How To Repair Fiberglass Westfalia Top

Writer Message ahmadahere
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Back to top insyncro
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Dorsum to top Terry Kay
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Posted: Saturday Dec 12, 2022 4:53 pm   Post subject field: Re: Topper Fiberglass Repair Help
4"Wide iii-M automotive tape to make a form, utilize fiberglass matting chopped up start to fill the open gaff your going to brand in that crevice all the way through the "Topper" (isn't this a movie?) After that is good & cured, lay multiple layers of matting & resin to fill the remainder of the ditch yous dug beyond the crack, inside & out. Practise not add besides much hardner to the resin, you'll cause it to exist very brittle, and y'all will be doing this job twice. Brand sure you dig out 3, four" on either side of the cracks, and glass information technology upward well. Grind to topper elevation. There is all kinds of info posted on utube to watch and go an idea what your in for. _________________ T.K.

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Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2022 6:13 pm   Post subject area: Re: Topper Fiberglass Repair Assistance
Try to post your pictures hither on the Samba and then that we may encounter them. My browser doesn't similar your links and the photos will all the same exist here when time to come members are looking at this thread. Information technology'southward very frustrating to notice and quondam thread that is actually good but has dead photograph links. Good Luck with the repairs! Hans _________________ '84 sunroof vanagon '85 weekender

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Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2022 seven:22 pm   Post subject: Re: Topper Fiberglass Repair Help
hdenter wrote: Try to post your pictures here on the Samba and so that we may see them. My browser doesn't like your links and the photos will still be here when future members are looking at this thread. It's very frustrating to find and sometime thread that is really good but has expressionless photo links. Proficient Luck with the repairs! Hans I am trying to effigy how to do that. Thanks.

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Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2022 7:27 pm   Post discipline: Re: Topper Fiberglass Repair Help

Dorsum to top hdenter
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Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2022 8:05 pm   Post subject: Re: Pop-top Fiberglass Repair Help
Ouch! you'll be busy. Thank you for the pics. Hans _________________ '84 sunroof vanagon '85 weekender

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Posted: Saturday December 12, 2022 8:29 pm   Postal service discipline: Re: Pop-peak Fiberglass Repair Help
For point of reference, fifty-fifty though I've only worked with fiberglass a scattering of times, fixing the nasty cracks at luggage rack wasn't also difficult. Different repair just I found that just building up layers of matt worked. Just then the the modest amount of missing material wasn't at an edge similar the repair yous'll be doing. Neil. _________________ 1981 Westy air cooled to 15� ABA swap: http://tinyurl.com/y9n4xob8 l� ABA Swap in to '88 Westy: http://tinyurl.com/yap5hpwt Vanagon VAG GAS engine bandy Google Group: https://tinyurl.com/2f24rmh VE7TBN

Back to top Terry Kay
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Posted: Sunday Dec xiii, 2022 9:04 am   Mail subject: Re: Pop-summit Fiberglass Repair Help
Link The void in the drinking glass? Think the iv" record I mentioned? Lay a couple of pieces of the record on the back side of the topper, fill the area that'due south missing with chopped glass matting equally I mentioned, and permit it to harden up--remove the record, terminate the job. Uncomplicated. Go to Utube and sentry--- _________________ T.K.

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Posted: Sun Dec xiii, 2022 12:02 pm   Post discipline: Re: Pop-top Fiberglass Repair Assist
I was mainly suggesting that the repair likely isn't difficult. ("for betoken of reference") The method I used was submitted but as a proposition and the pics shown indicating that unproblematic tools can get the task done. The repair method I used might bite me in the ass in the future but and then far, zippo issues over last few years. Nevertheless. Wasn't saying it's the right mode to exercise it. _________________ 1981 Westy air cooled to 15� ABA swap: http://tinyurl.com/y9n4xob8 50� ABA Swap in to '88 Westy: http://tinyurl.com/yap5hpwt Vanagon VAG GAS engine bandy Google Grouping: https://tinyurl.com/2f24rmh VE7TBN

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Posted: Sunday Dec 13, 2022 1:56 pm   Mail service subject area: Re: Pop-top Fiberglass Repair Assist
Get a good fiberglass, twill preferred and at least four,8 oz/yd�. Many layers of a thin fabric is stronger than one layer with a thick weave. Use epoxy instead of polyester. Epoxy is much stronger. When you lot practice a paw lay-up you will add together more than resin then wanted and and so you want a strong resin anyway. Sand of the paint/gelcoat at least an inch around cracks and brand the sanded surface area sloped with the crack being the "ditch". Do NOT touch on the sanded area with your fingers and if you lot practise you must clean it with acetone. Epoxy is solvent free and the fat from you fingers is enough to make a less adept bond. Build it upwardly once again with resin and fibers. Let cure, paint, go camping. If you have any specific questions give me a shout, I work with these kind of products every day. _________________ Vanagon mirror terminate caps

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Posted: Sun December thirteen, 2022 2:15 pm   Mail discipline: Re: Pop-top Fiberglass Repair Assistance
I ilke insyncro'south suggestion. Solar Rez is nifty because you lot can work it until yous get information technology where you want and don't have to worry virtually the epoxy going off as well early, being brittle/sticky, or wasting what's left in the pot. The best thing about it is turnover time. Depending on how much UV you accept access too, you tin exist done sanding and on to the 2nd coat in 10-xx minutes�. practiced epoxies will exist more than like 4-6 hours. I was able to gear up 2 holes, with a masking tap backer, chopped upwardly fiberglass and solar res in under 2 hours. FWIW I besides just finished painting with interlux (two coats of primer, three coats of summit coat�took two quarts of each), and new seals from VC. Warning: Cypher makes the pigment look more tired like a sexy new meridian.

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Posted: Lord's day December 13, 2022 4:15 pm   Post field of study: Re: Popular-summit Fiberglass Repair Assist
Definitely use epoxy resin. Don't employ polyester. Recommend resin from a company sailed Organisation 3. You'll need to build up your edge with a few plies of matting or fabric. Matting volition work amend as its stiffer pre-cure and will allow you form your built up plies on acme of information technology. Program to lay upward and cure a few times then sand and trim back to get the final shape from the material you laid upwards. Look in my top swap thread. I did a repair in that same area on my donor roof.

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Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2022 7:50 am   Postal service subject field: Re: Popular-top Fiberglass Repair Help
kauaikamper wrote: I ilke insyncro's suggestion. Solar Rez is great because you tin work it until you get it where yous desire and don't have to worry nigh the epoxy going off as well early, being brittle/gluey, or wasting what's left in the pot. The all-time thing well-nigh it is turnover time. Depending on how much UV yous take access besides, you tin can be done sanding and on to the 2d coat in ten-20 minutes�. good epoxies will exist more like iv-6 hours. I was able to fix two holes, with a masking tap backer, chopped up fiberglass and solar res in under 2 hours. FWIW I as well merely finished painting with interlux (two coats of primer, iii coats of elevation coat�took ii quarts of each), and new seals from VC. . Warning: Nothing makes the paint await more tired like a sexy new top. Your Location says it all. Glad it worked for you too. I prepare all sorts of stuff with Solar Rez and a HPS light. Wish I was on the island instead and using the sun....soon, very shortly.

Dorsum to top coloradolife
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Posted: Tue Aug xiii, 2022 ii:05 pm   Post subject field: Re: Pop-top Fiberglass Repair Help
resurrecting this for a small side question: I've congenital a wooden kayak and and so I think I'k somewhat well-versed in doing layups by hand and so my question is: Since I take a ton of West Organisation marine epoxy left over from that project, I thought I'd just employ that to repair the pop-top and baggage rack on my Vanagon. It seems like that more flexible nature of that compound would be platonic in this situation but am I wrong? (yes, i realize i'm using expensive epoxy for this, but it's just sitting around so why non?) Side question 2: what's the best way to paint this after the fact? Should I just have someone spray information technology for me since I'd have to purchase a gun and all the crap to do that chore?

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Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2022 four:43 pm   Post subject area: Re: Pop-superlative Fiberglass Repair Help
coloradolife wrote: resurrecting this for a small side question: I've built a wooden kayak then I think I'm somewhat well-versed in doing layups by hand so my question is: Since I have a ton of West System marine epoxy left over from that project, I idea I'd just use that to repair the pop-top and baggage rack on my Vanagon. It seems like that more than flexible nature of that compound would be ideal in this situation but am I wrong? (aye, i realize i'1000 using expensive epoxy for this, but it'due south just sitting effectually so why not?) Side question 2: what's the best way to paint this subsequently the fact? Should I just have someone spray it for me since I'd have to buy a gun and all the crap to do that job? I would double-bank check that there is no expiration date on the resin only in case there is one. You tin advert a color dye to the resin if you want to. The hard role would be getting an exact match of colour.Practise some enquiry on that. Getting someone to pigment it would also be a practiced style to become it done as you say you wouldn't demand to purchase the equipment. _________________ This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it. There are seven days in a week. Someday is not ane of them.

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Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2022 8:04 am   Post subject: Re: Pop-top Fiberglass Repair Assistance
coloradolife wrote: resurrecting this for a pocket-sized side question: I've congenital a wooden kayak and and so I remember I'm somewhat well-versed in doing layups by hand then my question is: Since I accept a ton of W System marine epoxy left over from that project, I thought I'd but use that to repair the popular-acme and luggage rack on my Vanagon. It seems like that more flexible nature of that compound would be ideal in this state of affairs but am I incorrect? (yes, i realize i'm using expensive epoxy for this, but information technology's merely sitting around so why not?) Side question 2: what's the all-time way to pigment this after the fact? Should I just have someone spray it for me since I'd have to purchase a gun and all the crap to do that chore? I hand rolled the paint on my top and it turned out neat. I used a marine paint and a nappy roller. Check with your local automotive paint supply company and they can recommend a good paint and hand roller for your awarding. Cheers _________________ A goal without a plan is just a wish.

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Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2022 xi:04 am   Mail service subject area: Re: Pop-top Fiberglass Repair Assistance
Interesting. I wouldn't have thought to do it that way. Yous couldn't share a movie could y'all? I've hand applied various finishes on woods and fiberglas but for some reason, my brain want to spray information technology just because it's a car? ahmadahere wrote: coloradolife wrote: resurrecting this for a small side question: I've built a wooden kayak and so I recollect I'1000 somewhat well-versed in doing layups past paw so my question is: Since I have a ton of West System marine epoxy left over from that projection, I thought I'd but use that to repair the pop-top and baggage rack on my Vanagon. It seems similar that more flexible nature of that chemical compound would be ideal in this situation but am I wrong? (yes, i realize i'm using expensive epoxy for this, but it's but sitting around so why non?) Side question 2: what's the best mode to paint this later on the fact? Should I merely take someone spray information technology for me since I'd accept to buy a gun and all the crap to do that job? I paw rolled the paint on my top and it turned out great. I used a marine paint and a nappy roller. Check with your local automotive paint supply company and they tin can recommend a good pigment and manus roller for your application. Thanks

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How To Repair Fiberglass Westfalia Top,

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