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05-13-2003, 11:30 AM
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How to make a new center console?
Inside my 75 Jag the center console needs some serious work. First the certer console holds a switch panel that was butchered by the shop that installed the trany. I want to pull the old one as a template and fabricate a new one out of Carbon Fiber or Fiberglass. Can I use the old console as a template and by laying the glass directly on it? then re-cut the switch holes and move the ones I need to move. I would then hant to put a wood laminate on it to make it look close to stock. Also there is a VERY thin box in the center of the console. It feels like vacumm formed plastic which has cracked very badly. Could I take the old box and lay glass in it to reinforce it?
Thanks Mark 
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05-13-2003, 12:29 PM
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My opinion is that it would work great. For my speaker boxes in the doors of my 'J- I just fiberglassed over a one pound plastic butter container with a metal 'lid' that held the clip nuts for the speaker and painted it with epoxy paint. It is waterproof and sounds great with my 6 and a halfs!! (If you are REMOVING the console after the glass you'll need a release agent to prevent the fibo from adhering of course.)
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05-13-2003, 02:45 PM
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Dagon J:
How many layers of glass would you recomend? 1,2 etc... What would be a good realease agent? Regards Mark
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05-13-2003, 03:12 PM
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Best release agent is a special mold release carnauba wax. The two outfits below sell it mail order and their prices are reasonable. Other waxes contain additives that the resin will probably attack and you will bond the whole mess together.
Two layers of mat is fine if you leave the old unit inside, 4 if you use it for a mold then remove it. http://www.fibreglast.com/products.php?session=06da96d0d98588529435dede391ca 298&area=11
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05-13-2003, 07:06 PM
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Thanks for the links:
This is my first excursion into fiberglass fabrication. I was thinking of the finest mess I could find. Also I heard you should rotate the layers for extra strength. I will be pulling the original metal out BUT I need to replace some areas that were cut away (severly cut away) any ideas on how to make up those gaps? Is it better to let each layer harden before applying the next? Thanks Mark
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05-13-2003, 09:26 PM
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Rotating layers refers to using woven glass fiber fabric in highly stressed parts like monoco (sp?) car bodies, airplane parts, or boat hulls. The stuff you will use is just a pile of random threads so there is no strength direction. Just slap it on. Fill the voids with anything you can find - duct tape works great for patching holes in flat panels like it sounds you have. Don't wait to harden, just start mixing resin and slapping on layers of cloth 'til it is thick enough. Go read the fiberglassing post that is near this one for more details. I strongly suggest you cut all 4 layers of your mat to approximate size before starting 'cause your hands will be too gooey to do it half way through. narrow strips are easier to apply than big square sheets. I usually cut a whole bunch of 1"-2" wide x 6"-12" long strips for a job like yours sounds and just lay the layers in different directions.
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05-14-2003, 06:22 AM
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05-14-2003, 10:22 AM
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Thank you to willys for some great info and answers!!
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