How To Avoid Terrible Mistakes When Fitting A Fiberglass Enclosure
Fiberglass Enclosure
Building a fiberglass enclosure is one job which is not actually that hard to accomplish, but it is one which can leave you with a disaster if you make certain critical mistakes. The carpeting of the vehicle is the easiest part to damage beyond repair, if it is kept anywhere near to where the installation is taking place. It is easy enough to remove it, so that is the first step you should take. Even beyond the possibility of damage, it is possible to cause harm to yourself if basic safety precautions are ignored.
Safety is so important that it is necessary to devote a whole paragraph to it. Proper ventilation and the avoidance of any potential fire hazards are the first essential. If you are a smoker, do without the habit until the job has been completely finished and you have restored everything to its original state. Even if the area you are working in is well ventilated, which it needs to be, it is still better to wear a dust mask for safety and protection. Fitting fiberglass enclosures can be tiring and oppressive work.
The next step is to gather together the materials you will need to do the job. You will need brushes and mixing containers, and the brushes should be ones you are prepared to just discard at the end of the job. Don’t expect to get them clean again so you can use them with paints, for example. Protect your hands with rubber gloves, and make sure that they are hard wearing. You will need some cloth, and the resin and body filler to complete the task.
Once the carpet has been removed, and taken to a place well out of harm’s way, the trunk should be given as thorough a clean as possible. Attempting to work with a dirty surface can only impair your results. Lay two layers of resin, one after the other. You will be stuck with a bit of an annoying wait while the first layer dries, but that cannot be avoided. The good news is that you don’t have to wait until the layer is completely dry before you move on. Building fiberglass enclosures can create fumes, so take the opportunity to get outside and breathe.
Make sure the speakers are well sealed in, as any opportunity for movement will impair the result. You will get unwanted juddering sounds. If this happens, all you can do is apply more sealant to the area until the problem has been cured. The only slight disadvantage in the long term will be that the unit will not look as neat as it could have done. It should function exactly the same as if the join had been more accurate originally. You should get many years of service and long life out of your new fiberglass enclosure.