|
Hanaldo
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 2.5K,
Visits: 28K
|
Better, but you need a minimum of 3 layers of 450g CSM with the tooling resin otherwise it won't cure properly. It needs to 'self-bake' during it's initial cure by reaching a temperature of 60C, and to do that it needs to be sufficiently thick.
3 layers absolute minimum, 4 layers is ideal for a small mould. Everything else is bang on.
|
|
|
|
|
Charlie118118
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 4,
Visits: 12
|
+xWhilst I agree with Hanaldo's statement that "Epoxy tooling gelcoat is going to be an awful pattern coating, it is designed to be quite tough and will be hard to sand flat and polish." and knowing this is for a FS project, if you only had access to the Epoxy Gelcoat, you could in theory use it - it won't be as easy to flat back and polish up as Pattern Coat Primer and it'll take serious elbow grease to get it to a reasonable finish but if it is all you have access to, it ' could' be used as a substitute (albeit not an ideal one). Brilliant Thank you all I've got a much better understanding of this now, so my new plan is as follows: Pattern: - Finished sanded pattern is coated in pattern-coat primer, and then the high gloss if we want a really good surface finish - Apply 6 coats of the easy-lease chemical release agent, followed by 2 coats of the mould release wax Mould - Cover in Uni-mould tooling gel coat - Then add the 100gsm CSM with the Uni-mould coupling coat -Add structural 2 layers of 450gsm CSM with Uni-mould tooling resin Once again really appreciate the help guys
|
|
|
|
|
Rich (Staff)
|
|
|
Group: Administrators
Posts: 167,
Visits: 4.6K
|
Whilst I agree with Hanaldo's statement that "Epoxy tooling gelcoat is going to be an awful pattern coating, it is designed to be quite tough and will be hard to sand flat and polish." and knowing this is for a FS project, if you only had access to the Epoxy Gelcoat, you could in theory use it - it won't be as easy to flat back and polish up as Pattern Coat Primer and it'll take serious elbow grease to get it to a reasonable finish but if it is all you have access to, it 'could' be used as a substitute (albeit not an ideal one).
|
|
|
|
|
Warren (Staff)
|
|
|
Group: Administrators
Posts: 2.5K,
Visits: 8.5K
|
As Hanaldo says, you don't want tooling gel on a pattern. The Pattern-Coat Primer is ideal for this job. Its easy to apply, easy to sand and shape and can be polished to a reasonable mid gloss if you want to skip the High-Gloss stage. Once your pattern is release coated and ready, the Uni-Mould system is ideal for making your mould. Follow the mould making process in this Bonnet project video: As Rich says, you need a good lay up to make a strong enough mould of that size. The lay up in the video suits most cases and you can add strengthening ribs at the end as well to stiffen it up even more.
Warren PenalverEasy Composites / Carbon Mods - Technical Support Assistant
|
|
|
|
|
Charlie118118
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 4,
Visits: 12
|
+xEpoxy tooling gelcoat is going to be an awful pattern coating, it is designed to be quite tough and will be hard to sand flat and polish. Use EC's Patterncoat Primer initially, and then the High Gloss if you are after a glossy finish. Also, you mention that you're using a 100g CSM to make the mould, but EC don't sell a 100g powder bound CSM. Are you sourcing it from elsewhere, or are you planning on using regular CSM with epoxy resin? I can tell you that will not work well... If you are just making a mould for infusion, I think ditch the idea of using epoxy altogether and use Unimould instead. Much easier system to use and will deliver excellent results for infusion. Cheers Hanaldo So what work through would you recommend we follow in this case. I am unfamiliar with the Uni-mould system. Would you be able to provide a sort of step by step? Thanks for the help
|
|
|
|
|
Hanaldo
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 2.5K,
Visits: 28K
|
Epoxy tooling gelcoat is going to be an awful pattern coating, it is designed to be quite tough and will be hard to sand flat and polish. Use EC's Patterncoat Primer initially, and then the High Gloss if you are after a glossy finish.
Also, you mention that you're using a 100g CSM to make the mould, but EC don't sell a 100g powder bound CSM. Are you sourcing it from elsewhere, or are you planning on using regular CSM with epoxy resin? I can tell you that will not work well...
If you are just making a mould for infusion, I think ditch the idea of using epoxy altogether and use Unimould instead. Much easier system to use and will deliver excellent results for infusion.
|
|
|
|
|
Charlie118118
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 4,
Visits: 12
|
+xYou mention using 4 layers of CSM but what gelcoat are you going to use for the surface of the mould itself? In addition, 4 layers of 100g is quite thin and won't make for a substantial mould; its may be fine for a couple of pulls but if you were intending to make more, I would consider bulking up the thickness of the tool itself. Hi Thanks for the quick reply. So I will i need to do a layer of tooling gel allow to set, then release agent and wax it. Then apply another layer of tooling gel coat which I adhere the CSM too? For the CSM as we are making a mould for resin infusion what would you reccomend in-terms of a suitable layup to be solid for this purpose?
|
|
|
|
|
Rich (Staff)
|
|
|
Group: Administrators
Posts: 167,
Visits: 4.6K
|
You mention using 4 layers of CSM but what gelcoat are you going to use for the surface of the mould itself? In addition, 4 layers of 100g is quite thin and won't make for a substantial mould; its may be fine for a couple of pulls but if you were intending to make more, I would consider bulking up the thickness of the tool itself.
|
|
|
|
|
Charlie118118
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 4,
Visits: 12
|
Hi
Im currently making a large foam mould for uses as a nose cone for a small single seat racing car.
We have used Easy Composites Low Density polyurethane foam to fill in gaps between our MDF skeletal frame.
I would like to make sure that I have the process correct for creating the mould as I only have one shot at this.
For the Plug once sanded body filled and completely finished i'll paint on a layer of EG60 Epoxy tooling gelcoat and allow this to fully cure, then apply at least 6 layers of the Easy-Lease Chemical release agent, followed by at least 2 layers of mirror glaze mould release wax.
Then im using 4 layers of 100gsm CSM fibre glass to create the mould from which I can infuse upon.
Is this process correct or is there anywhere I should make alterations please let me know.
Thanks
Charlie
|
|
|
|