Fiberglass chopped strand mat material

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Geo
Posts: 48
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 8:54 am

Fiberglass chopped strand mat material

Post by Geo »

Where does one find this material? I want to add some to a plaster/silica mold.

Thanks
Morganica
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Re: Fiberglass chopped strand mat material

Post by Morganica »

Sculpting supply places sell it--I have a list of them on my blog.
http://www.morganica.com/bloggery/casting-resources/

You can also find it, sometimes more cheaply, at marine supply stores and some auto shops that supply fiberglass restoration equipment. They will have chop and bolts of fabric; I usually get whatever fabric is cheapest. If I have a big, really tricky piece, I'll also buy a roll of 3-4 inch double-woven tape for the corners and such.

You can also check on eBay, and sometimes in the boats section of Craigslist.
Cynthia Morgan
Marketeer, Webbist, Glassist
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Al Bray
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Re: Fiberglass chopped strand mat material

Post by Al Bray »

Not sure if these are the best price option but

http://www.eagerplastics.com/choppedstrand.htm

They sell both 1/4" and 1/2" lengths and 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 lb quantity offerings.

http://www.tapplastics.com/product/fibe ... erglass/45

Tap plastics is another source for the 1/4" length strands and the 44lb pricing is better that the 25lb pricing for the same from Eagerplastics.

Others may know of cheaper sources. Sometimes you can find it at local Marine or Autobody parts shop as it is often used as filler in epoxy resins to strengthen repairs.

- Al
Geo
Posts: 48
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 8:54 am

Re: Fiberglass chopped strand mat material

Post by Geo »

Thanks. I got some at my local marine supply store. Not sure that it was any less expensive, but I wanted it today. Really need to be better at planning.
Joe Pfeifer
Posts: 24
Joined: Thu May 27, 2010 9:55 pm

Re: Fiberglass chopped strand mat material

Post by Joe Pfeifer »

It's used as a concrete additive. Try concrete / cement suppliers.
Peter Angel
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Location: Newtown, Sydney, Australia.

Re: Fiberglass chopped strand mat material

Post by Peter Angel »

A much better material is chopped ceramic fibers. (zirconia based fibers instead of glass)

You sprinkle a handful into the water before your add your investment powder and it makes the mold really strong and porous (allowing steam a pathway out)

ive had no cracking since using this product.

Its has a softening point of 860C/1580F and is very cheap!

Details of cem-fil fibers here:
http://www.ocvreinforcements.com/Cemfil ... aspx?lg=en
Peter Angel
http://peterangelart.blogspot.com/

A bigger kiln, A bigger kiln, my kingdom for a bigger kiln.
Morganica
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Re: Fiberglass chopped strand mat material

Post by Morganica »

Very cool. Thanks, Peter!
Cynthia Morgan
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Lauri Levanto
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Location: Halikko, Finland

Re: Fiberglass chopped strand mat material

Post by Lauri Levanto »

A variantof Peter's method is
I put some water and used fiber paper in a blender to get a fiber pulp.
That I use as Peter described.

nasty stuff. Use breathing mask and good gloves when you shred the used, soft fiber paper.

-lauri
Peter Angel
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Re: Fiberglass chopped strand mat material

Post by Peter Angel »

Laurie,

What type of fibre paper do you use?

Pete
Peter Angel
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A bigger kiln, A bigger kiln, my kingdom for a bigger kiln.
Lauri Levanto
Posts: 270
Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 7:33 am
Location: Halikko, Finland

Re: Fiberglass chopped strand mat material

Post by Lauri Levanto »

Peter Angel wrote:Laurie,

What type of fibre paper do you use?

Pete
Thifire has very short fibers. 2-3 mm fiber papers leave soft blanket sfter firing.
I shread it to small patches. I make pulp of it for inner layer, for outer layer I
soak the patches in plaster and set around the mold.
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