Fixing stress fractures in fibreglass

Hostilemonk · 25-07-2008, 03:07 PM

Thinking of getting my race glass (fibreglass and Kevlar) painted - but has a number of stress fractures in it. Some are very fine others a little deeper. What's the best way of fixing them so they won't show through or crack the paint.

Thanks

Jamathi · 25-07-2008, 03:10 PM

Spud for repairs and paint.
You cannot beat his work and commitment from Hilo to MV.

bertie · 25-07-2008, 03:17 PM

kevlar aint nice to work with.
The trick to getting rid of those fury bits of kevlar that will destroy a paintjob is to sand it with 600 or 800 wet and dry. it take the furries off.

I'm going to assume u have stress fractures in your gelcoat then the only way to fix is to grind out then bog up or do a gelcoat repair. I'd stick with bog coz this aint a boat.

if you eat into the glass/kevlar a bit much please back it up with some more glass on the back.

Do you know if the fairing is epoxy or polyester resin???

Flyboy · 25-07-2008, 03:43 PM

If you have a bit of damaged fairing you can do a burn test to find out. Polyester resin will burn under candle flame, epoxy will require a mild torch flame.

Oh and if you use wet and dry on Kevlar, be sure to dry it thoroughly (heat lamps) before applying a repair. Kevlar is hygroscopic and trapped moisture can cause delaminations in the material later on.

bertie · 25-07-2008, 03:56 PM

i should have said to use the wet and dry paper dry. my bad.

25-07-2008, 03:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
Hostilemonk Zimmer frame #238 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: The Hills Posts: 884	Fixing stress fractures in fibreglass Thinking of getting my race glass (fibreglass and Kevlar) painted - but has a number of stress fractures in it. Some are very fine others a little deeper. What's the best way of fixing them so they won't show through or crack the paint. Thanks __________________

25-07-2008, 03:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
bertie Cagiva Mito Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Perth, NOR Posts: 820	kevlar aint nice to work with. The trick to getting rid of those fury bits of kevlar that will destroy a paintjob is to sand it with 600 or 800 wet and dry. it take the furries off. I'm going to assume u have stress fractures in your gelcoat then the only way to fix is to grind out then bog up or do a gelcoat repair. I'd stick with bog coz this aint a boat. if you eat into the glass/kevlar a bit much please back it up with some more glass on the back. Do you know if the fairing is epoxy or polyester resin??? __________________ Last edited by bertie; 25-07-2008 at 03:25 PM.

25-07-2008, 03:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
bertie Cagiva Mito Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Perth, NOR Posts: 820	i should have said to use the wet and dry paper dry. my bad. __________________

25-07-2008, 03:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jamathi 2 strokes, please! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Where da $$ i$ Posts: 3,206	Spud for repairs and paint. You cannot beat his work and commitment from Hilo to MV.

25-07-2008, 03:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
Flyboy K8 GSXR1000, Honda Blackbird Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Vic Park Posts: 1,060	If you have a bit of damaged fairing you can do a burn test to find out. Polyester resin will burn under candle flame, epoxy will require a mild torch flame. Oh and if you use wet and dry on Kevlar, be sure to dry it thoroughly (heat lamps) before applying a repair. Kevlar is hygroscopic and trapped moisture can cause delaminations in the material later on.

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