Fiberglass Kick panels **Need Help**

[bigbud747 10+ year member]

I'm about to start a new project for my truck. I've got a 99 Dodge 1500 single cab and I want to make my own kickpanels. There is a guy that's going to give me a quart of resin and catalyst and as many sheets of fiberglass as I need. So, my first questions are:

1. How far will a quart of resin and caralyst get me?

2. Will I need sheets of fiberglass for the kickpanels, or can I just put resin on the fleece and have it harden?

3. Is there a tutorial or something to kind of help me along with fiberglassing since this is the first time I've messed with it before?

Now, the next thing is getting a nice set of components. I've looked at a couple

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_11648_MB+Quart+FSA+216.html#

and

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_7294_Phoenix+Gold+RSd+65cs.html

Could you tell me which one would be my best choice? I know people are going to say amp your speakers, but the plan it to unhook my rear 5.25's (since the sub box is covering them anyway) and hook that speaker wire to the crossovers then on to the speakers. My headunit (Pioneer 690 USB) puts out 22 watts, and right now my 6x9's scream so I'm not really worried about power.

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[audiobahnuser18 5,000+ posts]

Well man I've done many fiberglassing things as soon as I get home and on the comp ill give u tons tips etc.... 2 help u out

 

[bigbud747 10+ year member]

Thanks a lot man. And I've been looking around, and I know a guy who has a pair of these and they sound amazing (and it would be a little less work for me) but how does this set look?

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_4258_Pioneer+TS-D161R.html#

 

[bigbud747 10+ year member]

bump

 

[lvjeffro 10+ year member]

http://www.fiberglassforums.com

 

[buggsson 10+ year member]

2. Will I need sheets of fiberglass for the kickpanels, or can I just put resin on the fleece and have it harden?

You will need fiberglass to get the kick panels stiff enough, which will not happen with only fleece. Then I guess the views will differ on how many layers that is necessary. Do not skimp on the number of layers, stiffness is important.

 

[kovemaster559 5,000+ posts]

fiberglass resin, mekp, fiberglass mat. fleece, wood baffle,stapler ,bondo primer ,paint or carpet,

the trick to FG is patience and lots of attention to detail. good luck

 

[bigbud747 10+ year member]

Why do I need MEK? Isn't that paint thinner? And I'm thinking about having a local guy vinal wrap these, but if I can't find a local guy then I'll just paint them.

 

[Rawr-DQ 10+ year member]

Look, the first thing is you will probably need 1/2 gallon resin.

For every 8-16 oz resin (whatever the directions say) you will need about 3.5-7cc of mekp (methyl ethyl ketone peroxide) It is the catalyst that makes the resin harden.

I usually get several plastic cups and pour about 3-4 8 oz cups of resin when doing a couple layers.

Right before you use your resin, you add the hardener to the liquid and stir with Popsicle sticks (something disposable) You will need several 1" brushes (do not use foam) and several latex or butyl nitrile gloves. Your working time will be around 5 to 10 minutes, at the point the resin starts to gel up, you might as well switch to some fresh resin.

when you lay your glass (thinner sheets are easier to work with) You can wet the area first to get it sticky then apply the glass evenly on the flat surface, dab (poke) resin onto the glass and get it transparent. If you have any bubbles wet the brush the try to stab them out.

when working around curves keep the brush wet dont try to thin it out too much other wise it slide the glass and mess everything up. Once a layer is done, you can do another layer real quick, but between a few layers let it dry. if you can't get the glass to wrap let it dry then cut it off.

 

[Rawr-DQ 10+ year member]

When applying fleece, you will want to get a super stretchy material, I personally love speaker grille cloth. Use staples around all the seams (get a staple gun) and get the fabric nice and tight on your work, and secure. I dont like thick fleece either, thin is quite nice.

You soak the fleece with resin as you would glass, and let it harden before applying glass.

 

[Rawr-DQ 10+ year member]

Check these sites out for information on fiberglassing.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=4ln&q=fiberglassing+tutorials&btnG=Search

 

[JayinMI 10+ year member]

Grille cloth is nice, because it allows alot of the details to show through. If you don't get it tight enough, it will sag, tho. I just found out about a product called Ponte' (available at JoAnn fabrics) that is similar to grille cloth. It worked very well. It might be easier to find that grille cloth.

Jay

 

[k_schutte 10+ year member]

Just made some for my cadillac the other day. they are smaller though, like 8" X 5" and like 4"-5" deep at their highest point

Used some of my sons old thick fleece pajamas to begin with. Then a layer of 2oz "chopped mat" fallowed by a layer of "kitty hair" then some bondo. They are PLENTY stiff. my girl is about 110lb and she stood on them so i figure they are strong enough for my 6.5" comps.

I used a little dixie cup full of resin/hardener for each of them, i think they are like 2.5oz cups or so...

 

[bigbud747 10+ year member]

Just made some for my cadillac the other day. they are smaller though, like 8" X 5" and like 4"-5" deep at their highest point
Used some of my sons old thick fleece pajamas to begin with. Then a layer of 2oz "chopped mat" fallowed by a layer of "kitty hair" then some bondo. They are PLENTY stiff. my girl is about 110lb and she stood on them so i figure they are strong enough for my 6.5" comps.

I used a little dixie cup full of resin/hardener for each of them, i think they are like 2.5oz cups or so...

Well, 5 oz sounds a lot better than 1/2 a gallon. What I have been thinking I need to do is stretch fleece over it, put resin on the fleece and let it dry, then put about 3 layers of fiberglass on it. I'll most likely get a guy I know to wrap it in vinyl to match my interior. Does this sound strong enough? It's not like I'm gonna be smashing them with my feet all the time, and I don't think a 6.5 it going to move that much so I won't worry about flex issues.

 

[tcguy85 10+ year member]

Well, 5 oz sounds a lot better than 1/2 a gallon. What I have been thinking I need to do is stretch fleece over it, put resin on the fleece and let it dry, then put about 3 layers of fiberglass on it. I'll most likely get a guy I know to wrap it in vinyl to match my interior. Does this sound strong enough? It's not like I'm gonna be smashing them with my feet all the time, and I don't think a 6.5 it going to move that much so I won't worry about flex issues.

if you have any real power and want decent mid-bass from them, then they will be moving quite a bit and creating quite some pressure. in my car on select songs i am getting a rattle from the window seal where the window slides up and down in the door. i'm getting enough pressure in my doors that air wants to blow out between the window seals and the glass.