<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman">Van, in after the car wax, apply some PVA. YOu can buy this at craft stores in small quantities near where they sell plaster/molding resing/etc. Michael's and HobbyLobby are in Dallas. Apply two coats of PVA. From a sprayer if you can. If you don't have air equip, buy a Precor can ($3) or use an old atomizer. PVA dissolves in water so after laying up the parts, you can soak the mold/part in warm water and make it easier to remove. Gray's right on the difficulty here. YOu wouldn't belive the trouble we've had in making our own carbon mufflers. </font>
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<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman">Another idea I have, but haven't tried, is to wrap the PVC molding pipe with Saran wrap, lay up the part, remove the pipe and then peel off the Saran wrap from the inside. THis would be very easy.</font>
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<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman">--Lance</font>
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<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman">Van</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font>
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<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman">Use the coupler, it will be much easier to release. Apply 4 coats of real car wax to the coupler, this will release. There are better releases but you will have to buy a pretty big quantity. The real problem here is no matter what the release, the physical configuration you are molding is by far the hardest to get off the mold. The best way to remove a molded ring on a male mold is to push it off. This requires something that will push the inside (such as a piece of pvc pipe) while something hold the outside ring on a arbor press or similar. Hammering does not work real well. You may be able to glue in the pipe to the coupler, then use something like and oil filter wrench to twist the ring off.</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman">It will have the natural spring back you desire.</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"> Carbon fiber will work just like the fiberglass other than the fact it will be 3X stiffer. Check <b>www.cstsales.com</b> for carbon fiber and other stuff.</font>
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<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman">Gray Fowler</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"> Principal Chemical Engineer</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"> Composites Engineering</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font>
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<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman">Gray / Lance / All,</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font>
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<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman">I need to know what type of epoxy and release agent ( if I need that ) to get to make some fiberglass rings. Let me describe what I am trying to make, and tell me if I am totally off base here, and what I need to do to accomplish my task, if you can.</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font>
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<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman">I need to make about "6" Fiberglass rings. They need to be 4" in diameter, and about 2" wide. I have some 2" wide fiberglass cloth that is fairly heavy, and I plan to use that for the material. When they dry, I need to be able to make cut in them, so the ring can be spread open, and the ring needs to have some "spring back" to it, just slightly, so it needs to be sorta stiff.</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font>
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<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman">I have found that a 3 1/2" PVC coupler is a perfect side for the ring if I wrap the material on the outside. So is a glass Miracle Whip jar ( ;-) - Hey guys, I'm not a glass guru, but I do have a degree in MacGyver ! )</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font>
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<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman">Can I put release agent on the coupler, or the far, wrap my glass on this, and will it work ?</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font>
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<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman">What working time epoxy do I need ?</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman">Would Carbon Fiber Tape be better ?</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman">Where should I get it ?</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman">How much is a round trip ticket to your workshop so you can teach me ??? < bigger grin ></font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font>
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