Fiberglass Desktop CP...

[Setabs]

I origanally had this project  I built a mock up cardboard panel of that one and never got past that point.  I enjoyed having it sit on my lap more than on my desk.  I knew if i made it out of wood it might be to heavy to sit in my lap comfortably.

A year and a half later I made this-

It's the smallest I could fit all of my controls in.  Its 12"Wx6"Dx3³/₄"H1x3¹/₄"H2.
It was to small to use because there is no were to rest your hands.

6-months later I started on this-
16"Wx9¹/₂"Dx3¹/₂"H1x3"H2



I used the small wood you buy at an arts and crafts store along w/ a glue gun to make the frame.

I then bought some cheap cloth from Wally World and proceeded to cover the frame.

I used some tips from this website to do the fiberglass.

I didn't however mix enough right away.  So the first application didn't soak through all the way or cover the entire thing.  First mistake.



I also folded the fiberglass cloth and stuck it under parts of the frame to get it[the frame] out easier. I caused a gap and air bubble, the big thing your not supposed to do when working w/ fiberglass.  Second mistake. Thats why God had the Dremel made.


This ones after the first layer of glass on the underside of the top.


This is after
Top - 4 layers of alternating fiberglass cloth and cheap cotton cloth.  With a thick layer of resin on top and bottom.

Sides - 3 layers on all the sides alternating again.  With a thick layer of resin on top and bottom.

Corners - 1 layer along all corners.



Thats as far as I've gone.  one more layer of resin on the outside to build it up for  the biggest pain in the ass.


Lessons I have learned so far, things I would consider doing differently...

1.  I would have taken the time to find a thicker cloth at 2am in wal-mart.
2.  I would have not used the cheap cloth on anything other than the initial cover. It's woven tight enough to not let air bubbles out easily.
3.  I would have done some of the things suggested here.  Mainly using bondo and foam to make the shape.


Also if anyone knows this guy tell him to finish and update his post.

If anyone knows any other sites w/ fiberglass tutorials post them and I'll add them into this post.  I didn't find a whole lot on this site or on google.  I'd like to help out people that are trying to use fiberglass by having a wealth of info in my post.

[Mark70]

So why fibreglass?

[Setabs]

It is an exercise in learning.  Espeacially since I couldn't find a whole lot of resources on how to do stuff w/ it.  I pretty much used what I read from that first website and what I had seen on automotive tv shows.  They would build some sort of structure.  Fasten a cloth to it then ad alyers of glass on to it.  I do appreciate your comments though.  If nothing else I just thought this project would hopefully be something that another member down the road could look at for knowledge on what might work.  Because alot of people made comments asking about using glass but not to many people have used it.

[Setabs]

So I finally finished this damn thing!

Somewhere around Jan. or Feb. this asshat of a cat knocked over the panel.

It was resting about 6ft. off the ground.  It took out some chunks of glass in the corners.
Fiberglass also likes to crack when you drill into it.




You can see the bondo in this picture as I was starting to primer the panel. 







So i found out some interesting facts when using primer, don't use old cans of primer.  I had a primer sealer that it a couple years old. I start to spray the panel and it dripped something off the can and onto the panel.  I got some cloth and wiped away and when I did it ate the primer.  So I got to resand that portion and respray it.
I used a 200 grit sand paper in between layers of primer.
Finished the priming and sanding. 






I used a 400 grit sandpaper before the fisrt coat of paint.
I sprayed the paint on real lightly and built it up then let it dry and sanded w/ 4000 grit sand paper.
I put on 2 layers that way.
heres before the final layer of paint.




Here is the final product



This is with all the controls installed.




Underside pre-wiring.




Underside after wiring is complete.


Even though it took me about 4-6 months to complete.  If I had worked on it every day I could have been done in 2 weeks or less if I laid the fiberglass faster and didn't need as much bondo.

I will probably never use fiberglass for anything like this again.  Just on small details or make the shape w/ foam and use it as a mold.  But I would have never know how much of a pain it can be until I tryed.

 

[psychopanda]

I like the look and the paint job. Kudos for your work.

I bet it's pretty light and easy to tote around too.

[Setabs]

I like the look and the paint job. Kudos for your work.

I bet it's pretty light and easy to tote around too.

The paint is a dupli-color  "Ultramarine Blue Metallic"  DSGM267
I found it at wal-mart and auto-zone.  Its suppossed to be a touch up paint for cars but I've never seen that color on a car before.


The controls weigh it down alot but I think its still lighter that if it was made out of 1/2" wood.