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Old 06-20-2008, 02:48 PM   #2 (permalink)
aerohead
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fiberglass

Without a mold to layup a part,here's what I ended up doing.I washed the CRX good,and applied three-coats of Maquire's 100 % carnuba wax over the area I'd be glassing( Johnson's Wax also makes a 100 % carnuba wax ).[ Note: poly vinyl alcohol PVA is best for a release agent,and can be purchased at boat supply stores,also Wick's and Aircraft Spruce ].I cut and masking-taped a cardboard mock-up of the wheel skirt to the car.I pre-cut BONDO bi-axial fiberglass cloth ( got mine at Home Depot ) and masking taped that over the wheel area,including the quarter panel bulge.I measured and added the MEK Peroxide catalyst as per label instructions to BONDO polyester resin ( Home Depot ) and applied with China Bristle brush.I did batches of about 8-ounces at a time as pot-life is short. I repeated with BONDO glass mat,then did final glass cloth lamination.The brush was cleaned with acetone between layups,and I used disposable plastic cups for mixing the resin.Nitrile gloves will protect your skin,and good ventilation will protect your lungs,as MEK is very toxic!!!!!!!!!! I let the whole thing cure overnight,then peeled the skirts off the next day,and trimmed with sander.BONDO,body filler can be used to smooth the glass,as per label directions. After much grinding,filling,and sanding, spray primer and body-color auto paint can be applied to finish the skirts.These supplies can be found at the likes of O'Riley's Auto Parts,Auto Zone,Pep Boy's,etc..Epoxy is better than polyester if you can handle the price differential.Stir resin slowly as you do not want to entrain air into it.Bondo resin paddles can be used to squeegy resin into the cloth,and there is a special serrated resin roller which works the resin into the glass matrix.I wear a DeVillibis cartridge-style respirator with replaceable organic vapor cartridges.Use lots of ventilation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Work safe,have fun!
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