Custom Sub Help (fiberglass mold help!)

[InfiniteGSX]

Hey guys, I wanted to make this enclosure for a while. However I want it to be able to be removed without new interior

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I am going to make a mold of all of that with fiberglass and I was thinking of using Carpet to stiffen it up to hold bass well, but I need tips on how to make this mold? What can I do to the plastic to keep the Fiberglass/Resin from sticking to it? Whats the best way to go about this? I was thinking back to my kindergarten paper mache days, Thinking that maybe the best way to make a mold, is to use cut pieces of cloth first and a heat gun or blow dryer to dry the resin faster and go piece by piece until I have the entire part, and then I can just go back over it with patches of carpet and resin it all till I have a thick, hard piece molded to the trunk. And then I can work on the floor with MDF and then the front wall and roof all with MDF.

Now that I think about it. Maybe I should Staple some carpet to the floor piece's edge, and mold from the floor up?

Idea's, tips please! also whats the best way to harden all of this? I was just going to use resin and hardener but it hardens so fast I'll have to keep on making more batches. Tips?

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Zoom Zoom!

 

[phunny]

Layout everything you want to do in aluminum foil. Then fiberglass on top of it. If you want it to be removable then you might have to do a 3 piece install for your trunk. If you want a ton of info go to Fiberglass Forums - Powered by vBulletin

-charlie

 

[InfiniteGSX]

Why would it have to be 3piece to be removable? The reason I wanna know how to keep the fiberglass from sticking to the plastic is so it can be removable with one whole piece. I was gonna have the back side carpeted so the plastic doesn't vibrate. And have it so that I can just pull it out.

Aluminum foil does sound good. Good way to get the aluminum foil to partly stick to the plastic so I can mold up against it?

 

[ricktb]

I did a fiberglass mold over carpet in my truck once by covering the entire area with painters masking tape, then the fiber and resin over top. After a few layers had hardened, the entire piece peeled out nicely and left the surfaces below undamaged. If you build the mdf side and top to fit before you 'glass, you can 'glass the area, rest the mdf part in place, using some more resin as glue, then trim the 'glass. You will have one nice box.

 

[InfiniteGSX]

Yup thats my plan. I think I'll use the masking tape. And stapple the shit I decide on using to the floor, and then go layer at a time. Start with a strip about 4" Tall. then Add another strip the same size in. And then prob when I get to the corners I'll do small pieces. So I can get the shape right. I was thinking of using carpet, since the weave is fiberglass and its like the best way to make a thick layer for sub enclosures. I could staple the carpet to the floor, with the soft side out facing the plastic. and go layer after layer, However I'm a little worried about when I get to the completely upside down area's. How am I going to get those pieces to stay.... Since I wont be using a vacuum bag. I think I might have to then unstaple the hardened piece, pull the plastic part out of the car and lay it down a certain way so I can rest the fg piece in and go around the corners and let gravity take its tole.

 

[phunny]

Why would it have to be 3piece to be removable? The reason I wanna know how to keep the fiberglass from sticking to the plastic is so it can be removable with one whole piece. I was gonna have the back side carpeted so the plastic doesn't vibrate. And have it so that I can just pull it out.

Aluminum foil does sound good. Good way to get the aluminum foil to partly stick to the plastic so I can mold up against it?

Foil is the best way to keep it from sticking to your vehicle and getting the nice shape. The reason I said 3 piece is because of the way the truck is shaped. It's larger at the bottom and smaller at the top. So a 1 piece removable would be impossible. 2 piece would almost be the same problem and then you split down the middle, therefore 3 piece is the best choice.

 

[InfiniteGSX]

No it wouldn't, it would slide right out.... 1 Piece straight up! There's a floor, a face, and a roof made of MDF. Then the back wall will be fiberglass molded to the trunk. So once its done, you just slide it out and remove it.

Look at the picture I posted, the enclosure would slide directly south of that, aka towards the camera.

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I wouldn't make it if it had to come out in pieces.