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Q&As since 1989


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Amount of resin needed to saturate fiberglass mat

I intend to cover 100 square feet of vertical wood surface with fiberglass mat (1.5 Oz. / Sq.Ft.) and polyester resin. About how much resin will I need?

Ralph W Keller
- MEDINAH, Illinois, United States
2003

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I'd probably figure that the glass occupies almost no volume after resin fills the airspaces (after all, it has almost no weight). Then it's a simple matter that however much volume you need, that's how much resin you need.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2003

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Ralph,

What Ted says is correct!

However, wood itself will absorb resin so the best thing is to apply a rich coating of resin onto the wood. Then (using a PE sheet) impregnate pieces of the mat with resin and apply quickly to that part of the wood you have already treated.

How much resin to use? Dunno. Work it out ... assume a thickness of 1/16" for l00 sq.ft using a single layer of l-1/2 ounce mat + safety factor for wetting out the wood, too.

Freeman Newton [deceased]
(It is our sad duty to advise that Freeman passed away
April 21, 2012. R.I.P. old friend).
2003