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25
Apr
Do you have a project in mind but have no idea where to start? Let us help you. One of the first things you will want to do is decide what kind of fiberglass you want to use. Do you need to build up thickness fast? Are you concerned about strength? Do you have tight corners you are working with? Let us break things down a bit to help you decide if fiberglass cloth is right for your project or if you are needing chopped strand mat. Keep in mind that you can actually use both together to achieve your desired outcome. Below is an overview.
Fiberglass Cloth
(Plain weave fiberglass cloth)
Fiberglass Cloth is a woven fabric. Plain, 4 harness satin and 8 harness satin are the weave styles we carry. The 4, 6 and 10 ounce plain weave fabrics are the most commonly used. In this simple plain weave pattern, warp and fill yarns are interlaced over and under each other in alternating fashion. The plain weave is the easiest to handle since it does not unravel as much as the other weaves when cut.
In the four-harness satin weave pattern there is a three by one interfacing where a filling yarn floats over three warp yarns and under one.
The eight harness satin is similar to the four harness satin except that one filling yarn floats over seven warp yarns and under one. The satin weaves are slightly stronger and more pliable than the plain weave and are easier to conform to curved surfaces. They are more difficult to handle than the plain weave, though. Use fiberglass cloth when you are looking to create a strong, light weight product.
Chopped Strand Mat
Chopped Strand Mat (also known as fiberglass mat) has short strands of fibers held together with a resin binder. The fibers are randomly oriented. Mat is only compatible with polyester and vinyl ester resin. When resin is added to the mat, the binder dissolves and the fibers can be moved around. It is easier to conform mat to tight curves and corners than it is with weaved fabric. The reason chopped strand mat is not compatible with epoxy resin is because the binder holding the fibers together needs styrene to properly dissolve. Polyester and vinyl ester resins have styrene in them. (There are some places that sell chopped strand mat that is compatible with epoxy but it is hard to come by and much more expensive). Chopped strand mat is the least expensive fiberglass and is often used in mold construction or projects where thickness is needed. Mat is often used as the first layer (before the gelcoat) in a laminate to prevent print through. Print through is when the fabric weave texture shows through the resin. Chopped Strand mat does not have much strength. If you need strength you should choose a woven cloth or you could mix the two. Mat can be used between layers of woven fabric to help build thickness quickly and aid in all layers bonding well together.
If you have any questions feel free to comment. We will do our best to reply with an answer. Or, you can visit our website Fiberglass Warehouse for more information.
For more detailed information on each fiberglass cloth we carry, you can CLICK HERE.
Dallin Leach
comments (50)
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Matt
Hi,
I am looking to put a thin layer of fiber glass on a wooden toboggan I am making for my family. The purpose of the Fiber glass is for wear and tear and a little rigidity. the wood will be stained and wrapped 360 in the fiber cloth. I am thinking 6 oz might be too heavy , but I have zero experience with fiber cloth and resins. Please help.Thanks Matt
REPLY from fgwarehouse: The 4 oz or the 6 oz will work well. Both are smooth. The 6 oz will be 1.5 times stronger that the 4 oz. I would either use our 2:1 epoxy resin or the P19 surfboard resin. The P19 will need a coat of P18 Finishing resin to seal it up. The They are UV stable where the others aren’t. Let me know if you have any other questions.
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Don B.
I need to repair some cracks in my Harley-Davidson saddlebags. The cracks are right at the mounting points, so I need to ensure a strong repair. The repair will be on the inside of the saddlebags, so aesthetics is not an issue. Should I use chopped strand or fiberglass cloth (plain or satin weave?)?
REPLY from fgwarehouse: I would use our 4:1 epoxy resin and hardener with some 10 oz cloth. The epoxy is stronger and will adhere better to the structure. The 10 oz cloth will build faster than other light weight cloths.
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Scott
I’m thinking about reinforcing a new plastic gun case to make it sturdier. My idea would be to apply 1″ strips diagonally on the inside in a criss cross pattern. It sounds like I should use cloth not mat. And I might also reinforce the vertical “walls” of the case. Maybe I would first lay in the horizontal strips, apply the resin to them, and let that cure. Then do the vertical reinforcement the next day. That would mean applying the vertical strips and resin over the fiberglass ends of the criss cross strips.
The finish wouldn’t be important because foam padding lines the inside of the case.
Does this sound feasible?
REPLY from fgwarehouse: It does sound feasible. I would rough up the plastic with some 120 grit sand paper, clean it with acetone, then use epoxy resin. Polyester resin does not adhere will to plastic. Use the Proglas Epoxy with the 4:1 hardener. The 1″ tape will work well also. Let me know if you have any other questions.
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Alex Maurer
Hello, I am redoing a boat floor, stringers, and transom. My plan is to use 10 oz mat but unsure still of which resin will be best. I do want to gel coat everything when done, except the stringers under the floor. Looking for good strength but cheaper. Also, I read that chop strand should be the final layer before I gel coat? And any suggestions how to gelcoat the floor and have it textured so it doesn’t slip so much? Thank you!
REPLY from fgwarehouse: If it were me, I would use 2 layers Knitted fabric 1708 and ISO resin. The 1708 is a biaxial fabric with a mat stitched to it. It is very strong. The ISO resin is a better quality resin the Ortho laminating resin. If you lay the 1708 with mat outward, you can gel coat over top of that. If you can spray the gel, it will always lay down better, or you can brush it on. You can add sand to the last layer of waxed gel coat to get a non-skid surface.
I am building a sculpture that has some tight bends, and some flat surfaces. It is formed with chicken wire, covered in plaster gauze, and reinforced from the inside with expandable foam (great stuff brand). It is starting to firm up, and isn’t too flexible. But there are areas that could flex if pushed enough. I would like to have a fiberglass surface, and sanded to a smooth finish and painted. It should be strong, with a medium thickness. I’m thinking a combination of strand mat and cloth to cover it. Any thoughts?
REPLY from fgwarehouse: Hey David, do you have a picture of the sculpture? Yes, that should work. It will make it much stronger. The chopped strand mat will be the easiest to work into the nooks and crannies. Then add the cloth over top to strengthen it up. Fairing compound should be used on the surface to smooth it out.