q for the glasser's

[sidewaySilvia]

Wussup again brethren. Bout to start the project. Easy one 4 ya..

What kind of fleece do you guys use? I noticed berber,arctic, etc.

[MECPInstaller]

i use a really thin stretchy fleece from walmart's fabric section. you'll definatly have to build up the thickness with glass matte since its like a 1/16th of an inch thick. You can go with thicker fleece thats almost like felt. Just depends on how crazy your curves need to be.

[sidewaySilvia]

Well of the types I noticed (ragshop). They were rather stretchable , but came in a multitude of thickness. I guess just use a fairly thin size just for the base. Maybe you can clear up a few other questions I have mecp.

Do I apply this to the enclosure with a spray adhesive(what brand is best) or do I staple. The same question for the finishing vinyl?

How can I make a tv monitor enclosure? I have the raw screen. Any tuutorials or could you do the justice?

Last one, I want to make custom speaker pods and other enclosures. I was always curious as to how you make these stay in place do you add any clips or plates for screws or what.. I really want to make something that hangs from the hatch's underside. How can I make it stay without falling?

Thanks a lot in advance, anyone please

[MECPInstaller]

i start with spraying the edges of the box and the speaker ring with a spray adhesive(really doesn't matter just make sure its not a low or temporary tack stuff). Start with the speaker ring area let it tack up acouple minutes then center your fleece up on it first, then stretching and tacking it around the sides. I use spray adhesive i know AyJay likes hot glue, you can use staples if your pinning it against wood but then it can split it and if you stretch the fleece to hard it will tear it and so on, so the best bet is adhesive or hot glue.(be prepared to burn yoru fingers with hotglue, ask ayjay lol).

The Tv enclosure i'm not sure what yoru wanting to do, like mount it in a headrest, or enclose it and hang it form the headliner, explain where your wanting it to go and i'll give you a more definate answer.

and with mounting speaker pods and such, i'd just run self tapping screws or bolts into trim or metal behind the pod(make sure you check whats behind it so you don't screw into wiring and whatnot). you could get fancy and hold up the piece drill a hole then use a tap to put some threads into the metal of the car and then use bolts, but self tapping screws seem to be the easiest i've done.

If you've got anymore questions i'll help ya out, just got to make sure to check back in these boards more often.

[sidewaySilvia]

First off, I'd like to say the new format of the forum is worse, except for seeing the reply in your email that is kewl.. Mecp , can you do me a favor? I am trying to do something similar to what ayjay did but sick as hell. I need to know a few things that still aren't clear, even after all of these posts.. The sanding...

If you have to sand between layer applications what grit do you start with and finish with. Do you use a low grit 80 then apply matte/resin. Let it cure. Move up a grit. Or are there only 3 or 4 stages to use. For example 1st layer 80 .. Second 220 third 600 fourth or last(dunno) 1000 then 1500.. I dunno, can you clear this up please. I only have in depth knowledge of electronics and what not. New to building and fabbing..

Btw : I want to make an enclosure for a raw screen to mount on my dash. Do I use 1/4"mdf for the trim and 1/2" for a base. Or how does this work and how do I finish it with fiberglass,paint it,etc. Help me brother... Eeeaaaaarrrrrrgggh!!!!

[sidewaySilvia]

This is the first time I got to check out your setup mecp.. F'in sweet!!! I know it not comparable to some of the glassed and painted show cars. But, I know it is still a project that takes craftsmanship.. I was with you and ayjay throughout both your builds..

Good shet. The 2 of you.. Now help me!! hehe

[MECPInstaller]

I never really sanded between build up layers until i started getting close when i was filling with bondo, I'd just use 60 or 80 grit if theres some lumps or where some of the glass matte lifts (wanna try to keep it all down on the project but when the resin begins to cure yoru paintbrush likes to lift some up with it). Make sure to wait till the resin is hard to start sanding or else you'll be wasting sooo much sandpaper. I always use 80 grit on the glass or bondo until its really taken the shape i want, after all the big dips and humps are removed. after that, it depends on what your wanting to cover your project with, if your doing vinyl a 180 or 220 grit sanded surface is all you need. If your going to paint though be ready for lots and lots of sanding.

Id do step ups of 180, 220, maybe 300's if you want to or find it, then to the wet sanding. Starting with 400 then 600 and finishing in either 1000 or 1500. You'll have a muddy freakin mess when your done. In my boxes i half assed the sanding cause i needed to get semi done before i went up to toronto so i only spent maybe 3 hours or so wet sanding them, could have easily spent another 3-5 hours. Depending on whether i'm going to paint, do vinyl or maybe rip off ayjays idea and do carbon fiber keep a bucket full of water next to you and constatly keep cleaning and rewetting the paper and you won't have to buy to much of it.

With screen enclosure i'd just use 1/4 inch mdf or really any wood(whatever you've got laying around), with the mdf make sure to drill pilot holes for yoru screws or it'll shred and crack. if you wanted after its built you could round the edges off with a router or some sandpaper. for painting you could do direct paint on the mdf but would soak up alot of it, personally i'd paint a thin layer of resinon the parts of it that'll be seen and just sand that smooth then you'll have a really good paintable surface.

[sidewaySilvia]

Very potent info. Mecp I appreciate it.. I was l00king for a little more with the tv however. Do I just make a 1/4" mdf trim and nothing more or do I have to use more wood for a back and a cascade base? How about this..

I want to put the raw screen into one of the existing plastic panels on my car. Lets go, richard simmons crazzyy and say the b-pillar.. How can I mold this and add on whatever material to have a tv rest there.. Just hypothetical not goiing to really do this..

In ur expert opinion sir. Yuo play good hand sir, but I'm menh the master... Hehehehhe

[MECPInstaller]

If your not wanting to do flush mount, then yeah you could just build a trim ring no real need for a back on it, might wanna use some radio back strap across the back or whatnot if your having to secure it.

Somethign like the b pillar you'd build the trim ring for the screen then build little wooden supports to attach it the area your putting it. After that you'd stretch fleece over it all then go to your glassing, leaving the resin off the center of the trim ring so you can just cut the excess fleece with a knife. If your going for somethign like in the dash, you could flush mount it, just by cutting the right size hole and using the little metal flaps on the tv's trim ring to hold it in place, make sure you remove the dash or are very careful to make sure theres nothing important behind where your cutting;)

[sidewaySilvia]

Ok so I could make wooden supports glue these to the plastic piece and to the wooden trim(I create) of the screen? Then fleece, resin, you know the whole kit and caboodle.. You went to school for this.. What did they train you to do exactly as for as plastics and making tv enclosures.. I really do appreciate it man

[MECPInstaller]

we really didn't learn about plastics just basic measuring and cutting it with dremels and routers, and with the tv's we learned about putting them in the back of headrest and such. I've just kinda put all the knowledge of fiberglass enclosure together along with all the other misc little things i've learned and done to my car. I myself haven't put a raw screen in a car but have good ideas on how to(i've done afew of the indash fold outs).