hi whats the best way to make moulds for body panels. i wasted a load of fiber so far trying to get it right.
adam

What did you use and how? Foam blocks cut with a hotwire. Anything that will hold plasterto get a shape. Timber frames with wire mesh. Not done a lot but watched guys do it and thought . F**** that

Alex

Tis a black art and no mistake but when you know how it's a doddle....just a tad messy.
Find someone local to do it for you as might be cheaper in the long run.

Mark

Adam,

you could try reading this:
http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=145975

It's a bloody long, but very good read, and will surely help you out!!!

Steve

Make yourself a buck out of plaster of paris, skim it with body filler, sand it to final shape.

Finally cover with 6 or 7 coats of release wax, then lay up gelcoat followed by matting to make a mould.

See this pic of mine (excuse the quality), should be all you need.

http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/photos.php?action=showphoto&photo=making%20panels.jpg

Basically, two sheets of MDF with slots cut in (with a jigsaw), to your desired profile.

Space apart at desired width, and insert a sheet of ally.

For the front arches, use plaster to form a nice contour on both outer edges, and on rears one side needs a nice outer contour, the other a square lip.

Grease or whatever you use for release, then gelcoat and layup.

Should take you a day to make all arches. I used this method on my scuttle too.

HTH

ATB

Simon

[Edited on 12/9/07 by Simon]

Important to skim with body filler as Polyester resin don`t like water based filler materials.

Alex

quote:

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Originally posted by Alex B
Important to skim with body filler as Polyester resin don`t like water based filler materials.

Alex

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Used Polyfilla on rear gaurd radius. Dried in house for a week till snowwhite. Pva plus four coats Simonize..............stuck and reacted to gelcoat

Alex

Nah, don't worry about PVA - you wouldn't put PVA in your bearings

Grease, man. Grease

Just don't leave too thick - and use a proper plaster, like Herculite, sets incredilbly hard.

ATB

Simon

Grease?........I`ll try it.

Alex

well ive spent about 4 days trying to mould carbon fiber around box section and trying to pull it off with no look. looks like iam gonna use steel. and ive given up on the panels lol.
adam