Has anyone her sprayed fiberglass?

I need to talk to someone who has experience with fiberglass chopper guns if anyone here does? I have LOTS of questions.

 

You might find good info on a boating forum.
I have done some hand laid glass stuff, but it was with cloth, not chopper. IMHO cloth work is more difficult, but results in a stronger and better piece.
Mark

 

I've been looking at some of those sites. I've done cloth work (actually doing some now) but I've got a non-car project right now and it's a big area. I thought spraying it might be the way to go. I don't know much about it though.

 

From what I understand, the chopper gun route is used mostly for ease of application. It's cheaper and easier to do than cloth work, hence most kit cars and cehap boats are made this way.

Mark

 

I've got a big in ground pool and I'm getting all Hugh Heffner like lately and building some crazy stuff around it. Most of it will be covered in concrete but I thought this might do well for lining the big parts that will hold water. Then I'll make some cheesy kit cars

 

I would think that without a solid gelcoat, the chopper gun stuff would eventually delaminate...not sure though.

 

I have been in the hi perf boat biz, and we would rarely use choppers
and never on major components.
because of low strength ( short fiber strands + poor fiber to resin ratio) and hi weight. Its also hard to get an even laminate thickness.
Its a lot faster than hand laminating, but messy and stinky as hell.
But for all I know it might be good for a pool.
TT

 

Unclescoob-
Shoot away, with the questions. I'll see what I know and recall. I worked at Guidon Truck Covers in High school 11 years ago. But I got to do everything from waxing the molds, to running the chop/resin gun, rolling down the 'glass, cureing, peeling the mold, trimming the top, cutting windows, prepping for paint, painting, buffing, then final assembly, picking up all the trash cans, bailing cardboard. Was lucky or unlucky, however you look at it, they let me do what ever. Was a cool after school job. If anyone has a Guidon on here and the paint sucks, wazzzn't me...

IDS

 

Is there anyway to do multilayer? say, gelcoat, cloth, chopper, cloth?

 

Yeah, even WITH gelcoat prolonged(constant) exposure to water you'd likely be looking at some issues(blisters and delam).

Anyway, Scoob, have you priced a chopper gun lately?

 

Is this decorative stuff like a waterfall/stream? If so I'd be inclined to use a polybutyl liner, the same stuff they use for garden ponds. It's perfectly waterproof, puncture resistant, lasts practically forever, and can be cut with heavy shears or scissors. Place rocks or even concrete over the top of it to make it look like you want.

 

ask away! what do you need to know? there really simple..what system do you have?

 

Is there anyway to do multilayer FIBERGLASSING ? Say, gelcoat, cloth, chopper, cloth?

 

What you need to be looking into is GUNITE...spray what the pool guys spray.

 

Hey Scoob, Be careful that stuff will kill ya. Had a friend die from inhaling that stuff..on the other hand he was old and I never seen him use a resporator.

 

you can multilayer the stuff ...let the gelcoat tackup like normal for a female mold then use the chop gun for some build...let that start tacking or setting up, so it dont move around and lay your cloth and just use the resin mix from the gun to saturate the cloth without the glass chopper on...then another layer of chopped glass if you like...