[MLCC]

Need expertise. I want to fiberglass my dash pad without making a mold. Like most of the late model dash pads the factory foam and pressed vinyl complete the shape. If I strip the dash to plastic it loses its curves. Is there a way to fiberglass or just resin over the pressed vinyl without the results of cracks or possible lifts? I just want to smooth the dash for paint and the pressed vinyl cannot be sanded enough to get that smooth fiberglass look. If I do not make a mold will I be making a mistake? Please help. Thank you

[poncho62]

moving to interior forum.

[OneMoreTime]

Fiberglass Tutorial

This may help..you may wish to do a layup over the existing dash to smooth it out..

Sam

[powerrodsmike]

First test a small area and see if the resin will attack the vinyl and soften it or make it dissolve.
. If it doesn't then I would think that if you glassed over the whole surface of your dash, and secured the edges down somehow, you would ,in essence , be making a foam filled part. I would use 2 layers of 3/4 oz matt and don't sand through it anywhere when you do your smoothing.
Hope this helps, mikey

[MLCC]

Thanks Guys. I'll try it out your remedies and let you know what happens.

[lumberjacknooj]

I'm wanting to do the same thing to my dash pad (not to smooth it, but just to put a "shell" on it 'cause the vinyl is old and brittle).
I was just gonna sand down and epoxy any small cracks- then stretch fleece over the dash and coat it with resin. It might be tough to get the fleece to stretch over some of the compound curves, if you have any. I figured that one layer of fleece would add less bulk to the dash than multiple layers of matt (am I wrong on that?). That's my reason for wanting to use the fleece. I'm assuming you wouldn't need a very thick layer of glass on a dash pad... But assuming makes an a** out of u and ming
I think some areas of the pad may have to be sanded down a little before 'glassing it to have it fit correctly after you've covered it and smoothed it, regardless of what method you use. Just my two cents.

nooj

[lgollakner]

hey why do people lay down a whole bunch of wax on a fiberglass dash and then lay GELCOAT? what does the GELCOAT do?

[DanTwoLakes]

Why not just repair the original dash pad? Check out this site: http://www.justdashes.com/Index.htm or this site: http://www.coverlaymfg.com/index.php?crn=228 or this site on repairing what you have: http://www.performancemetalshaping.n...ge/4811649.htm

[TwistedTrbl]

Originally Posted by lgollakner

hey why do people lay down a whole bunch of wax on a fiberglass dash and then lay GELCOAT? what does the GELCOAT do?

This is usually done to make a mold of the original part.

[lgollakner]

hey i am making a wood mold right now then im gonna lay a plastic over the top to make a mold. When i lay down the fiberglass cloth do i need to dip it in resin or paint it on? and for a dash how thick of fiberglass should i get? and around how many layers?

[speedydeedy]

If you smooth the wood and wax it good, you don't need plastic it will come off the wood because of the wax. 2 layers of 1 ounce mat should be fine,3 if you want to pound on it when your engine fails. LOL

[lgollakner]

are you sure that its not to thick? if i get the thicker stuff that you are telling me will it bend around all the curves just as good as the thinner stuff and haha hopefully it wont fail

thanks

[NEW INTERIORS]

You need to tear it so it will lay down in the curves.Don't cut it ,It will show a line.When you tear it it will blend in better.

[lgollakner]

check out this ebay link it says 1 oz per square foot or something check it out and see if its the right stuff for me to buy for the dash??



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FIBER...ayphotohosting

[lgollakner]

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