Hi all, I want to learn to glass. Plenty of videos to walk me through, so I understand the process ok. I am looking into getting a blank shaped and glassing it myself with super sap resin. I am a cancer survivor and I am ultra sensitive to fumes. I could handle workng with regular resin if there is a advantage for a first timer.
Thanks! Jxff
I think there is an advantage to using UV poly as a first timer as it gives you as much as you need. Other than time, I think epoxy is the way to go. Haven’t used super sap but sounds like a good product. Watching videos is great but I would do some practice glassing on smaller pieces of foam if you can. Especially the laps. When in doubt, mix extra resin. Plus, the practice runs will give you an idea of how the product cures and how much time you’ll have (assuming the weather conditions are the same). Oh yeah…buy a digital scale so that your ratios are accurate. Best $25 you can spend. Don’t bother with little measuring cups. The scale will ensure accurate ratios. You can pick these up at Target or Walmart.
Hi,
Epoxy I imo the best way to learn (as chou said). It is les toxic than P.U, barely no fumes or gaz hazard (well compared to P.U).
Anyway, when manipulating resin u should wear a respirator mask designed for chemicals and gloves… u should be fine then.
Be very precise in your preparation (not too strong agitation, but enough ^^, use a large bucket and a thin layer of resin instead of a narrow and thick layer, etc.) and u have 20min to work with on average T°.
Good luck !
Thanks for the suggestions!
The most important aspect for first time glassers is to have a second person help you spread the resin over the glass.
Give them a squeegee or brush and a container and you will have more time time to work on the rail laps.
Then there is the advantage of having that help if your resin hardener mix goes off after say 15 mins instead of 20.
Once the glass is completly wetted you will also have more time for squeegeeing off the excess resin
During this part off the process its important to have your head at board level and look along the wetted glass for pools of excess resin to squeegee off, remembering the more even you get this step the easier the next step will be.
trim the glass neatly where it will wrap the rail. make careful relief cuts around the corners. someone here said it right: don’t rush through it thinking you fix your present mistake in the next step. avoid or fix now. after you have glassed and wrapped the rails, go back and tidy up all the drips and strings and poor relief cuts. this will save future headaches. don’t put it off thinking you will just sand it out later.
all the best
the thing you need the most as a first timer is time
so with that in mind i would suggest stinky UV polyester resin
just make sure you have a UV protected room, a good tight (fresh) organic filtered mask, elbow length gloves and lots of acetone for cleanup
you can take all the time you need with UV before exposing it to sunlight
5-10 minutes and using wax paper to flip to get the laps
watch the suncure videos to see his method
once you get the timing, lap folding and squeegeeing out the excess resin you can move to epoxy
but once you do you’ll be on the clock as you would with stinky polyester.
jusr make sure to pour it all out in the center after basting the rails and you’ll get a little more time
catalyzed resin PU or epoxy does not like to be in a thick mass makes it angry
so angry the container will soon burn your hand
the more you can spread the mass the slower the resin will kick.
also slow the heck down when squeegeeing out your epoxy or you’ll get the white foam disease all beginners experience
if you can find wood ogre’s roller application thread that’s a good one
bammbamm has a bunch of good glassing posts as well.