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Making a (not so) Quick Buck
stevebubs - 5/11/05 at 09:32 PM

OK...I've got most of the structure in place for a buck for my bulge.


*However* I don't have a clue what I should be using to finish it off so I can sand and sculpt it.

Help!!

[img][/img]


MkIndy7 - 5/11/05 at 10:44 PM

Body filler?


stevebubs - 6/11/05 at 12:32 AM

That's what I was thinking, but where do I get huge amounts (preferably locally) without it costing the earth?


froggy - 6/11/05 at 01:12 AM

i did a bonnet ages ago and bought a offcut of rigid roof insulation ,its 2" thick and you can shape it with a surform and then put a light skim of body filler over it. you can stick it together with pva if you need to but it does give you a flat surface to start with.


Triton - 6/11/05 at 08:58 AM

Best way is to put one layer of fibreglass over it, that will stop it moving then a thin layer of filler....filler straight on top of what looks like paper mache won't be very stable and might crack.
Autopaint do 3kgs tins of filler for about £12 a pop...in Halfrauds you are looking at £20


Peteff - 6/11/05 at 10:24 AM

Easy sand in a big yellow tin for about £10. If you ever use a full tin on one job you're putting it on too thick .


Cita - 6/11/05 at 11:27 AM

Thin plastic sheet over the paper and than one layer plaster of Paris about 1/2" thick.Tape some pieces of cardboard-foam whatever you have,around the area you want to cover to keep the plasterform in some kind of a box.
Weight till it's dry and than take a piece of fine mesh chickenwire and form it over the plastermold and put another 1/2" of plaster over it.The chickenwire is just reinforcement when you take the mold off.
Wait till it's completele dry and than you can sand the inside of the mold and finish it off with a layer of bodyfiller.
It will cost you close to nothing and you wont need any sanding when the fiberglass part is released from the mold.

Cheers Cita


stevebubs - 6/11/05 at 05:58 PM

OK..removed the Mache and Put on a layer of FastGlass for strength...

Mache Removed + Fibre Laid
Mache Removed + Fibre Laid


As you can see, it's far from level

Question I have now is how do I mix the filler? I've a 3 litre tin of U-Pol Easy Sanding Body Filler which has the following sign on the side..


Filler Mixture
Filler Mixture


What exactly does this mean? 2 packets of hardener per 100ml?

TIA

Stephen


stevebubs - 6/11/05 at 05:59 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Cita
Thin plastic sheet over the paper and than one layer plaster of Paris about 1/2" thick.Tape some pieces of cardboard-foam whatever you have,around the area you want to cover to keep the plasterform in some kind of a box.
Weight till it's dry and than take a piece of fine mesh chickenwire and form it over the plastermold and put another 1/2" of plaster over it.The chickenwire is just reinforcement when you take the mold off.
Wait till it's completele dry and than you can sand the inside of the mold and finish it off with a layer of bodyfiller.
It will cost you close to nothing and you wont need any sanding when the fiberglass part is released from the mold.

Cheers Cita


Thanks Cita but I don't know of a local Plaster of Paris supplier...


stevebubs - 6/11/05 at 06:23 PM

quote:
Originally posted by stevebubs

Filler Mixture
Filler Mixture


What exactly does this mean? 2 packets of hardener per 100ml?




Ok...found the datasheet Here so it's 2 parts per 100 by weight

Stephen


stevebubs - 6/11/05 at 06:57 PM

3 kilos of filler later....it starts to take shape....sort of....need to wait for Halfrauds to re-open and buy some more

[img][/img]


rusty nuts - 6/11/05 at 06:57 PM

I'm sure that I read somewhere that you can use plaster for building a buck , possibly in an old Hot Car mag. Thats the type that builders use on walls . As for how much hardener to use was once told by a body repairer to use a walnut to a pea in ratio size wize. Hope that makes sense.


Peteff - 6/11/05 at 07:04 PM

What size shovel did you put the filler on with? . You are in for a lot of rubbing there Steve. Get some 40 grit production paper, a cheap sander and a good mask


stevebubs - 6/11/05 at 07:10 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Peteff
What size shovel did you put the filler on with? . You are in for a lot of rubbing there Steve. Get some 40 grit production paper, a cheap sander and a good mask


Don't ask....

You didn't see the sizes of the undulations.... it's still nowhere near the right height but a hell of a lot better than it was....some areas still need a *lot* of building up to make it approximately the right shape.

Got a good belt power sanders, so not too worried on the sanding side - just need to wait for a dry day so I can do it outside....


stevebubs - 6/11/05 at 07:12 PM

PS Yes - a good mask is on the list with more filler...


chriscook - 6/11/05 at 07:32 PM

If you have a Hobbycraft nearby they sell plaster of paris - its where i got mine when i did my phoenix bulge.


stevebubs - 6/11/05 at 08:02 PM

There's a Hobbycraft 200yards or so from the office...

Oh well...have to plug on with this monstrocity (sp?) for now. 1 more tub of filler should see it though to completion.

Am going to see this one through to at least mould stage (first time at glassing etc so am not too worried if I make mistakes first time around), but may make another smaller buck if Plaster of Paris is cheap as chips.

Stephen


stevebubs - 10/12/05 at 09:50 PM

Starting to come together now...


Hey this is starting to look like its supposed to
Hey this is starting to look like its supposed to



First fit removed from bin liners
First fit removed from bin liners


[Edited on 10/12/05 by stevebubs]


stevebubs - 10/12/05 at 09:51 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Peteff
Easy sand in a big yellow tin for about £10. If you ever use a full tin on one job you're putting it on too thick .


3 Tins so far


Hugh Paterson - 10/12/05 at 10:09 PM

Fecking hell 3 tins I use one tin of that when im fairing the plug for a 20ft boat
Shug.


Avoneer - 10/12/05 at 10:45 PM

And look at the colour of your windscreen!

Pat...


Triton - 10/12/05 at 10:50 PM

should have used some foam first to take up as much of the space as poss then filler to get final shape


stevebubs - 11/12/05 at 01:06 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Avoneer
And look at the colour of your windscreen!

Pat...


Given the fog recently, I don't think I'd notice the difference

More seriously, I think it's going to take me a year and a day to clean the garage out - absolutely everything is covered in dust


stevebubs - 11/12/05 at 01:07 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Triton
should have used some foam first to take up as much of the space as poss then filler to get final shape


Agreed but filler is easier to obtain at short notice...and it's been..... "fun"


Cita - 11/12/05 at 02:18 AM

Now that's a bulge!!!!

Make one plywood template-go to yard and start scraping-fill the hole with plaster and chickenwire-wait a few days-take buck out of hole-use ONE tin of filler-et voila-MOULDA PERFECTA.


You'll get there mate no worries!
It's gonna be fine!

Cheers Cita


Peteff - 11/12/05 at 11:44 AM

I rebuilt the front of bro in laws Fiesta van (employee related accident) and he got me a tin of Upol for filling bits before I painted it. That was 3 years ago and I've used it for loads of other bits and there's still more than 3/4 of the tin left. You could render a house with 3 tins .


stevebubs - 11/12/05 at 04:30 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Peteff
I rebuilt the front of bro in laws Fiesta van (employee related accident) and he got me a tin of Upol for filling bits before I painted it. That was 3 years ago and I've used it for loads of other bits and there's still more than 3/4 of the tin left. You could render a house with 3 tins .


Probably - but for lack of anything else to use, I've been using it for structure, too.

Now I've got the final shape (nearly), I'm hardly using any each time and the present tin has lasted me about a week without making a huge indent in it.


stevebubs - 11/12/05 at 04:31 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Cita

You'll get there mate no worries!
It's gonna be fine!

Cheers Cita


Thanks for the vote of confidence! It's starting to feel like the end may be in sight - may even get to do the mould next weekend :O


k33ts - 11/12/05 at 05:17 PM

just a suggestion dont use to fine a paper on filler 200 max or youll knock it out of shape to much looks like youre somwhere near using filler primer!


stevebubs - 16/12/05 at 09:09 PM

For finishing, use the plastic spreader supplied with the body filler and not a metal one.


stevebubs - 18/12/05 at 09:03 PM

Gettting closer - just final finish now...took this after I spent 6 hours cleaning the dust out the garage....

[img][/img]


Hugh Paterson - 18/12/05 at 09:16 PM

What u going to use to get a "smooth" curve where it bonds on the original bonnet??
Shug.


stevebubs - 18/12/05 at 09:27 PM

Take a mould from the buck above (which is oversize) and then make a cast of the bulge.

Trim down to the size required and contours of the bonnet.

Was then going to glass it on from underneath with 3/4 layeres of matting

Then fill any gaps with flowcoat...

From your post (and previous comments) I sense a "but" or "bunch of problems" comment coming - any help/hints gratefully received.


Hugh Paterson - 18/12/05 at 10:27 PM

Hows about this
Fair the bulge when u have it cooking to the original bonnet by a fillet of plasticene with a wee bit of release wax mixed in it To make it "more pliable" You can radius it to the correct diameter by using a suitable sized ball bearing. Indeed u can get em from most GRP supplers as a wee tool on a stick just for the job. Polish the lot with 4-5 coats of good quality release wax and take a pull ( new mould), of the whole lot.. bonnet complete with new bulge then get a new bonnet from that. Feck this glue the addition on crap trust me unless u do it day in and out it will look like a pound of mince. If you cant do it for £50 or less your buying your GRP from the wrong place....to recover your outlay get laminating and flog em on e-bay. If u make a good job of it I might even be able to offer u a job on something more exotic in a couple of weeks!! Only problem with that u have to learn Jockaneese Im in Glasgow
Shug.


stevebubs - 18/12/05 at 10:34 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Hugh Paterson
Hows about this
Fair the bulge when u have it cooking to the original bonnet by a fillet of plasticene with a wee bit of release wax mixed in it To make it "more pliable" You can radius it to the correct diameter by using a suitable sized ball bearing. Indeed u can get em from most GRP supplers as a wee tool on a stick just for the job. Polish the lot with 4-5 coats of good quality release wax and take a pull ( new mould), of the whole lot.. bonnet complete with new bulge then get a new bonnet from that. Feck this glue the addition on crap trust me unless u do it day in and out it will look like a pound of mince. If you cant do it for £50 or less your buying your GRP from the wrong place....to recover your outlay get laminating and flog em on e-bay. If u make a good job of it I might even be able to offer u a job on something more exotic in a couple of weeks!! Only problem with that u have to learn Jockaneese Im in Glasgow
Shug.


(Gulp) Not sure I have the space to make a complete bonnet in my garage (or the time!)

Think I'll try the "glue" it on method first (assuming I don't make a complete hash of the bulge mould)

If all that goes to plan, I may take a mould of the bonnet during warmer months and make another...fills me with fear, though.

TBH, My main worry with my proposed method is cracking in the gelcoat joins - is there anything I can do to try and prevent that?


Hugh Paterson - 19/12/05 at 01:15 AM

Aye get triton or me to do it for your har har you have u2u
Shug


stevebubs - 10/1/06 at 10:06 PM

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