Make My Own Fiberglass Lam

[andrianyuga]

Hi Everyone...

I started building this, past 6 month ago..the issues is hard getting Gordon Glass, Bearpaw glass or other bow backing products in my country...online purchase its not solving whole issues when your local customer wants good bows with cheap cost  ..

In here..Local Handmade traditional bows sale about $ 150 - 200...Imported products sale about $ 350 - 600

So i started to make my own fiberglass to reduce production cost..this simple fiberglass making based on Poltrusion procces..but still homemade    :D    

Molding, lenght 1 meter, width 4,5 cm, depth 1 cm

 

Moulding Tensioner

 

Arrange 3 cm nails  
4 pcs Horizontal, 5 pcs vertical

 

Put mold release wax on main surface and side
 

I use unidirectional fiber roving like this
 

Getting started put roving on the mold
 

After 20 min works
 

   

[andrianyuga]

1. Clear Resin ( local common name Resin CMX type )
2. Catalyst
3. Styrene monomer
4. Grooving tools

Mixing Ratio :

- Half cup of glass ( 120 ml )
- 1 table spoon styrene
- 5 - 6 drops catalyst

based from above..you able to works 2 fiberglass strips

 

After Mixed
 


Work first inner of roving layer, to avoid dry spot..dont forget to loose molding tension before
 

 


And then, pour the resin outer roving surface
 

Grooving with 1 hour working time before resin getting cured
 

and after it..make sure there's no dry spot or bubble trap
 

To avoid resin waste left on the mold, i use hairdryer and grooving with flat surface tool, look at resin waste on top
 

[Buemaker]

Very interesting. Let us see the rest.

[Mad Max]

Yea

[mwosborn]

Wow.  Makes me grateful that my glass is only one quick click away!

[Roy from Pa]

Yup, I get all my glass from Mr. McKenzie.

[Bvas]

Originally posted by Roy from Pa:
Yup, I get all my glass from Mr. McKenzie.

What the????

[macbow]

WoW,, good work.

Roy has been into glass for a long time.  Longnecks.

[monterey]

Originally posted by macbow:
WoW,, good work.

Roy has been into glass for a long time.  Longnecks.

       

[andrianyuga]

I put the pressure board on top, and pressed with inner tube band, and tighten the tensioner before
Let it dry in direct sunlight for 4 - 6 hours
 
 

during drying procces, you can see resin waste squeezing out
 

open the pressure board carefully, actually there's no little black spot on it, that's my camera    :D
 

Cut here
 

carefully released from the mold
 


And the results of homemade fiberglass Lam
 
 
 

[Holm-Made]

Amazing.  

Once the word gets out n this Ol' Kenny will be looking for new employment again.  LOL

[andrianyuga]

Here's the Bows
 
 
 
 

Black glass on Tatar Bows
 

White Glass on Turkish Bows
 

Clear on One piece recurve
 
 

[Roy from Pa]

Nice work.

All right Mac, LOL.

[Robertfishes]

Very nice bows, thanks for sharing the pictures of your fiberglass production.

[rainman]

Very informative, and imaginative.

[monterey]

Very interesting and intriguing. Now I'll end up tripling my glass cost trying to make it.  

[bjansen]

I am very impressed   Great job

Pretty cool technique you have got there...  Nice looking bows also...

[andrianyuga]

Originally posted by Roy from Pa:
Nice work.

All right Mac, LOL.

thanks..   :D

[andrianyuga]

Originally posted by Shredd:
Pretty cool technique you have got there...  Nice looking bows also...

thikness result is 1.4 mm..must be into drum sander to get 1.2 mm or 1 mm