How To Instructions for Composites Manufacturing
Composite Manufacturing Tips
When manufacturing composites in a production environment, it is important to follow these tips to create better parts, and faster.
How to Paint Composites
How to paint composites and fiberglass. Learn the steps in prepping and finishing a composite material with paint.
Vinyl Ester Barrier Coat
Vinyl ester barrier coats are used to back up a gel coat and are used to improve properties and increase cosmetic appearance. Learn about VE barrier coats and their application.
Gel Coat Application
Gel coat application is a science. Learn the proper methods to apply gel coat in composite manufacturing.
Vinyl Ester Fabrication Guide
Short PDF manual from Ashland on how to fabricate with their Derakane line of vinyl ester resins. This is applicable for other resins and has good information.
Basics of Vacuum Bagging
All vacuum bags are made in essentially the same way. This article shows the basic components of a bag and how they go together.
Boatbuilding Methods
Pictorial overviews of boatbuilding with plywood, one-off fiberglass, steel & aluminum, and strip planking. Pages must be viewed sequentially, but otherwise the content is good.
Boatbuilding with Bead and Cove
Ad for a book on building boats with foam core systems. A few sample pictures, plus the Forward and Introduction, are on the site.
Book of Boat Designs
Plans and kits for 21 or so boats from Glen-L Marine Designs. Catalog gives descriptions and photos of finished boats. Most plans are in the $30-$40 range.
Boston Whaler Repair
James Hebert explains how he repaired some nicks and gouges in the fiberglass hull of his Boston Whaler. No pictures, but a nicely detailed step-by-step description.
Covering Models with Fiberglass Cloth
Jim Ryan shows how to layup glass on airplane models for a good finish. The technique is applicable in many situations, and he includes instructions on priming and painting.
Epoxy Tooling
Instructions for making master plugs and epoxy tooling. Full set of steps, but some details are missing if you haven't done this before.
Fairing Model
Series of articles detailing the manufacture of a rocket fairing fiberglass prototype. Illustrates techniques for making large, inexpensive structures.
Gelcoat Application
Instructions for getting good gelcoating results. Includes proper mixing techniques, working conditions, and illustrations of application techniques. From Aplicator System AB.
Gifts For The Geek In Your Life
Do you have a hard time finding a gift for the geek you love so much? Well, chances are you are not alone. So to help out, here are the top five gifts to buy the techie in your life.
Graf Snowboards
How to build your own snowboard, from initial design through layup and finishing. Detailed instructions, good pictures. Download snoCAD software to help create your design.
Hotwire Discussion
Transcript of an e-mail conversation about the best way to hotwire wing cores. It's unedited, but the discussion has some good pointers on proper techniques.
Kleb's Custom Board Building Project
Detailed description of building a sailboard. Good pictures, concise but accurate text. Article is on several pages for quick loading.
Peltzer Cockpit Fairing
Eric Peltzer describes the design and construction of a windshield fairing for a Yamaha motorcycle. The description of the manufacturing process (foam master, fiberglass mold) is brief but has some useful information.
Sailplane Building Tips
A collection of articles on building and flying sailplanes, including several that deal with composites. Check out, for example, "Building for Slope Crashes," "Construction Tips," "Hot to Make Foam Templates," "How to Paint a Composite Wing," and "Vacuum Bagging a Wing," among others.
Sketch Modeling
Sketch models are rough 3D models of objects made with foam, cardboard and foam core. This site has detailed, pictorial instructions for shaping foam with a hotwire and other tools, and for making structures from cardboard.
Sprayup
Brief description of good sprayup techniques. Includes information on machine calibration and illustrations showing how to hold the gun. From Aplicator System AB.
Stevenson Projects
Plans for building a variety of boats. All designs are wood but are helped by a fiberglass overlay. Slide show of one boat being built. Most plans $10-$30.
The Cheap Little Sucker
Build your own vacuum pump for about $20 in parts and a salvaged compressor. Includes picture, hand-drawn schematic, and text instructions.
Vacuum Bagging Wings
How to layup and cure small foam core wings with fiberglass and wood veneer skins. Includes some general design advice. Good pictures; annoying background pattern; text only version.