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How do you get fiberglass white again?

Ahmed Mezil
Cleaning Specialist
Ahmed Mezil is a Cleaning Specialist and the CEO of Hellamaid, a cleaning service operating out of Southern Ontario, Canada. With over four years of cleaning experience, Ahmed and his insured and bonded Hellamaid cleaning staff specialize in house cleaning, post-construction cleaning, commercial cleaning, deep cleaning, and disinfection cleaning on various home/building surfaces. Ahmed holds a BASc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo, a MASc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toronto, and holds a Professional Engineering license in Ontario, Canada.

Ahmed Mezil

Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

First you should identify the stains, since each problem will require different types of solutions. Most of the time, though, vinegar does the trick — you can mix it with baking soda or dishwashing liquid before wiping. Avoid using bleach at all costs, since it can cause more damage to the material itself.

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Question

Why does paraffin wax need to be added to a mold?

Community Answer

The wax will make it easier to remove the fiberglass from the mold. If you don't add the wax, the resin will glue your project to the mold.

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Question

Does fiberglass bond to rust?

Community Answer

Doing so is absolutely not recommended, without cleaning or repairing. But yes, if rust is covered with resin, allowed to dry and then fiberglass laid, it will bond.

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Question

Is fiberglass dangerous to work with?

Community Answer

The dangers that fiberglass poses can be easily controlled. The strands of glass fiber that fiberglass is made out of can be an irritant to the skin, so wear long sleeves and latex gloves while applying. A face mask can also be worn to stop you breathing in any fibers and to reduce the powerful smell of the epoxy resin. Apart from these controllable issues, fiberglass is safe to work with.

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Question

Can the open time of fiberglass resin be extended?

Community Answer

Yes, place the container with fiberglass in a larger container with ice water but be careful to ensure that the job is properly planned out. Meaning, ensure that the glass is cut to proper size, etc., so that you may work quickly, since condensate could contaminate the fiberglass mix.

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Question

Would applying one or two layers of fiberglass to a wood structure like a boat, camper or airplane be effective for strengthening and waterproofing purposes?

Community Answer

Yes, as long as the structure does not have so much movement as to crack the fiberglass. More than two layers may be necessary. It is commonplace to use it on boats over plywood.

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Question

Which is stronger, cloth or mat?

Community Answer

Cloth is stronger. It has a higher strand density and is woven. It's also more rigid at the same thickness.

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Question

I have oars that were reinforced with fiberglass. Over the years with time and sun, the fiberglass strands have worked their way to the surface and now cut and irritate the oarsman. What should I use to refinish or coat the oars?

Community Answer

To refinish them, rough up the surface using a scratch-pad. Then clean thoroughly, dry completely, apply two or three coats of a good marine urethane(clear coat). Let dry and you are back in business.

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Question

I have a plaster/cloth mold which is used to cast body parts. Can I put fiberglass directly on it without the mat?

Community Answer

Not if you want to get it back off the mold. Use release agents pre-application. Tin foil is commonly used also.

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Question

What is the difference between poly resin and epoxy resin? Which is best for filling voids in wood?

Community Answer

Poly resin is very similar to epoxy resin, but is generally less flexible once cured. Epoxy cures harder than poly, and is therefore more resistant to scratches.

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Question

How do I add color and patterns, and can I drill holes into it?

Community Answer

Sand it smooth, clean it off, spray white, draw your patterns, and paint with acrylic. Yes, you can drill it.

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Question

Can I be allergic to resin or fiberglass?

Community Answer

Yes, you can be allergic to both resin and fiberglass

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Question

Would fiberglass be a good substance for a model rocket?

Community Answer

It could work, but the direct flame (if it's at the rear of the rocket) may be too much. Fiberglass sheets do burn at extreme temperatures. This could be negated by using a thin layer of adhesive heat wrap to insulate the fiberglass against the flame though.

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Question

What would be the best method to join two pieces of a fiberglass top on a van?

Alan Bickham

Community Answer

A bit hard to answer without more information, but rough sand both edges and both sides if possible and lay down, maybe 2 layers on each side.

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Question

Do I have to wait for first coat to cure before adding another coat?

Community Answer

Yes, otherwise it's too tacky and sticky to work. Also, you want to lightly sand between coats for better bondage and remove any ridges, dirt or debris.

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