Fiberglass Repair (Page 1/1)
rbell2915 APR 28, 05:32 PM
Hello, I have a pair of side scoops that are a little damaged. Does anyone have any recommendations on how to fix them? I do have some fiberglass experience, but I'm not a professional at all.









I also have a pair of fender vents I'm trying to install as well. I'm using epoxy on both sides along with this "Bondo Glaze" to smooth everything out. I keep having issues with the glaze cracking. Do I need to add more epoxy to it for strength? Or is there something else that I'm missing?

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RCR APR 28, 06:27 PM
Doesn't look too bad. Essentially you want to grind out anything loose or preventing the pieces from lining back up (the cracked part). Grind about half way through and bevel the edges back an inch or so. On the cracked pieces, use whatever you have to make sure the surfaces line up properly, screws and banding, hot glue, whatever that isn't permanent. Once things line up, apply the glass, making sure it's higher than the finshed surface (so you can sand it smooth). Once cured, remove the banding, hot glue, whatever and repeat on the other side (grind and glass).

For the holes, I'd just gring them out and fill with glass.

I use 1.5oz mat for just about everything and currently using Bondo brand resin.

See how I do it here: My build

Good luck and keep us posted.

Bob
RCR APR 28, 06:31 PM
On the glaze, don't know if I can help, but I only use a two-part glaze (resin and hardener). Is the Bondo stuff two-part?

Bob
shemdogg APR 28, 08:31 PM
Try some kitty hair or dyna glass. Its basically bondo w fiberglass in it. Then do a thin coat of bondo, too thick n itll crack

shem
rbell2915 APR 29, 03:06 PM

quote
Originally posted by RCR:

Doesn't look too bad. Essentially you want to grind out anything loose or preventing the pieces from lining back up (the cracked part). Grind about half way through and bevel the edges back an inch or so. On the cracked pieces, use whatever you have to make sure the surfaces line up properly, screws and banding, hot glue, whatever that isn't permanent. Once things line up, apply the glass, making sure it's higher than the finshed surface (so you can sand it smooth). Once cured, remove the banding, hot glue, whatever and repeat on the other side (grind and glass).

For the holes, I'd just gring them out and fill with glass.

I use 1.5oz mat for just about everything and currently using Bondo brand resin.

See how I do it here: My build

Good luck and keep us posted.

Bob



Honestly, that seems quite involved and I have about an hour of fiberglass experience in total. I'm not sure about grinding. Should I be using a rotary tool with a sanding drum to grind it? I don't think there is any way for me to make this look nice and smooth. Did I waste my money on this?

And my Bondo Glaze is one part. Can you show me a photo of what you recommend?
rbell2915 APR 29, 03:08 PM

quote
Originally posted by shemdogg:

Try some kitty hair or dyna glass. Its basically bondo w fiberglass in it. Then do a thin coat of bondo, too thick n itll crack

shem



Should I try this on the fender vents that are cracking? Or to try and repair the side scoops?
RCR APR 29, 08:27 PM

quote
Originally posted by rbell2915:


Honestly, that seems quite involved and I have about an hour of fiberglass experience in total. I'm not sure about grinding. Should I be using a rotary tool with a sanding drum to grind it? I don't think there is any way for me to make this look nice and smooth. Did I waste my money on this?

And my Bondo Glaze is one part. Can you show me a photo of what you recommend?



It seems daunting at first, but it's not bad. I'm not a pro by any means, but I think I could knock that crack out in 2 hours.
For the most part, I use my 12V Dewalt drill with a 2' 40 grit grinding pad (from Harbor Freight). And, a vacuum to suck up the dust as I create it.

You could use the kitty hair to fill the holes and divots, but you should glass the cracks.

I am also using Bondo glaze, but it's 3M Bondo professional glaze. It's white until mixed with the hardener.

Good luck man, you'll never know if you do it if you don't try. Just think mI how felt when I cut 3" out of the nose of my new body.. Yikes. Made it up as I went.

Bob
Mike in Sydney APR 29, 08:40 PM
It sounds harder than it is. You do need to grind the broken parts back to get to a good substrate. You can use Popsicle sticks or wooden paint stirrers on the back side with screws on the front to pull the edges flush. Then add glass and resin. When it cures, remove the stick. I like to turn the part over and glass the back-side to provide some additional strength. Where you are missing glass, grind back the surrounding pieces and lay-up strips bridging the area. There's lots of good examples on You-Tube. I've had to repair the hull on my Flying Scot sailboat and got the instructs from You-Tube.

There's another thing you could consider. If you don't want to try it yourself try asking some of the marinas on Jordan Lake who does their fiberglass repairs. I suspect they have contacts to repair the boats that dock a bit too vigorously.

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Mike in Sydney

[This message has been edited by Mike in Sydney (edited 04-29-2020).]

rogergarrison MAY 06, 03:46 PM
You just need to sand or grind off the top layer gelcoat down to raw fiberglass fibers. You dont want to put anything just right on top of a gelcoat. Gelcoat is a hard outer layer over fiberglass to cover fibers and make it easier to paint over. Easiest stuff to use would be Duraglass. Its a special resin gel with chopped up fiberglass strands in it. You can get a quart with hardener at Autozone or other parts store. Bondo also makes a similar product called Bondo-Glass. Just hand sand or block sand back to original shape, prime and paint.