I got an idea like that 2, but mine has to be custom. So you put resin down first then the bondo then more resin??? What kind of foam did you use?

 

Thats right I forgot how they did the race cars at school, but they still didn't have a vacuum, they used a vacuum bag so a small part like that would probably be pretty easy to vacuum bag, you would just need a vacuum pump. I think they put it in the vacuum for 24hrs or something to "setup" then took it out and put it in the oven.

Does that sound right?

 

NEVER MIND IS RIGHT....Howd you get into this???

 

I put one layer of glass down to get a foundation for the bondo since I wasn't perfect on the foam/masking tape. If I had to to it over again, I would make sure the original foam/masking tape was perfectly straight and it would be a lot easier. I used the 1/2" thick 4x8' sheets of R4 dupont house insulation blue foam. I'd recommend just getting Scotty's pod. It's about half as expensive and accomplishes the same thing. I did it to learn carbon fiber and fiberglass.

From what I've seen, yes. Different epoxy may take different vacuum times, but that seems right.

brandon.

 

I like playing with fiberglass, Its how I made my spkr box, i got pics in my gallery. Plus I would need, I think 2.5 scotty's pods. still thinking of a couple ideas. though. keep us informed on how it goes.

 

what kind of places sell the fiber glass resin and sheets of glass?

and a couple questions

i have 2 5/8" gauges mounted on my dash...but id like to make a custom pod for the in this exact fashion. also what is the aluminum foil for? jsut to protect the plastic? and how do you bond the fiberglass and or bondo to the original plastic where the two materials meet...like on both sides of your custom pod where it slopes down, will it just stick? lastly, you are gonna carbon fiber yours...if i just build it out of bondo and fiberglass...wold i then jsut use normal plastic interior paint and paint my entire dash bezel to match the original black color?

 

NOw that will be really cool if it works out! Better get a patent!!

 

looks good, i have the scottys pod and love it, i had to put the FP gage right by the heater housing and make a notch for the SS line. cant wait for more pics good luck

 

Marine equipment stores normally sell polyester resin and fiberglass cloth. I wanted epoxy so I got it mail order. Your local radio control hobby shop will carry the same stuff if you ask. The epoxy resin isn't hazmat so it's cheaper to ship.

>>>also what is the aluminum foil for? jsut to protect the plastic?

Yep. Aluminum foil keeps the fiberglass from sticking and you can peel it off the back of the fiberglass hwen you're finished.

>>>and how do you bond the fiberglass and or bondo to the original plastic where the two materials meet...like on both sides of your custom pod where it slopes down, will it just stick?

Most of it will just stick if you pull it tight enough. I did have some bubbles on the outside concave edges that I'll need to fix before the carbon fiber is laid down. I'm in the process of finding a vacuum pump for the carbon fiber. My test pieces turned out pretty lumpy when they were flat on the table.

>>>lastly, you are gonna carbon fiber yours...if i just build it out of bondo and fiberglass...wold i then jsut use normal plastic interior paint and paint my entire dash bezel to match the original black color?

I would think it's the same color as the original black, but I'm not an expert by any means.

Post pics when you're finished! It should look great!

brandon.

 

are you making yours as a separate removable piece, or you going to mold it right into the dash? why did you put foil ove tha actual guage pod itself, don't you want the fiber glass to stick there? im sorry for all the questions, im just a little confused at what you are doing.

when i make mine its getting moded right into the dash and will not be removable. thanks for the ideas tho. post more pics as you get farther along!!!

 

I wanted double protection from sticking to the dash and needed some way to form the end pieces. The final result is a fiberglass/carbon fiber pod that mounts to the dash using 4-6 screws and no PVC, masking tape or foil. The foil just keeps the resin from sticking to the original dash.

brnadon.

 

Layer one of the carbon is drying, The picture shows a bunch of wrinkles because of the plastic wrap, but the carbon is flat and wrinkle free.



brandon.

 

Out of the mold:


After sanding down for the final layer:



The cleaned-up dash:


My kitchen table:


brandon.

 

How much do you want for the kitchen table?

 

I'll bet he'd pay you to take it!!
Chris