A couple questions about Fiberglass in general....

[CJL 10+ year member]

(1)Strength wise, Could fiberglass be just as strong if not stronger than steel/sheet metal?

(2)When doing multiple layers of mat/cloth(fiberglass) for strength, do you apply each layer after the previous layer has dried or do you add layers while the previous layer is still wet?

(3)Does fiberglass stick/bond with metal or plastic?

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The reason im asking this is because the firewall in my car is rusted out where the gas pedal bolts up to causing the pedal to wiggle and pretty soon go right thru the firewall! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/furious.gif.fc81ca146dbff91fede3ed290dbc4f4c.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crying.gif.ec0ebefe590df0251476573bc49e46d8.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/suicide.gif.a649d21efc0d1fd4890a6428166586c1.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

So i was thinking instead of fixing it with sheet metal due to the not so flat area of my firewall, i could try to repair it via fiberglass........ //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif

Click to read more...

 

[CJL 10+ year member]

bump? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/uhoh.gif.c07307dd22ee7e63e22fc8e9c614d1fd.gif

 

[amedeuce 10+ year member]

If it was me, I would tape off the area and the spray some adhesive on the tape (after I put some mold release

on there) to help hold the pieces of mat. I'm assuming you are doing this from the inside of the car and the fire wall is verticle.

And yes you can do as many layer as you can at one time. I try to do 3-5 layers first depending on size and workable time. You will know when to stop adding layers. But That should be strong enough to pop the mold and add more layers. After you pop the mold and if you are going to add more layers, be careful not to make it too hot as to warp the mold. This is why it's important to have as many layers on the mold prior to popping it off.

 

[CJL 10+ year member]

Do you think fiberglass would be strong enough for what I need it to do?

 

[aqua acura 10+ year member]

Head over to fiberglassforums.com, they'll have some info for you. As for some simple answers:

1. I don't think you can compare the two...totally different applications, you'd have to give some specifics.

2. You put on as many layers as you can before it begins to dry. You should be able to get around 3-4 layers in. You can let them dry in between, but all that means is more sanding.

3. No on the metal. May be some special kind of resin, but as a glass noob, never heard of any.

 

[CJL 10+ year member]

Head over to fiberglassforums.com, they'll have some info for you. As for some simple answers:1. I don't think you can compare the two...totally different applications, you'd have to give some specifics.

2. You put on as many layers as you can before it begins to dry. You should be able to get around 3-4 layers in. You can let them dry in between, but all that means is more sanding.

3. No on the metal. May be some special kind of resin, but as a glass noob, never heard of any.

Will do //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[Twistid 5,000+ posts]

ive found that when you mix the accelerator into the resin it gives a nice warm tingly sensation when touched against bare skin... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[CJL 10+ year member]

Gtfo

 

[CJL 10+ year member]

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[CJL 10+ year member]

Do you think fiberglass would be strong enough for what I need it to do?

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[azbass 5,000+ posts]

if your metal firewall is getting rusted out, id probably fix it with sheet metal. but thats just me

 

[CJL 10+ year member]

if your metal firewall is getting rusted out, id probably fix it with sheet metal. but thats just me

True true..

How would i get thet sheet metal to fit the curves in the firewall because the rusted spot is not flat at all....

 

[spoonraker 10+ year member]

Fiberglass does not bond to metal, and fiberglass should never be used to repair metal surfaces.

Metal expands and contracts when it heats up and cools down, fiberglass does, however they do so at different rates. With something like your firewall that is subjected routinely to extreme heat, it would not be wise to try to patch it with anything other than metal. Plus while fiberglass may be strong, it does not have the heat absorbing properties that metal does, that is why firewalls aren't ever made of anything except metal.

 

[andytb 10+ year member]

too bad it wasnt rusting out in the back then you could just do a blowthrough

 

[azbass 5,000+ posts]

True true..
How would i get thet sheet metal to fit the curves in the firewall because the rusted spot is not flat at all....

hammer it in to shape.