Fiberglass Bumper Moulds attempt

[RebelV8]

looking good Andy, fingers crossed for tomorrow

[andyverran]

cheers dude...I'm hopeful

[shokenore]

Impressive

[andyverran]

Well....got it out of the mould in the end, a bit of damage around the edges and something of an issue with the part getting stuck. I'll have to be more carefull on the next side.

You'll need some imagination with the part, I need a cutting tool to trim it neatly (ordered) and some of the mould gel coat has stuck to the part, so I have to flat it all down and paint it along with repairing the damage from releasing.

Oh and got to bond the brackets in also...

Unluckily for you lot my beautiful assistant was on the other side of the camera, so you just have to make do with me.

[shokenore]

That is without a doubt very impressive.
Kudos to you for keeping at it, and posting it up here.

Definitely puts my effort to shame.

[andyverran]

That is without a doubt very impressive.
Kudos to you for keeping at it, and posting it up here.

Definitely puts my effort to shame.

It has become something of a mission to get to the end, learning every time I do a mould it seems I make new mistakes!

Getting better though.

I wouldn't say it puts yours to shame, you made something new from scratch where as I copied a part that already existed...very different things to try doing.

[RebelV8]

Its coming on very well Andy, looks really good and a good fit judging by the pic aswell

[andyverran]

Whie the weather held, thought I'd try sticking the bumper on...

Expanding foam looks worse in the pic than it actially is, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

We'll see tomorrow if I arrive at work with a bumper still there....or if I infact arrive at work...

[andyverran]

Well....it and I got to work in one piece...some extra overnight expansion in the foam, I can get it back aligned when I get to the rear part...but a different technique with the foam application will fix the prob on the other side.

[KERRSURF]

If you bonded some plate into the glass would you still need the expanding foam?

[andyverran]

If you bonded some plate into the glass would you still need the expanding foam?

No, you wouldn't, could be bolted on then....but I'm on a tight old budget and I kinda wondered if it would work!

[shokenore]

No, you wouldn't, could be bolted on then....but I'm on a tight old budget and I kinda wondered if it would work!

I wonder if you could recoup your costs by hiring out your mold.
I for one would be interested.

[andyverran]

I wonder if you could recoup your costs by hiring out your mold.
I for one would be interested.

lol, the mould wasn't good enough for that, nor was it durable enough....I knew it would be trashed making a part and it was...well releasing it anyway. My bumper was well bent too...and the next corner is even worse!!!

If you want to do one though bud happy to share my mistakes and all that.

There are some good videos on you tube...he's a bit annoying but they are well worth watching.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRBEEedpuRA

[shokenore]

Worth a try I suppose, was kinda hoping not to have to go through the whole painful birthing process.
Perhaps when the snorkel is finished I might have a bit more confidence....

Latex gloves and face mask on standby.

Oh just in case did you know that single cream pots have 100 ml markers on them, make for a very easy mixing pot.
I just use up all the mix and then the pot is good for the recycle box.
And poundland pack of five brushes

[andyverran]

Thats a handy tip! I was using McDonalds cups...weighed and marked the first cup of resin then don't have to do it again...

I went for adding hardener to the minimium amount, gave more time for fidling about (though needs more patience to set) as I couldn't work fast enough.

With the mould, getting the part perfect to be moulded is where the work lies...took me 3 goes before I was even half good enough...and the next one will be better again...

its not the sort of thing you can pop round and do or I'd say do that...