Interior remodeling Options

[rtalich]

Found a big block of foam and thought I would see about making my own center console. Here's the progress so far. This will be my first project using fiberglass... any pointers or advice? Should I use cloth or mat? Should I paint or use color resin?

Thanks
Rob

[rtalich]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far!! At this point I'm thinking I will bondo over the foam and get a nice good base. Then fabric or CF over that. Then several coats of resin sanding in between to get a nice smooth surface. I will probably cut the peice to make a lid and compartment before bondo and glass.

I found this block of foam while driving by a place a while ago. They were throwing a bunch of these blocks out. Asked if I can have one. I've had it in the garage for a coulple years and decided it's time to make something out of it.

[ThePaintedMan]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far!! At this point I'm thinking I will bondo over the foam and get a nice good base. Then fabric or CF over that. Then several coats of resin sanding in between to get a nice smooth surface. I will probably cut the peice to make a lid and compartment before bondo and glass.

Your idea looks awesome so far, but I think you have it a little backward (at least from how folks typically fabricate). Foam first. Then lay your fiberglass over. Then finish with bondo and primer.

You don't want to lay bondo over the foam because it won't have a firm surface to adhere to. This could be a real problem as it sits in the sun and cures over the years.

Generally when you make a one-off part you always finish fiberglass with a skim coat of bondo/filler. Resin by itself won't leave you with a great surface to prime and paint without roughing it up. And trying to sand resin with anything finer than 120 grit is basically pointless. That's why your final step will always be bondo and primer. Unless of course you have a mold, like Mark was talking about. Then no filler should be necessary - just gel coat.

[porschefile2010]

And for a first time amateur build I really think you should use polyester with Chopped strand matt. Make it resin rich and it will handle those curves and radiuses better than cloth and you are going to have to use filler anyway and do some fairing after so save yourself the grief.

Epoxy is great but you need peelply if you want cloth to hold corners and that starts to get tricky. Once again good luck. Will look forward to seeing the finished job.