hi there, just posting my project for others to comment if needed, any critics welcome, I have no idea what I'm doing
Basically the idea is to duplicate my current hood with the difference that the middle scoop would be lowered.
The process I'm hoping I'll be able to follow is the bonnet infusion making videos from Easycomposites.
I have never touched anything composites before, I've done a lot of reading and kept an interest for years but actually never produced anything.. until now
The project will require 2 molds, the first "hood mold" is done, I followed the Easycomposites video to the letter and didn't have any major issues, mold poped right out the part just by lifting it, there were few small areas with gelcoat air bubles that were sorted, but the biggest repair was the flange, I used corrugated sign board but I guess the one I got wasn't correct and it kinda got soft during the process leaving lots of texture.. wasn't happy with that so I sanded it all down, reapplied gelcoat (+wax additive) and sanded it back down, then sanded/polished the mold, first time polishing too, I got it to the "good enough" state, nothing that would transfer to the final part that would show once painted.
The hood mold will require an add-on mold piece that I have yet to make.
Notice the really small workshop..
Second mold is under hood frame, it was done following the same process as the first mold except I used PVA as I got lazy to apply 6 coats of easylease x15min appart etc.. so the final mold surface wasn't as good but definitely good enough as I have to sand/polish it anyway. There were quite a bit more pin holes to fill but the shape is also a lot more complex. The under hood frame will not be infused but just vacuum bagged. For this, in order to avoid puncturing the bag I applied expandable foam to the back of the mold, I know it won't keep the shape but it should contract and make a nice layer to protect from the outside mold surface., currently sanding/filling pin holes on that mold.
Now questions :
Best way to polish the "under frame" mold after sanding (1200 final) ? I'm planing on using a drill mounted polishing fabric disk.. hope that would work
I'll report progress here as I go.. it's a slow process.. been at it for about 1.5 month