Fiberglass and Chicken wire.....

[Omarvelous 10+ year member]

OK Guys....

Want to do something a little outrageous.

Got a 2004 Tahoe Z71 with the 2nd row captain chairs.

What i plan on doing is making a custom sub enclosure that goes from the roof, like 2 pillars behind the 2 captain chairs and then joins in the middle and make a middle chair between the captains.

Each pillar would have 2 15" XXXs each, and 1 15" XXX in the middle (might leave it at 4 subs total, contemplating the 5 middle 15"er)

One 15" at the top of each pillar, then another 15" at the lower sections. I'm sure i can get an easy 16-20cuft total for the enclosure.

Also want to build a swappable port.

I want the box to be curvy, so MDF woudn't be the main material.

I also would like to build it outside the far, as the glassing goes. Being that the chicken wire holds it's shape, i could form it in the car, then take it out and glass it.

I'm curious is chicken wire is the best way to go for this?

Also do i glass the chicken wire and leave it in ??

Also should i do this in sections then join it r just do it all as a whole?

Any other suggestions are welcome.

As of now this is just a thought.

Click to read more...

 

[ANeonRider 10+ year member]

Chicken wire sounds good to me, will make the fiber work uber strong too. You would probably have to leave it in after you have glassed it, might be hard to get out. Personally I would leave it in for the added strength.

 

[ramos 5,000+ posts]

Yep chicken wire will work for a shape holder. If you can get to the inside area's pretty easily. I would put fleece on the outside of the chicken wire and apply mat on the inside. That way you can stretch out the fleece as smooth as possible, and save yourself tons of time sanding in the end. At the same time you would be creating a stronger enclosure by sandwiching the chicken wire. As far as sections go it's really up to you. It would probably be stronger in smaller sections, as fiberglass is at it's weakest in big panels. The curves will strengthen though. So it's really just a matter of ease of installation, If you can fit it in as one piece go for it. If you can't no big deal just make it in sections. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Just wanted to be sure that you understand how time consuming and expensive fiberglassing is. That's not something you'll be able to do in a weekend for $100.

 

[maylar 10+ year member]

Is chicken wire close mesh enough to make rounded surfaces without a lot of filler work? And how do you bend it into a complex shape? Maybe an mdf base with wire stapled to it for the rounded surfaces? My kid wants to make a custom console for his truck and I'm unclear how to make the frame for it.

 

[Omarvelous 10+ year member]

Just wanted to be sure that you understand how time consuming and expensive fiberglassing is. That's not something you'll be able to do in a weekend for $100.

OOO believe me i plan on experimenting atleast 2-3 times b4 i attempt this project.

I plan on working realll slow, so would span over a week def.

 

[immaculateaudio 10+ year member]

I Wouldnt Use Chicken Wire In A Million Years For A Project As Large As U Are Describing... Your Best Bet Is To Work More With Something Stronger Like Mdf... Lay The Frame Up Inside The Car First Using Mdf; Sides, Bottom, Rings For The Subs Etc. Then Stretch Your Fleece Over The Entire Area That You Want To Be Curvy; Assuming The Front!... Yes, Yes This Is Definately You Should Have A Little Experience With Before Attempting... Have You Done Any Smaller Projects Yet?... Like Kick Panels Or Etc.?

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

OOO believe me i plan on experimenting atleast 2-3 times b4 i attempt this project.
I plan on working realll slow, so would span over a week def.

I don't know how much free time you have......but if you work a full time job or go to school full time, I'd guess it would take you close to a month to finish something so large. If your home all day with nothing to do, then probably a couple weeks. Invest in a good handheld power sander also, the finish layer of bondo is going to take FOREVER to sand down smooth...........

 

[ANeonRider 10+ year member]

I Wouldnt Use Chicken Wire In A Million Years For A Project As Large As U Are Describing... Your Best Bet Is To Work More With Something Stronger Like Mdf... Lay The Frame Up Inside The Car First Using Mdf; Sides, Bottom, Rings For The Subs Etc. Then Stretch Your Fleece Over The Entire Area That You Want To Be Curvy; Assuming The Front!... Yes, Yes This Is Definately You Should Have A Little Experience With Before Attempting... Have You Done Any Smaller Projects Yet?... Like Kick Panels Or Etc.?

Whats with the capitals?

 

[Omarvelous 10+ year member]

I Wouldnt Use Chicken Wire In A Million Years For A Project As Large As U Are Describing... Your Best Bet Is To Work More With Something Stronger Like Mdf... Lay The Frame Up Inside The Car First Using Mdf; Sides, Bottom, Rings For The Subs Etc. Then Stretch Your Fleece Over The Entire Area That You Want To Be Curvy; Assuming The Front!... Yes, Yes This Is Definately You Should Have A Little Experience With Before Attempting... Have You Done Any Smaller Projects Yet?... Like Kick Panels Or Etc.?

If the majority of the enclosure is going to be fiberglass....... besides the chicken wire form, and the MDF rings, port then why would using MDF to frame it be better??

I thought the fiberglass would be good enough to make the chicken wire worth using? Chicken wire is STRONG, and for it to enforced, both sides with around 4 layers of resin, mat, so 8 sides each should be super strong???

Explain

 

[Omarvelous 10+ year member]

I don't know how much free time you have......but if you work a full time job or go to school full time, I'd guess it would take you close to a month to finish something so large. If your home all day with nothing to do, then probably a couple weeks. Invest in a good handheld power sander also, the finish layer of bondo is going to take FOREVER to sand down smooth...........

****, u might b rigght.

Will b in school fulltime, the planning itself will take me ..... 1month the least.

****..... We'll see.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

****, u might b rigght.
Will b in school fulltime, the planning itself will take me ..... 1month the least.

****..... We'll see.

Look on the bright side though......it will be kickass when you're done //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/clap.gif.178cba2c538c68e720c727fcb024b19c.gif

Good luck with your project

 

[`pr0digy 10+ year member]

Keep us updated. I don't know if your really going to go through with such a large project, but if you do, good luck! Remember to take pictures //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[ramos 5,000+ posts]

Is chicken wire close mesh enough to make rounded surfaces without a lot of filler work? And how do you bend it into a complex shape? Maybe an mdf base with wire stapled to it for the rounded surfaces? My kid wants to make a custom console for his truck and I'm unclear how to make the frame for it.

I wouldn't worry about chicken wire in a console. I would just use an mdf frame. Then maybe some thin strips to bow and make some gentle curves. Depends upon what shape he's after really. So what's he after ? I can give you a better idea maybe. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[maylar 10+ year member]

I wouldn't worry about chicken wire in a console. I would just use an mdf frame. Then maybe some thin strips to bow and make some gentle curves. Depends upon what shape he's after really. So what's he after ? I can give you a better idea maybe. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

He wants it "rounded". No flat sides. Large radius curves, way beyond what I could get sanding corners on MDF. Inside must be hollow for sub enclosure and a storage compartment.

I'm thinking maybe a block of styrofoam sculpted and covered with glass. Then hog out the styrofoam afterward. Dunno yet, just soliciting ideas.