Failed project

S

sircantaloupe

Joined
Jan 29, 2009
Messages
399
Having been inspired by this awesomeness, I tried for myself. I made a mistake - I got a fiberglass resin that was quick-setting and a surprisingly dark shade of brown in color. Otherwise things went well, but that one mistake made the end result, well, less than optimal.

Here's my photo series.

img1552l.jpg


img1555y.jpg


img1557y.jpg


img1559wo.jpg


img1574k.jpg


img1576m.jpg


So as you can see, the slab turned out very thick. The reason, I believe, is because the resin began to harden before I was able to clamp it and compress it down. Because of this thickness, it's very hard to work with the tools I have on hand, so I've scrapped the project for the moment. My spirit is bruised, but not broken - I will try again one of these days.

Tell me about your own DIY woes!
 
Heck, you are welcome to it revhard. You pay the shipping and it'll be at your door. I just want pics of the end result.
 
Use polyester casting resin-available at craft stores like Hobby Lobby.
 
i see no failure.
looks good to me.
failure to me is actually the successful part of learning

buzz
 
markv said:
i see no failure.
looks good to me.
failure to me is actually the successful part of learning

buzz
Click to expand...

+1000

I have learned FAR more from my failures than I ever have by getting something right the first time.
 
I agree with the sentiments posted. If you succeed on your first attempt, then you must not have been trying to accomplish much.

On a similar note, perfection is *never* achieved, but if you are good, you will get closer with each attempt.
 
So far, it looks OK to me. The biggest concern for a first timer might be voids where the resin did not soak through the cloth all the way.

Polyester resin can usually be slowed by using less hardener. Sometimes there are hardeners available specifically designed for long setup times.

If all went well, it should start to look better once you sand some contours to reveal the weave patterns inside. Presuming there was good penetration, it should make perfectly suitable slabs.
 
Use less MEKP. The polyester will still harden, it will just take longer.
 
Thanks for the advice, guys. I will try again when I have the time, and I might take another crack at shaping and sanding what I've already got.
 
hmm you got me thinking. When i dried this project i used some ripped blue camping chairs for the fabric. The stuff never hardened. I guess i didn't use enough hardener. i Agree that stuff is hard to work with, however i would say that sense there are some space between the layers it would probably look pretty good. Can wait to see some pics..
 
Looks good to me. I have made a bunch of pseudo-micarta slabs and you only have to be careful and measure the thickness of the pile of cloth strips before gluing them together. The cured slab and the dry pile should be about the same thickness (compress it with your fingers when measuring).

If it is too thick for your proyect, set it appart and try to do something else with it... I can think of firesteel handles for example.

Mikel
 
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