Fiberglass Help

[tk9950]

I want to broaden my hobby skills. I am re-creating a Gamorrean Guard axe. If I use foamboard or styrene can I fiberglass over that? Then follow it with a glaze of resin and be able to sand it smooth? My other option was to by a large piece of abs, cut it, heat the middle, and then fold it over the handle. I just think the fiberglass version would give me a better shape. I have never worked with fiber glass so any help is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[exoray]

If I use foamboard or styrene can I fiberglass over that?

Sure, but save yourself some money and just use cardboard... The fiberglass resin will each the foam core of foam board unless you seal the ends...

Then follow it with a glaze of resin and be able to sand it smooth?

Skim coat the fiberglass with Bondo...

The more you work with fiberglass the better you will get, it does have a learning curve and the first try can be nothing but a big mess, I suggest you practice on some test items before you attempt your final design...

 

[tk9950]

Ok. Cool. I originally cut the design out of cardboard.

 

[Collektor]

You can seal off the edges of the foam core board with Liquitex Modelling Paste. Its thick enough to seal the foam, and since its basically marble dust in an acrylic emulsion, when it dries you can sand it. Its not going to work well for massive fill in work, but for sealing the edges its great.

 

[jaybible]

I dunno if this is an obvious tip or not but, get yourself some adhesive spray to stick the fibreglass down before applying resin.. it saves a LOT of messing about with positioning and air pockets.

 

[tk9950]

I dunno if this is an obvious tip or not but, get yourself some adhesive spray to stick the fibreglass down before applying resin.. it saves a LOT of messing about with positioning and air pockets.

Wow that is a cool idea. Thanks! I am going to pick up a fiberglass kit this week sometime and do a few tests.

 

[jaybible]

No problem, I realised it after I ruined my first Iron man helmet.. Throw up WIP pics too

 

[danbakeronline]

If you're using foamcore, be sure you seal your original very well with something like a few coats of clear acrylic spray and a heavy dose of carnuba wax. Fiberglass resin is a polyester resin, which is VERY aggressive, and it will melt your foamcore into sludge. Heck, if you leave it in a plastic cup after you've mixed it, it'll eat through the cup. And it will severely damage styrene as well. Fiberglass is cheap, but definitely has it's downsides. If you're set on using it, just make sure you've done all you can to protect your original sculpt, or you just might be making a second one.

 

[Lear60man]

Anyone used regular wall Spackle to seal foam before fiber glassing? Im just thinking cheap and easily accessible at any hardware store.

 

[Collektor]

Anyone used regular wall Spackle to seal foam before fiber glassing? Im just thinking cheap and easily accessible at any hardware store.

I have but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it. Wont take much for it to crumble off the foam, then you've got problems.

 

[exoray]

Anyone used regular wall Spackle to seal foam before fiber glassing? Im just thinking cheap and easily accessible at any hardware store.

Use white glue (water down if needed) if you want cheap and easy, or even acrylic paint/primer...

If you're using foamcore, be sure you seal your original very well with something like a few coats of clear acrylic spray and a heavy dose of carnuba wax.

I believe he said he is using the cardboard/foam core as a base structure to fiberglass over not as a mold, and it that regard as a base structure clear acrylic and wax are counter productive as they will promote delamination between the base structure and fiberglass vs the fiberglass resin soaking into the card board and becoming one...

 

[lunacyfx]

how about using hydrocal or plaster of paris thinned down so you can brush it on i figure 3 or 4 layers should protect it and after that some wax and your good to go

 

[exoray]

how about using hydrocal or plaster of paris thinned down so you can brush it on i figure 3 or 4 layers should protect it and after that some wax and your good to go

Again he isn't looking to make a mold, he is looking for a base structure to build off of...

 

[jango5204]

Which axe are you making? I just recently finished mine. Handle is 1 1/2" poplar, about $5. The blade is styrene. The round mounted area is 1.5" black ABS pipe inside a 2" black abs pipe. I did run it on a table saw to give the edge of the styrene something to grab to. Cover the gap with styrene. Made a little raised edge like it's suppose to have, and did some minor filler work to the seam.

 

[tk9950]

Which axe are you making? I just recently finished mine. Handle is 1 1/2" poplar, about $5. The blade is styrene. The round mounted area is 1.5" black ABS pipe inside a 2" black abs pipe. I did run it on a table saw to give the edge of the styrene something to grab to. Cover the gap with styrene. Made a little raised edge like it's suppose to have, and did some minor filler work to the seam.

The very same you made! Love it! I was going to use a Cardboard cut out of the blade and then fiberglass it to give it structure, but I may go your rout. Looks very nice!