bodykits

[dunupaccord]

does anyone know how to make a mold for making fiberglass bodykits

[s14tilo]

what are you making a mold for??
Usually takes ALOT of time. forming, sanding, leveling, sanding....

[ec437]

Originally Posted by s14tilo

what are you making a mold for??
Usually takes ALOT of time. forming, sanding, leveling, sanding....

Could you be more specific? Look at my sig. I'll be making an entire custom BODY for a car sometime in the future, let alone just a body kit. What is involved in taking measurements to insure the parts are not assymetrical?

[TheSilentChamber]

Theres no need to make a mold unless your planning on reproducing many of them.

[s14tilo]

You are making an entire body kit from scratch!?!?!?! Wow, props to you man. I don't know about that. I thought you wanted to make molds from an existing kit.
Here is what I did, and it worked perfect: I needed a few more inches added onto my rear bumper, so on the very end(where the addition was needed) I coated it with car wax(Turtle Wax) and then I lay the resin & fiberglass on that and got the mold that I needed. I cleaned the wax off and moved the molds down to the needed length and fiberglassed those on the outside and inside of the bumper for added strength. After that it just takes alot of body filler and sanding to get it perfectly straight and level.

But for the whole bumper....they use machines to make those. Unless you know what you are doing, which you obviously don't since you are asking, then I say don't make it yourself, have a prof. do it. Even then it is going to cost alot of money. I'm not trying to ruin your plans, just trying to help, It is a freakin lot of trial and error working with fiberglass, especially when its your first time.

If your stubborn and don't listen to me then try molding something out of wire and see where that goes. OR! Get a big piece of foam and cut out the design that you want and mold to that. Just some thoughts. Post and tell what you do.

[ac427cpe]

take a fiberglass + carbon fiber class

find a reputable custom shop in your area, and see if they will teach you.
or have someone make it for you.

glass work takes A LOT of time and skill

simple answer to your question: you cannot get an adequate responce online. this is something for which you need to go to a professional establishment.

[ec437]

Originally Posted by s14tilo

You are making an entire body kit from scratch!?!?!?! Wow, props to you man. I don't know about that. I thought you wanted to make molds from an existing kit.

This isn't my thread. It just applies to what I will be doing so I thought I'd jump in.

Oh, don't worry, I learn quick with stuff and am figuring on getting some experience before starting

oh, and I'll leave the glass stock BMW. No need to mess with that...

[mike@af]

Originally Posted by ac427cpe

take a fiberglass + carbon fiber class

find a reputable custom shop in your area, and see if they will teach you.
or have someone make it for you.

glass work takes A LOT of time and skill

simple answer to your question: you cannot get an adequate responce online. this is something for which you need to go to a professional establishment.

Exactly!

[Rod&Custom]

You'll leave the 'glass stock, yet you will make a whole kit from 'glass...something doesn't add up!

[ec437]

Originally Posted by Rod&Custom

You'll leave the 'glass stock, yet you will make a whole kit from 'glass...something doesn't add up!

Umm... ok first of all, I didn't start this thread. Second of all, I'll make the body from fiberglass and leave the windows stock....

gotta love misunderstandings from too much of my insomnia...

[s14tilo]

Originally Posted by ec437

Umm... ok first of all, I didn't start this thread. Second of all, I'll make the body from fiberglass and leave the windows stock....

gotta love misunderstandings from too much of my insomnia...

sorry dude i kinda started this by answering your question, the other guy who did start the thread hasn't said a thing.

[ec437]

lol yeah its kind of ironic...

[dunupaccord]

i know how to make a basic mold but, i want to make a mold that will be strong and that i can reuse.

[s14tilo]

Well just make a thick fiberglass mold, once you start layering fiberglass(3-5 layers) it gets pretty damn strong.

[ac427cpe]

it'll have to be correctly fitted on the inside as well, if he wants it to bolt on to the car...

and if you mix the resins incorrectly you'll end up with a brittle mess.

though it probably won't do any good, i'll just re-emphasize the importance of taking a master class to understand how to do this. the chemicals involved are VERY dangerous, and should only be handled by someone who knows completely what they are doing.