Hey, I've gotten a few e-mails and pm's about vacuum bagging laminates and mold making. For a better technical explanation of vacuum bagging and how it's done go here...
http://composite.about.com/od/aboutcomp ... 000109.htm
The idea with any vacuum bagging process is to pull out excess resin and to get rid of air voids in your new parts. By doing this the big advantage is a lighter weight part that is much stronger.
As for mold making I'm hoping 80 Grit Guy will share some tech. here with us on that subject. If you just can't wait and want to try some stuff yourself these downloads were suggested to me for $20 at this site...
http://www.fiberglassmoldmanual.com/
If you go to the center of that page you'll see a free partial download of the material. Looks decent and a little more current than some of the stuff I've seen in book stores lately. Anybody else got any links to more mold making tech???

DarrelK - sounds like a fun idea. Good refresher for me and a chance to trade thoughts / ideas. I believe I have some start to finish projects I made molds for.
I also have a tape (that's how old it is) of mold and plug making. Kind of a Bob Ross happy tree thing - but good info. I'll see if my VCR still works and review it.
Here is a pic of an SS Camaro 4th Gen Hood. This started life as a CHEAP Plastic L-88 Vette Hood Scoop I had to cut and section (and add a center line) to make it pick up / fit the lines of the SS Hood. And YES I used dry wall mud as filler on the scoop - but NOT on the mold.
I'll get the pics together and supplies. If I remember correctly I did NOT use mold release - just carnuba wax - since I used fiberglass resin and not epoxy.

Ahhh the joys of plug and mold making.. tis the fun and excitment.. lol.


I've been making plugs and molds almost every day, or I should say working on making them every day. That is the hardest part of composites.. making quality plugs and molds.. because that is where it all starts. I would love to design a car body, build the plug, build the mold, then do the lay up. I know a guy who did a whole VW body this way, doors, trunk, engine lid everything.

http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb186/Fastrr_photos/