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Bonding fibreglass to steel

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by steve rogan, Jan 8, 2013.

  1. steve rogan
    Joined: Aug 29, 2010
    Posts: 3

    steve rogan
    Member

    Does anyone have any information on bonding fibreglass to steel.
    I have a fiberglass 1932 Ford Roadster body which came without a floor.
    I want to make a steel floor myself and glass it into the body.
    Any help or information on products would be much appreciated.
     
  2. Kerrynzl
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 2,905

    Kerrynzl
    Member

    Simson 70-03 Urethane Adhesive [ not Urethane Sealer ]

    I use this to bond fibreglass fenders onto trailers without brackets, the steel needs to be bare metal at contact .

    Then she's on for life mate!
     
  3. Best idea i can come up with in a flash is fiberglass a wood perimeter into the body and bolt the steel floor to the wood, Wood and fiberglass works but fiberglass and steel does not.
     
  4. matthew mcglothin
    Joined: Mar 3, 2007
    Posts: 970

    matthew mcglothin
    Member

    Fiberglass and steel do not get along.
     

  5. dana barlow
    Joined: May 30, 2006
    Posts: 5,115

    dana barlow
    Member
    from Miami Fla.
    1. Y-blocks

    A wood lip is a good way,the wood moves about the same as glass does and has enough grain to grab by glass,Steel floors rust and will most likely need replacing at some point on down the years,so bolted or screwed in helps in the long run as well.
     
  6. Maratrodz
    Joined: Sep 3, 2011
    Posts: 25

    Maratrodz
    Member
    from Wa

    If you can get your hands on some itw plexus MA 830. This stuff is amazing. I am a certified composte technician. I used this stuff to bond steel, stainless steel, and aluminum on boats. I have done some extensive tests with it. I had one of he reps come and watch some of the testing and he was amazed. I glued a piece of stainless steel to a piece of fiberglass and lifted 2 Eco blocks with it. If you get your hands on some it's pretty nasty stuff so you might want to wear a respirator. If you have any questions I would be more than willing to help.
     
  7. Gearhead Graphics
    Joined: Oct 4, 2008
    Posts: 3,890

    Gearhead Graphics
    Member
    from Denver Co

    We used to use what we called "bear shit" to bond structure into glass vehicles. A mix of resin, gel coat and kittyhair bondo.
     
  8. Have you considered perforated steel? It would then be encapsulated inside the fiberglass. You could grind areas and still weld to it. Or maybe perf steel around the perimeter only to be able to tie the floor into the glass.
     
  9. gasserjohn
    Joined: Nov 9, 2008
    Posts: 1,218

    gasserjohn
    Member

    punch holes in the steel to give a bond for the glass resin.......
     
  10. Beau
    Joined: Jul 2, 2009
    Posts: 1,884

    Beau
    Member

    The real issue is that the two will corrode heavily next to each other.
     
  11. collision industry has been using products such as panel bond for years. I have bonded many glass corvette parts to its steel frame without issues just as the factory does.
     
  12. TheEngineer
    Joined: Jul 17, 2012
    Posts: 239

    TheEngineer
    Member
    from New Mexico

    I once had a fiberglass body Manx on a VW chassis. It had a metal floor that was part of the frame (like a VW does). The body was just sitting on the floor and bolted down.
     
  13. TheEngineer
    Joined: Jul 17, 2012
    Posts: 239

    TheEngineer
    Member
    from New Mexico

    ImageUploadedByTJJ1357705491.127073.jpg
    See the bolt holes around the edge?
     
  14. supervert
    Joined: Mar 8, 2009
    Posts: 433

    supervert
    Member

    U can use epoxy resin, it gets along with steel a lot better than poly resin
     
  15. 3M 8115 Panel Bonding Adhesive. Bonds steel, aluminum, smc, fiberglass, in any order. www.3mcollision.com
     
  16. cktasto
    Joined: May 31, 2009
    Posts: 313

    cktasto
    Member

    ditto
     
  17. zibo
    Joined: Mar 17, 2002
    Posts: 2,361

    zibo
    Member
    from dago ca

    some bolts along with 3M 5200 adhesive is bulletproof as well.
    Probably the same stuff as the 3M 8115 just in marine form.
    TP
     
  18. truck
    Joined: Feb 24, 2009
    Posts: 116

    truck
    Member
    from Brisbane

    Paccar (kenworth trucks) use sikaflex adhesive to glue their cabs together.
     
  19. casophylip
    Joined: Jan 8, 2013
    Posts: 4

    casophylip
    Member
    from london

    Wood and fiberglass works but fiberglass and steel does not.[​IMG]
     
  20. Kerrynzl
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 2,905

    Kerrynzl
    Member

    S**t I hope you're wrong.

    I urethane bonded the fibreglass body to steel on my race car and drove it up to 176mph.
    I've also been urethane bonding fibreglass to steel on trailers that I've sold to customers
    The biggest complaint I get is when they damage a fender , it is difficult to cut off without destroying it.

    Get with modern times. modern adhesives aint like they were years ago.

    They even use adhesives in surgery and dentistry these days
     
  21. little t
    Joined: Sep 14, 2010
    Posts: 87

    little t
    Member

    two part panel bonder works great the applicator gun is not cheap or is the 2 part material talk to someone in the autobody profession for info on this stuff
     
  22. To elaborate further......you can epoxy prime the sheet of perforated steel BEFORE you glass over it - corrosion won't be a problem. Still allowing area grinding and welding if needed later. I'm sure the adhesives are awesome these days- but how much do they cost? Where do you get them? My method is old school, but it works good and doesn't require any materials that you most likely don't have laying around. Not saying anybody is wrong, I'm just a cheap ass, bare bones mo-fo.
     
  23. truck
    Joined: Feb 24, 2009
    Posts: 116

    truck
    Member
    from Brisbane

    The tube of sikaflex to stick steel to fiberglass is around 60 bucks here, it provides a waterproof and damn near impossible join. I used less than a tube to glue the steel floor into my A roadster.
     
  24. Crystal Blue
    Joined: Nov 18, 2008
    Posts: 609

    Crystal Blue
    Member

    This works great. Wood or metal to fiberglass.

    [​IMG]
     
  25. 37cevy4dr
    Joined: Nov 21, 2010
    Posts: 31

    37cevy4dr
    Member
    from Louisiana

    Do not know why all the guys are against glass and steel together. Owned a custom body shop for 20 years and bonded glass flares and accessories to steel all the time with no problems. Live in Louisiana, moisture is a major problem buy if prepared correctly will work for a very, very long time with no problems. Surface prep is 16 grit disc to bare metal then build up the glass SLOWLY using roving and cloth for the initial contact area. They you can use glass mat. The key is not mixing you resin with too much hardener. A good mixture will not change the color of the resin and it should set up clear with a slight green tint to it.(depends on the brand) If it sets up too fast the heat will cause the resin to pull away from the metal.
    I agree with one guy use epoxy and not poly resin. They came out with the panel adhesive after I change jobs. But I can tell you if you take every bolt out of the front end of a Mercedes I think you could lift the car off the ground and the fenders not come off. Really wicked stuff.
    After reading most of the comments I believe glassing in a wood bar to the body then using the panel adhesive along with screws thru steel into wood bar would be the easiest and least amount of hassle to get a good fit and one that is strong.
    Glass is tricky and if you are not familiar with using it I would advise going the aforementioned plan.
    Remember cleanliness is next to Godliness, sweat from you forehead and hands can effect the bonding using glass. Stay very clean.
     
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2013
  26. Evercoat makes two part adhesives that work in a standard caulking gun no need for the special guns that 3M, Fusor and everyone else uses. The products all meet up to the same specs as the others as well it is probably half the cost.

    http://www.evercoat.com/productDetail.aspx?pID=270
     
  27. slinginrods
    Joined: Oct 6, 2008
    Posts: 422

    slinginrods
    Member
    from florida

    the roofs on most modern cars are simply held on with adhesives,there not welded.
     
  28. hemiboy
    Joined: Apr 21, 2005
    Posts: 249

    hemiboy
    Member

    I use Fusor for all the bonding I do- great stuff, comes in many types of mixes.
     
  29. falconsprint63
    Joined: May 17, 2007
    Posts: 2,358

    falconsprint63
    Member
    from Mayberry

    I think fusor or a similar adhesive is probably your best option. I'd talk to the guys at your paint shot about it and look at the spec sheets to find the best option. I haven't done this enough to speak authoritatively (last time was probably 8 years ago for the body effect on an OT rice burner during the fast and furious craze--they're still there with no problems under the STUPID expensive paint the guy insisted on using)
     
  30. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,861

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Yep, with 3M 5200 sticking something together it isn't going to come apart without a big fight.
     

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