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I'm envious that you get to play with FRP, while I'm stuck with a pick axe under a house digging for mud. Is breathing resin fumes as much fun as breathing PVC pipe cleaner in a enclosed space? I got to quit plumbing. Looks really sleek Frank. I wish I was there helping ya. Is the FRP putty any thing like bondo? Is it resistant against absorbing moister so you can prevent your paint or gel coat from blistering. The deeper you dive your sub, the more the water is going to try to soak in. Keep up the good work, and don't stop taking pictures for us. Regards, Brent Hartwig From: ShellyDalg@aol.com Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:57:23 -0400 Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Frank's Fiberglassing To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org Hi Guys. Here's a few pics of the fiberglassing on my rear fairing. As you know, it's been a long process.
After building up the foam mold to the approximate shape, I used sheetrock mud to smooth it out. Next came a coat of gloss house paint. Then I applied a coat of 'mold release" paint. The first layer of heavy cloth weave is for strength. It made the fairing about 1/8 inch thick. ( I've included a shot of the different cloths I used. )
I then added 4 layers of " random pattern glass mat" adding about 1/16 inch each layer. ( the picture of the fairing that's kind of orange is the one with the 4 layers of glass.)
This will be followed by a skim coat of FRP putty to smooth out the rough spots, then a final layer of tight weave glass cloth. The final coat of resin will have color and ultra-violet protector added.
Once the fiberglassing is done, I'll gouge out the foam, and be left with a big FRP piece. The edges will be finished, some stiffeners added on the under side, and the hinges glassed in.
I'll get more pictures at that point. The cost so far for this fairing is some where around $800 and of course many months of work. Anyway, if you have any questions, let me know. Although I'm no expert, I did learn a few things along the way. Frank D.
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