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Fibreglass dash - how easy?
scoobyis2cool - 14/9/04 at 06:50 PM

I want to make myself a nice sculpted dashboard after I pass SVA and I think fibreglass would probably be the best material for this.

However, i've never used fibreglass before so I was just wondering how easy it is to use? Is a dashboard a reasonable thing to expect to be able to make after a little practice?

Cheers

Pete


stephen_gusterson - 14/9/04 at 09:04 PM

read the bit on fibreglass on my site

atb

steve


Hugh Paterson - 15/9/04 at 08:13 AM

Pete, its a doddle, if you want somthing specific to your car and get stuck gimme a shout. Easiest way is to manufacture the plug in good old MDF, spray with Hi build wet n dry down to a good surface with 1500 then topcoat with the gloss. The down side is the hi build aint cheap for a small job, but two pack paint is just as good. All the works in the quality of finish on the plug.
Shug.


chrisf - 16/9/04 at 01:23 PM

Good stuff, Steve. I'm considering doing some Kevlar seats and learned quite a bit from your writings.

--Thanks, Chris


scoobyis2cool - 16/9/04 at 02:28 PM

Just got around to properly reading through your site Steve, very useful info, not doubt I will be referring to it a lot in future as I'm planning on designing and building a car from scratch at some point.

Cheers

Pete


timf - 16/9/04 at 03:15 PM

http://www.fibreglast.com/

has very informative info and a forum for all things composite


scoobyis2cool - 16/9/04 at 03:17 PM

Ah, looks useful, I'll check it out..

Pete


DarrenW - 17/9/04 at 01:36 PM

An alternative to Fibreglass is vac formed ABS.

More common than you think. All automotive components supplied to OEM's are in returnable plastic boxes with plastic inserts. These are made from basic moulds where a sheet of ABS is placed over the top in a vac forming machine, heated and sucked down. The work is in the mould but this can be made at home. Restriction is size of machine - may need dash to be made in two sections. My father did this to get a glovebox aperture made for his locost dash. Yes its smaller by far but shows an opportunity. There are more people around to do this than you might think. 2 in my area - Brownridge Plastics and PDM North East (Mike Bourner who runs PDM has been successful at Rally cross with 911 Porsche where he has made several carbon and kevlar composite body panels. Top bloke and willing to try anything (almost))

Hope this helps,
Darren.