batbuilder's LP640 called "No Mercie"

[batbuilder]

I believe in the dab and spread. not the pour resin all over the place. Remember less is best. Its got to be fully saturated but 3/8 of resin over the fiberglass adds no strength.

[batbuilder]

In setting up the pieces next step is to apply resin. Remember to keep each task small so that its easy to accomplish. The goal is to be standing around saying, "that was easy"

[batbuilder]

The front lower part of the inner door panel where those paint sticks were

[batbuilder]

Here I am laying out the areas where the paint sticks were holding the door bottom straight. Now they need to be finished.

[batbuilder]

Here's that same piece after hitting it with a grinder. Actually to be honest I use a 4 1/2 inch cutting wheel. I use the side to grind down. As I'm grinding I'm thinking about which way is the breeze blowing, safety glasses, ear plugs and gloves. I work in a non-cluttered area with my thumb on the off button. You can never be too safe.

[batbuilder]

ALWAYS lay out your fiberglass route before you start. Its a lot easier that trying to cut glass as your laying resin.

[batbuilder]

Usmc-butler, my apologies. Tap Plastics is a store. I think they have an online store. They are set up for hobbiest to large scale hobbiest. Most body shops would go to a larger wholesaler. A good idea is to find a guy that has been there for a while. Ask some questions you know the answer to. If he seems to have the right answers establish a relationship and ask for him whenever you come in. I try not to bombard a guy with questions I do it over a period of time. I always try and buy something so his time doesn't seem wasted. If he tells me something I'm not sure of I make a note of it and will ask a buddy over at Auto Industrial. I try to visit the store at non-peak hours. This business is about relationships. Nobody is going to care until you show them that you care.We kinda lost that art in our fast pace society. Its amazing to me how much free great information I get just by being involved. but thats another topic....Tap Plastic is a store and its own brand. Google it....thanks again...dave

[usmc_butler]

That is what I was looking for is the Tap Plastic brand, I noticed you mentioned them before. I have done lots of painting and rebuilding etc, even had a few Vetts (none needed fiberglass work however!) I know all about what can come out of your nose, it can be some nasty stuff... I guess I never really thought about fiberglass being sanded/grinded down to a glass powder and the side affects of breathing it.

Again you  keep up the great work

[batbuilder]

Hey Usmc-butler, I had the pleasure of working with a top ace boat fiberglass guy. As I worked along side him I was stunned at the amount of guys he had worked with that had died of an early age. Most all lung issues. Even as he was telling me these stories he had a non-chalant attitude to the fiberglass. Try the q-tip thing after spray painting I was surprised at how much paint was in my nostrils. It caused me to reposition my work outside of my garage and I could even see a difference in the q-tips. My recommendation is Tap Plastics. They are more expensive but better products. The first time I went to Lowes I honestly couldn't find the stuff. Its alotted to a small area. Even Walmart has some but Tap Plastic is the best for hobbiest. thanks for looking and the kind words...dave

[batbuilder]

Here the back of the headrest is grinded to create roughness so the resin can bite into the piece and create good adhesion. This must always be done. Heat and cold can later cause the fiberglass to expand and contract at a faster rate than the metal frame and cause poor adhesion areas to pop. on a recent project were I attached steel grills to my fiberglass body when I rolled it out side I could hear the heat pop the fiberglass away from the steel. It made me rethink the grills and I remade them out of fiberglass. Much better

[usmc_butler]

I went to Lowes last night to get some fiberglass supplies and my Lowes doesn't carry any As I have stated before I really enjoy reading your posts your thoroughness, attention to detal reasoning and documenting skills are outsanding I never knew what you mentioned earlier about fiberglass and what it could do to the body. Thank you for taking the time to share that

[batbuilder]

The tools of the trade fiberglass pieces neede to be protected against contamination. Gatorade containers one with acetone for the brush the other with resin. Try to avoid big containers as that my lull you into making big batches. Its better to make five small manegable batches that one out of control batch. Its actually better to be done with time to spare on the resin setting up that to have to rush to beat the set up. A small piece of fiberglass that can handle only four to five strips. Big fiberglass is hard to handle single handedly and you need to move from the table to your work area in one swift move. Not the move where the board is so big and loaded down you drop resin laden strips on the floor. When that happens "let it go" its contaminated. Cheap small brush.

[batbuilder]

The most important part here is to wear gloves. People dont realize that small particles of fiberglass stuck in the skin will eventuall break. Float around your circulatory system and end up in the heart. Gloves are such a cheap protection agains this and also proper ventalation. Fiberglass dust inhaled can lodge in the lungs and our body has no way of breaking down the glass particles. Over a period of exposure it can cause "white lung" similar to black lung experienced by coal miner. Now don't be alarmed the amount of exposure by hobbiest like us is minimal but guys in the fiberglass business that are exposed daily over years lose time here on earth due to that exposure. Baby powder put on your arms will help the glass dust from lodging onto your body. And using a q-tip in your nostrils every night after fiberglassing will show you how much dust almost made it to your lungs. Using a mask and creating airflow through your workspace will definitely help. Either wear a filter or be a filter. Yes and eye protection please.

[batbuilder]

Here is me cutting up the fiberglass that I will attach to the framing

[batbuilder]

Hey Autopro, yeah those welds are from a buddy that does industrial welding. He has never welded any car components before. I used him originally on my "Big Kahuna" batpod replica build and his welding skills blew me away. The thing I like the most about him is his enthusiasim for what I'm doing. The hardest thing to find is people that will have enthusiasm for your projects. That is why it always seems to be better to do things for yourself. No one cares more about your project than yourself. I am fortunate to have a business partner involved with the Lambo builds because the welder does not come cheap. If I did not have the finanacial support I would be doing the welding. We are currently welding the chassis for the Big Kahuna project so I may be posting here some of those pics. Again thank you for the kind words...dave