Well i have seen a few posts lately, and thought i would post one of my recent projects up. This is my first experiment with some toolmaking gel coat for mold making. I choose a simple part to start, it is just the spark plug cover for our b series engines, I know there are a ton of companies out there that make them, but i was due for some sort of hands on project.

Finish product, not yet mounted but this is where I stopped.


Part out of the mold before trimming


Here is the finish of the part out of the mold




my mold






All in all I think it came out pretty good, The mold has a few spots in the side that need to be patched for future use. But I used some molding clay to patch them for the time being.

This is my second major composites project. I actually built a canoe at school, 15ft : 20lbs. Pretty ill strength to weight ration, you can actually see through the conoe. It is two thin layers of 10oz s glass, with a nomex honeycomb skeleton, and carbon fiber thorts. It was great project, and came out amazing thanks to my teachers help.

 

looks real good nice job

 

Looks pretty good. How thick is your gel coat? I wonder if those trouble spots could be too thin. I had trouble with that once.

 

I think that is my issue, this was my first time using it, Do you try to apply it in a few layers, like lay one down, let it tack, lay another on top?

 

i like it

 

I like it alot... it makes me want to build my molds for my air ducts now.

 

very nice job!

congrats

i wouldn't mind seeing a picture of the canoe either

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MikeGRIS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think that is my issue, this was my first time using it, Do you try to apply it in a few layers, like lay one down, let it tack, lay another on top?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, on my parts I lay down two coats as you describe. Wait until B stage and drop another layer. B stage meaning when you can touch the corner of the mold and it leaves a print but nothing comes back on your finger. For a mold you could use 3 layers of resin for the gel coat. 1mm is probably as thin as you want to go with a gel on a mold. Of course this might vary with the type you are using but thats a good start. If you are spraying it on you should be able to drop 1mm thickness with the right gun and tip but I am assuming you are brushing it on?

 

Yeah I am brushing it on for now. Down the road if i get more into mold making i will spray it on.

By the way your site is great, added it to my list and look forward to reading and learning more about the process.

Where is a good place to buy a vacumn pump? i think want to do some infusion.

The canoe is up for the winter but i will snap a photo of is soon.

 

Very nice! Good job on your project!

 

Make some for the ls motor.... lol nobody does that

 

Looks good man. Lets see some pics of canoe