How do I repair Fiberglass?

[tqlla]

Damn, my Eclipse rear bumper is getting screwed. And so are my sideskirts. The alst snow has not been good to me. I hit a pot hole so big that my side skirt scraped along the bottom(at 2 MPH, I was turing a blind corner) So there is now a hole. I also reversed into a Snowbank that was ice. So another huge crack there. Given that my Front is unpainted, I wanna just paint the whole car.

Of course I want to fix the Cracks and holes myself. Wo how do I do it?

I was gonna steal this guys thread. krott5333, But I guess molding fiberglass to metal is different than fixing fiberglass

 

[black9d1tsiawd]

PLASTIC WELDER KIT!!! Yup, iam dead serious!!! u can use a platic welder kit, OR

You may use Fiberglass resin and strips.

(more then likely id use both!) the strip and resin 2 hold the back side of the weld.

 

[98eclipse]

Well it really depends on how big the crack/hole is.. but I will explain the way that i would fix either..
you will need:
Fiberglass resin
fiberglass mat
and some brushes
NOTE: you will need to prep the surface before doing this by sanding and cleaning it
1)cut the mat so that is big enough to cover the hole or crack and have about 2-3" extra on all sides of the hole..
2)now you need to mix up some resin. if you use Bondo brand it comes with hardener with it..
3)now you need to dip your brush in the resin and "paint" it on over the mat. it will start to dry quickly within 7-10 mins, so be quick. the mat will seem to disapear and it will almost be completly see through (with just a yellowish tint) when it drys.
you may want to do this a couple times. the more mat you use the harder it will be. just be sure to add more mat and resin while the layer below is still wet/sticky. if you let it dry you will have to sand the previous layer before adding another..
4)when you are complete sand smooth and get it painted.
pretty sure i mentioned everything. I don't do much body work with fiberglass, but i do a lot of custom systems and interior work with it.
If i forgot something feel free to correct me.

Later

 

[cait sith]

Are these your stock bumpers and stuff? Because if they are, the fiberglass isn't going to stay together on the factory ABS plastic crap, unfortunately.

I speak from experience with flatbeds and their dumbass owners who leave hooks on when they roll them down. It'll work for a little while, but then it'll just snap and become broken.

 

[wicked93GS]

It should stay together for the back bumper and side skirts, because they dont take very much stress compared to the front bumper, and 98eclipse mentioned all there is to know about fiberglass bodywork, thats the general pattern to follow, people always make working with fiberglass out to be much harder than it actually is, you just have to be careful is all, repairing a crack is easy, its fabrication itself thats difficult, I would also put some fiberglass across the backside of the crack too, just for a better hold, it doesnt have to look pretty back there though

 

[tqlla]

I have a Blitz Poly Urethane Front and Rest Blitz Fiberglass. Next time, all poly urethane. Its much more durable.