Hey guys, I want to try making a cold air intake out of fiberglass. I've never worked with fiberglass but feel like a box that I have a mold to we be a good start and something good to practice with.

Here is my prob, since I've never worked with the stuff I dont know what to get. Can someone tell me exactly what all I will need to make a good solid stong fiberglass panel? What kind of resin, what grade/kind of fiberglass, any special tools, ect ect ect

If anyone can tell me what I need and where I can get it I would be appreciated. Also if there is a good kit or something that just has everything that would be awsome!!!!

BTW - You guys could have a vesting interest in this cause i have a idea up my sleeve!!! I'm not saying what though you'll just have to wait and see so dont even pm me about it haha

Thanks!!!!!
STEPHEN

 

trywww.aircraftspruce.com ive gotten some stuff from them, they even have cool tutorial kit that comes with a manual, the resin, and a couple types of fiberglass cloth. they also have really sweet free catalogs, one for aircraft, and the other is car/racing specific. check it out.

steve

 

Awsome!!!! Great site, thanks for the info!!!!

Anyone else have anything they was to share as well???

STEPHEN

 

^

 

Hey man, I couldnt find that kind you were talking about on thier site so I called them and they guy said all they had like that was what he called a "practice kit" but it was for composite materials. It was also just a very small amount of material that came with it.

Does anyone know exactly what stuff I should buy? I asked the guy on the phone but he couldnt help, said all they do is take orders.

It just seems like there is sssoooo much stuff I'm not sure what all I need to get going.

STEPHEN

 

west system is also a ver good epoxy resin system. I'ts one of the best marine fiberglass systems out there.
www.westsystem.com

 

www.uscomposites.com

 

West is probably the best there is but it is VERY expensive. I build cedarstrip canoes and I have used www.fiberlay.com they are very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable.

 

I just looked at thier website. Very nice. It's found a home in my "Favorites" Thanks.
Lars

 

A few extras to get to make your life easy ..

Food prep gloves : don't do anything without them!
Digital scales : great for ensuring you get the mixture right.
Parka nylon : applied at the end to soak up excess resin and helps to create a better/smoother suface to the end product.

Rather than working with flat sheets on of the beauties of fg or cf is that you can pretty much mould up anything. I am about to do the same thing but using cf .. building the mould from MDF board lined with mylar so the box is created with that great shiny cf look and nicely rounded corners.

Important to make sure that the resin you use is one that's designed to deal with engine bay temps .. most standard marine resins are not .. talk to west systems I think they have one suitable .. it's a bit more expensive but you don't want your styly new airbox collapsing on you!

Cheers
Shaun

 

Hey, thanks for all this info!!!! I didnt even know to ask about the temps the resin is good for, I didnt realize there were different resins for different temps!!!!

Thanks alot, as that really would suck for it to collaps or the resin melt of some **** like that

STEPHEN

 

Damn, there are all kinds of resins, epoxies, weights of fabrics, ect, ect, ect

I have NO idea what I need!!!!!

STEPHEN

 

I've been checking out sites but non of them really say what I need, they mostly just sell 100000 differnt types of resins, epoxies, clothes, ect,ect,ect

STEPHEN

 

Best to choose a supplier you want to deal with and give them a call so you can talk it through with them.

 

try fiberglast.com , I've used them for years and have built so many parts in CF/Kevlar/and Glass that I got a bulk discount. Plus they have all the info you need on their site.

-Ed