more pictures once everything is done i suppose... thanks for all the advices from ppl. :D next project... installing an alarm system!

[rickgiblin]

hey, i need a project for school if you want me to work on it for you, id only charge you a little bit to finish it up and id paint it and everything... but just keep working on it, you only got a little ways more to go but good luck, o and for that sound, try putting some filler stuff in the box to make the air space shrink a little bit, i think that you have too much air for that sub and thats where that sound is coming from.

[5thgcelica]

yeah when you're done with the install.. put some like.. foam padding....stuffing..white shit in there lol ... batting.yeah that stuff.

[rickgiblin]

yea^^^^^^^ what he said also

[D Koe]

hmm thanks for the offer rick, but i'm gonna finish up this thing myself cuz its pretty much a learning experience and i gotta learn how to do it. if you want, i'll let u do the trunk for my 4Runner =) i'm thinking about redoing that bad boy when i have time. cuz i've got a store bought box in there w/ a 12".

[rickgiblin]

thats no problem... i can build you custom boxes... actually if you ever need wood or anything for boxes or such, just let me know, my bro'n'laws cabinet shop is in duluth off davenport, but id be more than happy to help you out. just let me know

[D Koe]

oh dang really? umm i live about 3 miles away from davenport.. what's the place called? how much for you to build one? lol, i'm thinknig about making one for the 4Runner during my winter break but if i get lazy, i'd rather have someone make it =)

[D Koe]

lol so i started this project about 2 months ago... and i'm finally getting back to work on it! haha i just finished body filling this bad boy, sanding it, and about two cans of primer... :D i think i've already spent a day and a half just trying to smooth it out...
http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/box1.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/box2.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/box3.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/box4.jpg
and also painted the grill for the sub.... it's my first project and all, it might not look very professional, but i think it'll work... white box, red grill :D i think it'll look pretty decent :goodjob: should be done by the weekend! hopefully..
http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/S2K.jpg

[BanginJimmy]

it may just be the pic, but the 3rd pic makes ut look like alot of waves by the ring.

[D Koe]

hahaha ummm.. well maybe not alot... just a few, lol maybe 2 slight noticable ones? but i have no clue how to get them out and so i pretty much gave up. i already used that pinhole putty stuff millions of times and that's the best it'll get. plus i just don't want to use the body filler stuff again cuz that junk takes forver to get right :D

[D Koe]

i looked it over and i'm like, i've put alot of work into this, so i guess i should make it look good... after banginjimmy's comment, i resanded everything trying to get it smooooother... well... another step closer!! 2nd coat of white!
http://usera.imagecave.com/Dany_Koe/box5.jpg

[D Koe]

OH MY MOTHER F*%#ING GOD!!!!!!! FUCK FUCK FUKC FUKC... lol i was putting on my FINAL coat of the clear coat when i started to see the paint like bunch up? shit.. i don't know what the hell happened, then now the paint is pretty much fucked up... lol i tried to take the previous paint off, use body filler then repaint, but it's not looking the same. there are small cracks and shit... FUCKKK!!! well now i'm just too lazy to redo all the paint.. lol fuck it, it's in my trunk anyways, i'll just leave it white w/ small cracks shit... haha

[5thgcelica]

sounds like you just had too much clear coat on there before it had time to flash and you made a run/sag in the paint.

and if there are cracks and such, count on it cracking more when you turn the sub on.

anyway, it looks good for a first time, you gotta start somewhere, and i must say you did good. keep practicing, you'll get better.