Im about to place an order for glassing at Fiberglasssupply.com I have two boards that im going to work on which are both under 6’5". So here are my questions: How much Polyester Resin would I need to complete both boards…should I buy the 5 gallon?, or just 2 or three gallons? How Much Surface Adjent? How much Catalyst would I need?..I was guessing 8oz. Too much? How Much Gel Coat might I need?..I noticed the Gel Coat comes in different colors, why? Does it act as the final look? How much Gloss Resin? Again, I’d like to buy enough to do both boards. THanks for the help, If I had the patience I’d wait till Fiberglass Supply opened on Monday and bug them personaly. Thanks for any advice, you guys have been a great help so far. K
Kevin, you could probably get away with 2 gallons of resin if you are glassing with 4oz, but 3 gals would get you done for sure. 8oz of cat is to much, but the stuff is cheap, 4oz would probably do, but it’s better to have to have some left over than to run out. 8oz surfacing agent. You don’t need gel coat. You will need around 10 to 12 oz per side of glossing resin. I have also glossed with lam resin that I added wax and a little styrene to, worked fine for me. Good luck and stay stoked, Scott.
How much Polyester Resin would I need to complete both boards…should I buy the 5 gallon?, or just 2 or three gallons? - 3 gallons will do it. There should be enough for hot coating, fins, etc. and if ultimate gloss is not a priority, you can use it for a finish coat too. Just wet/dry to 600 grit and buff it out with rubbing compound - it’ll shine. Do you have fiberglass cloth? How Much Surface Adjent? - This is what you’ll add when hot coating and finish coating. 4 oz will be enough for your 2 boards. How much Catalyst would I need?..I was guessing 8oz. Too much? - 8 oz OK. Have you checked in to UV resin? It gives more time to work and sets up quickly. How Much Gel Coat might I need?..I noticed the Gel Coat comes in different colors, why? Does it act as the final look? - You won’t need any of this. Add surfacing agent to laminating resin and you’ll have what you need. The colored gel coat stuff is mostly for molding applications. How much Gloss Resin? - Again, add surfacing agent to your lam and it’ll work. Add styrene to thin it if you want. Styrene will cost extra and add to your haz mat fees. Again, I’d like to buy enough to do both boards. THanks for the help, If I had the patience I’d wait till Fiberglass Supply opened on Monday and bug them personaly. Thanks for any advice, you guys have been a great help so far. - Be ready for a surprise when they hit you for shipping and “haz mat” fees. Last time I mail ordered, the different chemicals had to be shipped separately with a fee for each. If there is any place within reason to pick it up yourself, it may save you some money. Make sure they calculate, and that you understand, what those extra fees will be. Also - cover the garage floor with cardboard or something. Have fins and boxes (or fin rope or just cut little patches from scrap), good tape, mixing buckets and stir sticks, an acetone bucket or pie tin for cleaning your brush and squeegee, brushes, squeegee, razor blades, rubber gloves, acetone, sand paper, respirator and don’t wear your favorite clothes. Good luck the fun is about to begin!
Hey Kevin, John is right on about the UV cure stuff, it works great and is way faster.
My only advice is that if you are glassing yourself to save money it won’t work until you glass many, many boards. By the time you buy the cloth, resins, sticks, buckets, dropcloths, sandpaper (lots of sandpaper), razor blades, tape, fin rope (or fin system), fins, router bits, leash plug, brushes, acetone, squegee, gloves, advil, rags, fans, flowers for your wife, and (of course) the respirator, you will have spent more than it would cost to have the pros do it (about 20-25 bucks a foot). Plus, the time it takes equals about the time it took to liberate Kuwait (30 days in my case). Oh, and the vacuum bags for the dust, or a new broom, apology letters to the neighbors, new t-shirts (for the ones you ruined) new pants, etc. Let the zombies at your local glass shop do it. But if you do decide to do it yourself (wear a respirator). I didn’t for half my first board, and look what happened to me. Also, use the Suncure stuff. Trust these guys, and ask many, many questions at Swaylocks. Because you can mess up really badly, especially when glassing on fins. I shaped a 7 footer recently and glassed myself to “save” money. I could have had it done by the pros for twenty bucks a foot, but I did it myself. I don’t regret it a bit, but next time (if there is a next time) I am letting the pros glass it. One last thing (I promise). Double check pilot lights or other flames. They may be closer than you think and you wouldn’t want to start a fire. Good luck.
My only advice is that if you are glassing yourself to save money it won’t > work until you glass many, many boards. By the time you buy the cloth, > resins, sticks, buckets, dropcloths, sandpaper (lots of sandpaper), razor > blades, tape, fin rope (or fin system), fins, router bits, leash plug, > brushes, acetone, squegee, gloves, advil, rags, fans, flowers for your > wife, and (of course) the respirator, you will have spent more than it > would cost to have the pros do it (about 20-25 bucks a foot). Plus, the > time it takes equals about the time it took to liberate Kuwait (30 days in > my case). Oh, and the vacuum bags for the dust, or a new broom, apology > letters to the neighbors, new t-shirts (for the ones you ruined) new > pants, etc. Let the zombies at your local glass shop do it. But if you do > decide to do it yourself (wear a respirator). I didn’t for half my first > board, and look what happened to me. Also, use the Suncure stuff. Trust > these guys, and ask many, many questions at Swaylocks. Because you can > mess up really badly, especially when glassing on fins. I shaped a 7 > footer recently and glassed myself to “save” money. I could have > had it done by the pros for twenty bucks a foot, but I did it myself. I > don’t regret it a bit, but next time (if there is a next time) I am > letting the pros glass it. One last thing (I promise). Double check pilot > lights or other flames. They may be closer than you think and you wouldn’t > want to start a fire. Good luck. Mike, You need to get back in the saddle and try it again Bro. Glassing is challenging but just like the waterboy: YOU CAN DO IT!! Magoo