Fibreglast fibrelease

[whateg01]

Anybody use this stuff and have good luck with it? I've been waxing molds and then spraying hairspray on it too ensure I get a good part release.

Easy composites has what they refer to as a "chemical release" but it's about $75 to ship from the UK. I haven't found anything here in the US referred to as a chemical release but the description of fibrelease seems to match so I bought I bottle of it.

Instructions say wipe on and let dry. I did that twice, applying 2 coats just to play it safe. Did not release at all. Pulled the surface off the mold. Fortunately I made a test mold to try it on before using it on a real part but I'm very disappointed.

I'm using total boat 5:1 epoxy. Parts almost fall out using the wax and hair spray. Was hoping for something that doesn't have to be reapplied every time.

 

[PCustoms]

New mold?

How was it sealed?

 

[PCustoms]

I usually use wax, but this stuff worked great for metal and delrin tools:

R2X3 Semi-Permanent Mold Release Agent

www.kadko.com

 

[whateg01]

New mold?

How was it sealed?

Yeah new-ish mold, but it's had about 15 coats of wax applied so I could test release with just wax, just hairspray, wax+hairspray, release of different gel coats, release of polyester resin and epoxy.

Just remembered, I did sand it down again before applying this stuff. The surface was 220 grit polyester resin, which worked fine with all the combinations listed above. The instructions didn't say anything about special mold prep.

 

[PCustoms]

Yeah new-ish mold, but it's had about 15 coats of wax applied so I could test release with just wax, just hairspray, wax+hairspray, release of different gel coats, release of polyester resin and epoxy.

Just remembered, I did sand it down again before applying this stuff. The surface was 220 grit polyester resin, which worked fine with all the combinations listed above. The instructions didn't say anything about special mold prep.

I stuck a plug once. I can't remember the specifics, but whatever release I was using reacted very poorly to fresh (ish) primer on the plug.

Assuming you didn't have a chemical reaction, 220 grit is pretty rough, I usually compound/polish.

 

[whateg01]

I stuck a plug once. I can't remember the specifics, but whatever release I was using reacted very poorly to fresh (ish) primer on the plug.

Assuming you didn't have a chemical reaction, 220 grit is pretty rough, I usually compound/polish.

I was trying to save time and not go to 600 and since the parts pretty much fell out with the 220/wax/hairspray, I guess I expected similar results with this stuff.

 

[PCustoms]

I was trying to save time and not go to 600 and since the parts pretty much fell out with the 220/wax/hairspray, I guess I expected similar results with this stuff.

Wax filled the roughness and pva (hairspray) acted as the release.

 

[PCustoms]

 

[whateg01]

Wax filled the roughness and pva (hairspray) acred as the release.

I'm going to try this again tonight. I'll sand to 600 this time. It only tore up that one spot. I can sand the rest of the test area. I kind of expected the release agent to do a little bit of filling but I guess I shouldn't have. I did read the class A finish but didn't expect it to not release at all, just expected it to be tough.

 

[K13]

Follow the instructions. You think companies write them for a make work project? It doesn't say 600 grit, is says a polished Class A finish. It doesn't say two coats it says mist or wipe a single coat. I never understand why people think they are smarter than the company that makes a product when it comes to using it.

 

[PCustoms]

I'm going to try this again tonight. I'll sand to 600 this time. It only tore up that one spot. I can sand the rest of the test area. I kind of expected the release agent to do a little bit of filling but I guess I shouldn't have. I did read the class A finish but didn't expect it to not release at all, just expected it to be tough.

The liquid releases do not fill in my experience. They work really well on dead smooth tools (delrin, metal, polished etc.) but if you've got a rough resin tool wax is the best.

What are you making?

 

[whateg01]

The liquid releases do not fill in my experience. They work really well on dead smooth tools (delrin, metal, polished etc.) but if you've got a rough resin tool wax is the best.

Thanks for that. Good to know. I get lazy and don't like to polish stuff so maybe it's best if I just stick with wax and hairspray.

What are you making?

Two pairs of these clamshell halves get assembled to make the "frame" for a set of angel wings for a friend's daughter who acts. I've done other props for them before. This started out as "could you cut a couple things out of thin aluminum? They need to be lightweight and strong." Lightweight and strong you say?

Working with cf has been a learning experience. It's just like fiberglass except all the ways it isn't.

 

[PCustoms]

I remember the other thread about wings now

 

[mikegt4]

Back when I was in the composites business we used good old Johnson's paste wax in the yellow can, I still do on the occasional layups that I do now. Today's spray on mold releases are pretty good, Fiberglast sells good products (re-badged seller much like Eastwood) but they are far from the cheapest place to shop. I used to purchase from them when the original owner was operating as a side business circa 1970.

 

[whateg01]

Back when I was in the composites business we used good old Johnson's paste wax in the yellow can, I still do on the occasional layups that I do now. Today's spray on mold releases are pretty good, Fiberglast sells good products (re-badged seller much like Eastwood) but they are far from the cheapest place to shop. I used to purchase from them when the original owner was operating as a side business circa 1970.

I've been using wax from orca and am pretty happy with it.

I have only purchased PVA once, back in the mid-90s. It was very watery and probably needed to be sprayed. I didn't have a good spray gun back then. It didn't brush well at all, just beaded up. That was when somebody told me about hairspray. I watched a video a couple weeks ago where somebody was using a 3d printed mold and just brushed the PVA on and it was more of a paint-like consistency. Maybe I need to look into that again.

 

[seber]

Going back a bit to the late sixties I used teflon spray mold release. It worked very well but I remember it being rather expensive at the time. I still have the last can sitting on the shelf.

 

[PCustoms]

Going back a bit to the late sixties I used teflon spray mold release.

I would strongly advise against any aerosol Teflon type products.

Reminds me I need to run some material to household hazmat, I have a few cans of release...

 

[mikegt4]

I've been using wax from orca and am pretty happy with it.

I have only purchased PVA once, back in the mid-90s. It was very watery and probably needed to be sprayed. I didn't have a good spray gun back then. It didn't brush well at all, just beaded up. That was when somebody told me about hairspray. I watched a video a couple weeks ago where somebody was using a 3d printed mold and just brushed the PVA on and it was more of a paint-like consistency. Maybe I need to look into that again.

PVA works best when sprayed, just like paint does if you want a smooth consistent surface. It's also sprayed on new tires to protect the white letters, usually blue in that application.

 

[whateg01]

PVA works best when sprayed, just like paint does if you want a smooth consistent surface. It's also sprayed on new tires to protect the white letters, usually blue in that application.

I agree that is the case. True of any release film imo. Interesting in the video I saw of the 3d printed mold, the thicker consistency filled in the layer lines which helped avoid a mechanical lock.