Fiberglassing the box

[Black Truck 10 10+ year member]

My Mag v4 are coming in wednesday so I decided I should get started on the box to finish my install.

I wanted to put a plexi window in the front of my box with a light underneath it to illuminate the etch in the window and for a basic light for the box. To make the box (I think im goin with mdf or particle board) I wanted the inside to look nice and pretty. My plan was to do a layer or 2 of fiberglass.

My question is when you fiberglass and then you sand it, is it smooth then or are you supposed to use a filler or something else for that smooth look? Im not doing any angles im just going for looks here, as well as being sure the box is sealed.

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[ramos 5,000+ posts]

My Mag v4 are coming in wednesday so I decided I should get started on the box to finish my install.
I wanted to put a plexi window in the front of my box with a light underneath it to illuminate the etch in the window and for a basic light for the box. To make the box (I think im goin with mdf or particle board) I wanted the inside to look nice and pretty. My plan was to do a layer or 2 of fiberglass.

My question is when you fiberglass and then you sand it, is it smooth then or are you supposed to use a filler or something else for that smooth look? Im not doing any angles im just going for looks here, as well as being sure the box is sealed.

If looks are all your after why bother with the fglass? Screw that, get some sanding sealer, shoot a couple coats on it , lightly sand it, prime it , more sanding, and paint it. Would be an *** load easier , cheaper, and less time consuming //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[jdc753 10+ year member]

should be able to use some resin and maybe some filler.

BUT, what I would look for would be some melamine MDF. Should be able to find it at Home Depot or wherever I would think. Basically think of those cheap closets/desks/bookshelves you buy at home depot or wherever and assemble yourself. Its that stuff and you should be able to easily find it with a nice white finish on it already. Would just assemble it like standard mdf and then maybe use some color matched silicone in the edges to give a smooth look all around. Depending on your paneling size you might be able to buy the stuff from those vanity/bookshelf kits at Home Depot. Only would have to avoid any exposed edges that were cut, but if its only for the inside of the box this is what I would do.

EDIT: Or do what Ramos said, might be cheaper, not sure on pricing.

Double Edit: Mag v4 FTW //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[Ed Lester 10+ year member]

I usually use 2 or 3 layers of MDF, particle board is too brittle.

Then for added strength and slickness I use a few layers of fiberglass matt and resin. Then I sand that a little and use a coat or 2 of body filler. Then I sand that the paint it just like the exterior of a car.

 

[bjfish11 5,000+ posts]

If looks are all your after why bother with the fglass? Screw that, get some sanding sealer, shoot a couple coats on it , lightly sand it, prime it , more sanding, and paint it. Would be an *** load easier , cheaper, and less time consuming //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Agreed. No reason to go through all the work to glass and such, if you are going be keeping a flat shape.

Only problem with using a pre-finished product such as mellamine, you need to prep all the surface area where your bonds will be made, or you wont get a good solid joint.

 

[Black Truck 10 10+ year member]

Ok so it looks like ill skip the fiberglassing and just seal the corners with a sealer, then use sanding sealer? Does this make it so that the mdf doesnt soak up the paint and become weak and brittle? Or what exactly does sanding sealer do? I tried looking it up on miniwax website and homedepots with minimal luck.

 

[ramos 5,000+ posts]

Ok so it looks like ill skip the fiberglassing and just seal the corners with a sealer, then use sanding sealer? Does this make it so that the mdf doesnt soak up the paint and become weak and brittle? Or what exactly does sanding sealer do? I tried looking it up on miniwax website and homedepots with minimal luck.

http://www.shop.com/+-a-deft+sanding+sealer-nover-st.shtml

That's my favorite . Here locally I get it at either wally world or lowes. Sanding sealer just seals the mdf surface so it doesn't soak up the paint like a sponge. Apply a couple coats of the sanding sealer and the mdf will paint like metal afterwards. Piece o' cake //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Black Truck 10 10+ year member]

Just talked to the pops, he said a kill would do the same thing since they are both lacquer based. Thoughts? Why would 1 be better than the other?

 

[ramos 5,000+ posts]

Killz? as in Killz stain blocker/sealer? Killz works as long you don't use the latex version. The reason I like the deft is that it sands rather easy and doesn't eat sand paper like killz does. Killz works real well for sealing the inside of an enclosure as well //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif