Your first step in learning to do fiberglass
work should be to obtain the West System book for beginners. It is akin to a textbook for Epoxy Glasswork 101.
Most resins available are very similar,(Shell Petroleum makes almost all fiberglass resin available)however, Gougeon Brothers (West System) have a very thorough selection of products to make life easier for the beginner. WS is practically idiot proof. I am proof positive of this!
Be aware that WS offers fast and slow hardeners with very different pot lives, as well as numerous adhesive additives and fairing compounds for various applications.
Using the proper product for the job is critical, as using the wrong one will mean lots of extra and more difficult sanding, starting the job over from scratch, or a pot of smoking, useless goop.
Be very aware of the air temperature, as well as the temperature of the parts that you are working with. Hot days and large batches of resin don't mix!
As has been stated in an earlier post, fiberglass resin builds heat as it cures. Spread thinly, it will take far longer to cure. Globbed on thickly, it will "kick" before you want it to do so. While working with a mixture of resin and adhesive, spread it thinly on a piece of plywood or cardboard to extend the working time, as it can't build heat to accelerate the chemical reaction which cures it.
Mixing "hot" batches of resin may seem like a good idea, in order to get a job done more quickly, but this will give you a brittle repair that will crack over time. Follow the instructions carefully for resin/hardener ratios. Slower cure times make for much stronger layups/repairs.
Many types of cloth are available, chopped strand mat, woven roving, biaxial, triaxial, etc. Be sure to use the correct one, or print through can occur. You don't want your GT40 to have a hound's tooth finish!
A good mask/respirator is a must when sanding, no matter how small the job may be.
Surgical gloves, available at any pharmacy, will save your hands from acetone cleanups.
Margarine tubs or thick plastic cups make good mixing vessels.
Unfortunately, glasswork is an unforgiving science. One minor screwup will cost you dearly. Screwups equal experience, so try not to get too frustrated, as it will be a slow learning curve. It does get easier with time. (6)
There are a million little tricks to
use in different situations, some of which are covered in the WS book, but most are not.
These will become evident over time.
I could go on and on, ad infinitum. Get the West System book and study. If you still have questions, e-mail me. I have thirty years+ experience with fiberglass, and would be happy to help you if I can.
Try
www.westsystem.com.
Bill
[ November 08, 2002: Message edited by: Bill Bayard ]
[ November 10, 2002: Message edited by: Bill Bayard ]