How much fibreglass needed for whole suit?

[Meathead316]

Hi

Firstly i just want to clarify that i have absolutely no experience with fibreglass, from what i gather u take you cardboard piece, use spray adhesive to stick small patched of fibreglass matt all over, then brush resin all over, allow to cure then its ready for finishing.

Few questions.

- how many layers of fibre glass matt?
- do you do 1 layer, let it cure, then add the rest. Or do you pile up the matt however many layers thick before adding resin?
- what thickness matt?
- how much matt and resin to do a whole suit of armour?
- is there a non toxic/indoor friendly resin?
- i live in the uk, anyone know the cheapest place to get fibreglass matetials?
- lastly, based on uk prices, how much will it cost in matt and resin to covet a whole suit?

Thanks!

 

[ManitobaMando]

What kind of armor, how much coverage over the body does the armor spread? full suit, half suit, bits and pieces?

When I do my fibreglass work (and you will find that people do their own differently) when coating a cardboard or a pep file, I brush a layer of resin and hardener first, then one layer of fibreglass. I smooth that out by sanding, then thin coats of bondo to even off.

Fibreglass resin and hardener is toxic. Wear a mask and be well ventilated. There is no resin/hardener mix that is non toxic nor indoor friendly.

Application is easy, just let the layer cure fully before adding. Too much at one time can have the potential to collapse your base if it is not strengthened with a layer of two of resin/hardener before hand and allows for a light sanding to even things off for bondo filling after.

Cost will depend entirely on how much armor needs to be covered, usually one to three packages of fibreglass matting will be more than enough. Resin/hardener in my neck of the woods (Canada) is around 15 to 18 bucks a liter, matting about 7 bucks for a package (8 feet square)

 

[Charliefox]

The best way to economise on resin if your doing multiple layers of glass is invest in a metal roller, simply brush a layer of resin lay in your glass and roll over with the roller (cyllinder with ridges along it like a super extended cog) you can brush more resin on top if you need but it really works the resin into the glass using minimal material, only really works for flatish shapes or large curves but id imagine it perfect for a breast plate. Also consider doing the cardboard out of a thin sheet plastic, you can manipilulate it in the same way but if your clever about your ins and outs you can use underside of your fibreglass as the eventual surface you see, because the fibreglass will release from the plastic it means little finnishing wih a butt tonne of filler and it stays lighter for the same reason. Saftey first though always wear a mask

 

[Meathead316]

Thanks for the replies!

This will be for a full suit (robocop and ironman)

I noticed there are different thicknesses of matt... Im guessing thicker will require less layers and thinner gets better detail?

Also could u please post an idiots guide step by step to covering a piece.

Is it anything like papermache? Ie get piece of matt hold in place, dab on resin, repeat

 

[no0se]

it isn't so much dabbing on resin as getting good coverage with the resin otherwise it won't soak all the way through and you'll encounter airpockets when you are sanding. Also i would aim for a thin or medium thickness because you don't want your finished product to weigh a ton and also relating to the first point you want to make sure your resin is soaking all the way through the matting

 

[Meathead316]

Aaah ok so thin matt it is. Is resin, resin? Or are there different tupes, some that are crap, some that are excellent for example.

Say i use the thin stuff, do i cut it into patches and overlap them (like paper mache) let it dry and then do the same with the next layer

How good a finish will i get from just fibreglass and sanding (no bondo)

And how many layers should i do?

Thanks

 

[Meathead316]

Hello...

Ive searched ebay for resin and found this:

5kg Polyester Resin + Catalyst (Mekp) FibreGlass | eBay

And this matting

Fibreglass Chopped Strand Mat (CSM) 225gsm - 10m x 1m | eBay

Will this be enough to do ironman? And is it the right stuff?

 

[Kevin Gossett]

Typically you lay the fiberglass inside, then use the filler on the outside to give a proper finish. Fiberglass alone won't give you the results you're looking for

 

[Meathead316]

Hhhmmm can i not do fibreglass on the outside, then sand it the best i can and then apply filler?

Are the matt and resin links i posted what im after?

 

[Mr Nobody]

Id say 2-3 of the $12 cans