| Author: | | Created: 09.05.2006 - Updated: 09.05.2006 |
OK....let´s speak about laminate
What exactly is laminate made out of?
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![]() A fundamental part of any laminate is always a supporting component. Most often this could be a glass fabric, glass linen, fleece...
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![]() Next we need a special kind of epoxide, which we will use to saturate the fabric and after it hardens we get our laminate as we all know it.
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![]() I should not forget to mention, that most of serial parts are made by mould casting. Instead of glass fabric, only a fiberglass bits measuring few centimeters are used. First an acrylate gets poured into the form, that creates the outside surface, and if the quality of the mould is good, it will become a base for varnish or a varnish itself. Then epoxide is poured in and fibreglass bits are mixed into it.
What will we need?
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![]() First get the epoxide with a starter and a glass fabric. (Viz pictures above)
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![]() Epoxide with the starter needs to be mixed in exact ratio (if you don´t put enough starter in, laminate will be hardening for ages, and if too much, it is going to harden in few minutes). Considering that the ratio is 100:1 it is quite difficult to do it by eye.
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![]() That is why we need syringes. Choose a syringe between 10-50ml + syringe between 1-5ml. Ideal size seems to be 50ml+2ml.
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![]() Then you need to get a few surgical gloves. I don´t use gloves on principle, but this is where I make an exception.
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![]() Other than gloves, a brush (which we will use to put our mixture on), and a bowl ( where we will prepare it) might become handy.
And now we can get into it....
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![]() First we need to know what we are going to make and how much laminate we will need. We need to cut pieces of the glass fabric and make sure that they will fit.
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![]() Now we take the needed amount of epoxide into the syringe and we put it into the mixing bowl. Than we take an appropriate amount of starter into the smaller syringe and we let it out into the epoxide. Mix it well (e.g. with a big nail). At about 20°C, if you follow the instructions, the mixture should start hardening in about 20 minutes. I don´t recommend laminating in higher temperatures, because it really goes fast. Ideal temperature is between 17-18°C. It should not be done if it´s under 15°C.
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![]() First spread the mixture with a brush on the clean laminated part. Put the fabric on the painted surface and soak it with the brush. If needs be, we can put on more layers.
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![]() It takes about an hour for the laminate to stop being sticky and in few hours it gradually changes from elastic into a hard matter. If you put too much starter or the temperature is higher, it takes about half an hour to stop being sticky and in one hour it hardens.
Usage
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![]() Final shape fixation :)
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![]() Strenghtening weakened parts
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![]() Attaching handles and other foreign parts :)
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![]() Extensions
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![]() And more... |
