Bondo hair over stacked cardboard.

[Beefloaf]

Hey, I'm starting my armor, and I'm thinking of stacking couragated cardboard, and then cutting it with xacto knives to rough shape, and then putting bondo hair, or the regular type( I think the green stuff is easier to sand?)putting that over the cardboard, and then sanding that to final shape. I have a dremel so sanding won't be that hard. I'll use the cardboard to save on bondo and weight, basically having a cardboard core, with bondo shell. I've looked at a lot of threads on here, and the fiberglass/ resin method is big, is there a big advantage to it compared to what I want to do? I've used bondo before so I know what I'm getting into, but does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Spartan 110]

fiberglass is stronger than bondo, and a lot lighter.

 

[Beefloaf]

So is the fiberglass as easy to work with? and would I be able to get the same end results as bondo? (shape)

 

[link4044]

it depends on you how ez you can work with it.....1st you'll need to brush some resin onto the cardboard then let that dry then add a layer or two of fiberglass on the backside.....heres something if you dont detail it 1st you can add a layer of glass to the front then you can add the detail in, it would be a bit ez that way

 

[WanderingRon1n]

ive been using bondo hair. its a fiberglass w/ resin in it. so it litterly looks like blue globs of wet hair. i would recommend staying away from it. its hard to work with unless you are up to LOTS of sanding. the only reason i use it is because i got it for free. but its the same strength and weight cuz IT IS fiberglass.

 

[Damien]

fiberglassing is easy after some practice, do some practice stuff first then try some real stuff

 

[Beefloaf]

Thanks!
as soon as I finish my calculus 3 final on wednesday I'll get started!
I just bought a bunch of fiberglass mat and resin, do you recommend a respirator right now? or just when i start sanding? I'll be doing all of this outside. Also, next fall term I'll be taking a 3d graphing engineering class, that, along with a 3d printer in the engineering building, I think I'll try to make a helmet that way. I'll be making one the regular way, but I'd like to make a perfect one :mrgreen:

 

[link4044]

calculus 3 final :wowie: ewww good luck

 

[WanderingRon1n]

always have at least some sort of mask and make sure its for fiberglassing. you can buy those clothe ones at autozone and stuff.

 

[Beefloaf]

Thanks, I will definitely do that....don't want to be coughing up balls of fiberglass now do I? ;-)

I've changed my mind about how I'm going to make the armor, i'm doing the pepakura method, and I'll just do a lot of modding. since I want more of a halo 3 look.

To the mods: if you notice this, you can repost it into the pepakura section. :roll:
Thanks again.

 

[John117]

Thanks, I will definitely do that....don't want to be coughing up balls of fiberglass now do I? ;-)
Thanks again.

Dude, I would pay to see that!

Thanks everyone for the informative posts, Its filling up my word doc quite nicely. Now I can not complain about having any problems. (working on the armor, or buying stuff.)


Cheers!

-John117

 

[mnm enterprises]

I'm fiberglassing my pepakura helmet now, its going easier than expected. I first resined it. Then i got the fiberglass cloth, i have the fiberclass mat but i didnt open it because it looked to thick. But the cloth is working great i got it from walmart. I plan on putting on 3 layers. As of now its looking great, patience is the key!

 

[Sean Bradley]

Fiberglass mat is pretty messy stuff, that leaves a kind of sloppy uneven surface.. For surface reinforcement, or anywhere you want to look nice and neat, use fiberglass cloth.