sTaLa

Here's my first attempt with fyberglass. This is far from perfect, but I think it will do its job nicely. Let me know what you think.

I'll post some more pics when the project will be more advanced.

And by the way, how can I post pictures IN the thread? Not only thumbnails.

jic

iTrader: (1)

never did fiberglassing before
looks interesting

josh greene

the fiberglass isnt strong enough like it is, it will crack and break over time with the base. There's a couple things you can do, there is a fiberglass powder you can mix with resin or a bondo resin mix a little easyer, they will both be liquid. you can do it befor or after the top part with the speaker rings is on. poor it into the enclosure and coat the WHOLE inside of the encosure, and dont use bondo to fill in large gaps and such use duraglass.

Also you can use a nylon or wax tape looks like, duck tape, to mask off things befor you fiberglass rather then aluminum foil, just mask it off wax it and fiberglass! the fiberglass wont stick to the wax, thats what I use at work.

you can call me if you have any questions or PM me cause your in canada, I have only been doing this for about 6 months but the guy who is traning me has been doing it for 20 years and does cars for SHAQ so if I dont know he will LOL

GOOD LUCK!!!!! keep the pics commin

sonix7

Josh just gave all spot on info, basically reinforce the box well. I use chopped stranded mat. Try www.uscomposites.com they have fillers and just what I described. Like he said, bondo will crack and break over time. Use all FG based products, I love duraglass. Also people killed me over using bracing or a frame, but will insure the integrity of the enclosure, especially when using an SPL driver like mine. It looks really good though, just add more layers, I use polyester or vinylester resin(less emissions, higher temp resistance) and add the chopped mat, there is also glass microsphere's which I also highly recommend. Make a putty or sauce like I like to call it, add pour and fill. Have fun man, thats what its all about.

purerx7

iTrader: (61)

use img tags, what subs are going in?

KeloidJonesJr.

iTrader: (8)

eh? Not really liking sound systems in RX-7's. To each their own.

SexInDaRex

keep on posting man!!!

sTaLa

Josh and Sonix, you guys seem to know more than me about fiberglassing. But I read before doing this project, and I never seen anything about duraglass? Is it something I have to mix with the resin and the hardener to aply on the fiberglass mat?

What I did until now is to apply the resin/hardener mix on the fiberglass mat (three layers now), and I thought it would have been enough (the mat is pretty tick). My father built a trailer for his bike and it is pretty strong with nothing but fiberglass mat and resin/hardener.

I plan to put some foam (the kind that takes a lot of expension) all over in the box since I only need 1 feet³. Do you think it would make the box strong enough? Because it will absorb a lot of the sub's base.

The sub that is going in is an Infinity 12", 300 RMS, 1230 peek.

sTaLa

Do you have any tips to fix the fabric on the base of the enclosure without using any staple? Because staples would pierce the box and glue would not be strong enough.

josh greene

Staples will pierce the box yes but you can just fiberglass over them. duraglass you mix with hardener and mix it, it becomes like a past almost and you apply it with like a plastic spreader.
at work we use a bondo(not bondo brand but body filler) and resin mix with the hardener, I think its 50/50 and it makes a thick liquid we poor it into the box and spread it all the way around covering the whole surface. I never used this till I got the this shop cause body filler is known to crack by itself, I didnt believe them till I saw it but when its mixed with the resin and hardener it becomes extreamly hard. sonix7 you should try it and let me know what you think.

sTaLa

Here's what I found about Duraglass on this site: http://www.wjleigh.co.uk/Brochures/N...20Brochure.pdf --> "to provide a superior range of products that offer excellent chemical, abrasion and corrosion resistance with exceptionally low water vapour permeability."

And I just reread a lot of articles about fiberglass sub enclosures, and they don't say a word about duraglass or bondo. Well, the mention bondo, but it is to correct to imperfections.

So, if I add some layers of fiberglass, do you think it would be strong enough? I know you guys are more experienced than me; but I'm only trying to get the best out of my project.

sonix7

More layers will always work, just more time and money. Its important to make sure the layers are bonded well, no air pockets in between. I use duraglass for any filling of any kind. It is like a bondo, but completely fiberglass based. You can often get it at local automotive paint stores, its a body shop product. Ultimately you have to decide how many layers you think will be strong enough, no one can really say a set number. I would throw at least 10 layers of 1/2 oz chopped stranded mat for that app. minimum. Thats just me though.
here is some stuff and Duraglass is made by USC-US composites

http://www.caraudiotalk.com/audio-fo...ead.php?t=2125
http://www.caraudiohelp.com/newslett...ion_basics.htm
http://www.macsalesco.com/pr_disp_det.php?prod_id=494 -this is a link to Duraglass

sonix7

I actually made a mistake and meant USC - US chemicals and plastics. sorry.

josh greene

like sonix said its all about time and money, insted of using the layer ad layers of fiber glass we just use the mix and coat the whole thing, I went the the installer institute school for car audio they did the same thing but with a fiberglass powder I have no idea what it was called maybe sonix knows??? but yeah its just alot faster to use the bondo mix or powder.

sTaLa

Thanks a lot guys!!! Now I'll just have to make my mind up .
I'll post some other pics as soon as I can (I work a lot these time so it may take a while).

sTaLa

Ok, so I'm going with the duraglass option. I want to do it this evening. But I had an argument with my father that brang a really good question: How thick sould be the layer of duraglass?

Thank you again for helping me guys!

josh greene

Iv never coated it with duraglass for strength, I have only used it to for filling in large spots or gaps. but if it works the same as the bondo resin mix not that thick maybe 1/4" or a little more.

sonix7

Exactly what Josh said. Josh I bet that installer school was fun? I would have definately enjoyed that.

sTaLa

I'm not sure yet if I will carpet it or paint it. If I paint it, it will take forever to sand; but if I carpet it, it will be a pain in the *** to fit the fabric on the curves (but the carpet would make it fit with the rest of the car).

You don't really see the cuvres a gave it on the pictures though.

josh greene

actually if you get the right carpet it stretchs pretty easy, or you could use vinal its a little harder to work with and you have to sand and bondo alot, but less then if you paint. If you vinal I would start in the middle and work your way out use a heat gun, heat the vinal and it will stretch pretty good, but if you heat it to much it will shrivel up and if you stretch it to much it will get stetch marks.
carpet is the by far the easyer way.

sTaLa

This is how it looks in the car!!! I'm eager to have it finished!

sTaLa

This is how it looks now... I'm almost done!!!

josh greene

I just relized thats alot of air space for one 12.
lol

sTaLa

Yeah I know, this is why I'm filling it with polyurethane (expansive foam) since I need only 1'³. But it is getting really heavy!!! Fortunately it will be very easy to remove; that was one of the goals of my project.

I should install it in my car by tomorrow... I'll not carpet it right one: I'll wait to see how the fiberglass is going. This is my first try after all and it could crack.

sTaLa

It's ALIVE Yeah! It's ALIVE!

It sounds pretty good, I'm happy with the result. I only have now to sand it a little bit a carpet it!