Everyone must start from somewhere

[karoliina]

Hi,

 

Because I am totally inexperienced with glass fiber works, I purchased several days ago a 20 kg canister of

polyester resin (cheap), 1 kg hardener, 5 kg mold release agents,

some glass fiber cloth and some foam (cheapest I found).

I am not going to build an aircraft from this material as it

has not aircraft strength and weight properties, but I am

using it for training to do this stuff. I have never done

anything like this before and I need to start training from

somewhere. Now I am preparing to do some horns for

loudspeakers from glass fiber and the spherical horn mold is

nearly ready (I made it from wood using a lathe).

And a cat sand box (that is

where I need that foam because it will be a moldless composite

sand box). And, nearly forgot, I purchased also a gas mask.

I don't want to destroy my brain cells because of the fumes.

Lets see how long I need to work on this phase before I can

give myself green light for ordering Cozy plans - I need to

try first if I can learn to do this on the first place with high

quality required for aircraft components

before starting the project because

I don't want a project that never finishes so I need to

try things first before starting the actual project.

Preparation are everything, aren't they?

 

Best Wishes,

Karoliina

[Waiter]

Good Starting point, However, make sure the cat is not in the box when you start your layups. ( I seen a cartoon somewere that had a missing cat under a wing layup)

 

The Plans are very good about this, as they have you doing non critical stuff first. Like most builders, I had ZERO experience doing this before I started, and I'm really not what you would call , an artistic person. However, I'm sure you will also endure, and like me, you'll be surprised that you were actually able to do this.

 

After all, like someone said, "This isn't Rocket Surgury" (I like that saying).

 

Good Luck and start building

 

Waiter

[Norm M]

Careful, if you are using styrofoam, that polyester resin will just melt through it. Also, the pot life on polyester resin is very short compared to the types of epoxy that we use for airplanes.

 

I have gone through several 55 gallon drums of polyester resin, but none of it went into plane construction. Some outfits use the polyester resin into molds for engine cowls and such. Again, completely different type of layup.

 

A local builder called me to ask some questions about making a fuel tank. He had bought some vinylester resin, very thin cloth, and no filler material. Made for a long discussion, basically started with 'I wish you would have asked me first before ordering all this stuff...'.

 

Be very careful with the MekP catalyst. It is nasty, nasty stuff.

 

-Norm

 

Hi,

 

Because I am totally inexperienced with glass fiber works, I purchased several days ago a 20 kg canister of

polyester resin (cheap), 1 kg hardener, 5 kg mold release agents,

some glass fiber cloth and some foam (cheapest I found).

I am not going to build an aircraft from this material as it

has not aircraft strength and weight properties, but I am

using it for training to do this stuff. I have never done

anything like this before and I need to start training from

somewhere. Now I am preparing to do some horns for

loudspeakers from glass fiber and the spherical horn mold is

nearly ready (I made it from wood using a lathe).

And a cat sand box (that is

where I need that foam because it will be a moldless composite

sand box).

 

Preparation are everything, aren't they?

 

Best Wishes,

Karoliina

[karoliina]

Yeah, I did notice from Internet that MEKP is rather

bad stuff. I am using gas mask, two layers of gloves

and try to not get touch with the substance. I noticed

that it is really bad for eyes as well, I need to protect the

eyes apparently as well to play safe - and most importantly,

no food in the same place where the MEKP is used...

[Mika Heinonen]

I just registered to this Forum, and your name, Karoliina kinda got my attention, it is the finnish way of pronouncing that name.

 

I've not designed or build any man-carrying aircrafts yet, but only radio controlled, which are of course much easier to design and build due to the relation of mass to the density of air molecules.

 

However, what I would suggest you is that you make sure that you have sufficient, and maybe even too much ventilation. The fresh air flow is very important when dealing with glass fiber and epoxy harz composites. And maybe also have a eggclock to measure the time you spend in the working room, and go outside every 15 minutes or so.