Installing fiberglass in your car can be a daunting task. In fact, you will need a lot of materials and molding for your car. This is something that’s hard to do if you aren’t a professional in the car industry. Not to discourage you but this is something that you should think twice before doing. If you make a mistake, there’s no turning back. You might end up spending twice as much if you make a mistake as you might have to bring it to a car repair or body repair if things go wrong. So do you really want to fiberglass your car? Here is a guideline on how to fiberglass car.
Fiberglass is a time consuming process. Fiberglass can be used in amplifier racks, kick panels, or subwoofer box among many others. Also, keep in mind that fiberglass is stronger when it is bent. If you need to make use of a straight fiberglass, you will have to get a thicker one to make sure it can carry what you’re placing on top of it. So make sure you have the patience to do this project. Here are the materials you will need in order to fiberglass your car.
- Fiberglass mat or cloth
- Resin
- Hardener
- A body filler such as a Bondo
- Some disposable gloves
- Respirator or mask
- Protective clothing, goggles to protect your eyes
- Paint brush
- Plastic sheeting
- Aluminum foil
- Mold release or WD40
- Tools such as sander, multi-purpose shears, screws, etc.
Now that you know the materials you’ll need, you’ll also need to learn some safety tips on how to fiberglass car. The fumes and the dust particles are very common when you are working on a fiberglass project. It can be health hazard so it’s important you are wearing protective clothing and perhaps a mask and eye protectors or working goggles too. When you work on this project, make sure that you work in an open area. This way, you won’t be suffocated by the dust and fumes. This project calls for resin or hardener mixture which isn’t good for your health either so make sure that you work outdoors or in an open garage.
Start by planning the whole project. Make sure you prepare your car on how you want to mount your speakers, amplifiers, panels, or whatever it is you’re installing the fiberglass for. Remember that when resin falls on your carpeting or seating, there’s no way to remove it. So make sure you cover the area with foil so it won’t stick and it can be easily peeled off.
First, make a mold. You can use foil or chicken wire to do this. You can also use modeling clay or an expanding form. The best option would be to use an existing shape like the spare tire hole in the car’s trunk. So what you’ll do is remove all the panels and carpeting and apply the mold release, aluminum foil, or WD-40 to the bare surface. Then lay your fiberglass. Let it dry.
For the first layer, mix enough hardener and resin. Note that the temperature is also crucial. The hotter it is the faster your resin will dry. Cut the fiberglass mat to the size that you want. Wet it by dipping the fiberglass to your resin mixture. You can also brush it on to the fiberglass. Once wet, mold it to the existing shape. You may want to spray some WD-40 to your gloves so it won’t stick to your hands. Once the fiberglass is dry, you can remove it from your car. You can add the second layer just the same way you did with the first layer only now you don’t have to put it in the existing shape in the car. Just put it on top of the first layer. You’ll need to repeat the process with three to four layers. Once done, just smooth out the edges by sanding them. Then, it’s time to use Bondo. Just ad hardener to your Bondo and the drying begins. Spread the Bondo to your panel. After it dries, sand it. You’re done!