Glass seat pan

[mro]

Link is to the UK site.
Looks easy/in-XSpensive so those in need might give it a go
http://www.benefiscal.co.uk/forum/in...p?topic=2941.0


mro

[fredintoon]

Hi mro,
OK, looks good. I'd say use cloth/matt/cloth for the layup while the link shows plain matt. Don't forget the need to make adequate strongpoints for the studs that hold the seat mounting thingies and for the hookything that holds the front of the seat down. All those rubber cushions that used to plug into holes in the original steel base probably won't fit through holes in the much thicker fiberglass laminate.hold them on with a countersunk screw & big washer instead?

[TomB]

Fred

I copied the GRP seat base idea from a seat I had years ago.

For the studs they used studs/bolts welded onto a thin plate then pushed through the holes in the glass so the plate is between the sponge and base, I plan to do the same, it worked very well on that seat.

The tongue at the front will work similarly by using a thin plate on the inside of the seat, between sponge and base, and either rivet or bolt through the tongue into the plate, so you're sandwiching the glass.

The seat I had was only matting, no cloth, and it was plenty strong and so is mine.

I had some old glass mat and resin from doing flat roofs that needed using before it went off so I thought I'd try it, now I know it'll work Ok I'll use some good resin and make a better job.

Coz I'm moulding from the inside of the original seat base the finish is very smooth and with a quick coat of paint would look very similar to original XS seats, besides not many folk get to see it.

Hope this helps if anyone over your side wants to have a go, it is very easy and cheap as mro says

Tom

[mro]

Good part tip TomB

Your way can be used even if the seat pan used for a mold is rusted out in spots.


mro

[fredintoon]

"I had some old glass mat and resin from doing flat roofs that needed using before it went off so I thought I'd try it, now I know it'll work Ok I'll use some good resin and make a better job."

Hi TomB,
yes, ''use what you got'' trumps "go buy new stuff" for sure and you just hafta lay the mat up a bit thicker to get the strength on a thing like a seat pan. Thing is, most folks don't have glass or resin sitting around spare so they have to go out and buy it. Those folk may as well lay up the stronger cloth/mat/cloth laminate as I don't see a big difference in the materials cost when you are buying those little one square yard patches of glass from the auto parts store.
BTW, resin has a limited shelf life but can mat or cloth "go off"? I am still using a scrap bag of cloth & mat offcuts left over from building FRP sailboats in the early 1970s.

[mro]

''use what you got''

Late 60's my brother repaired his surf board.
Had no matting, used an old pajama top
Looked a little weird but worked well.


mro

[TomB]

Fred

Yep the resin goes off after a while, I've found if you keep it in a dark cool place, but not frost temp, it'll last 4 years max, this is probably way longer than recommended tho.

The glass will last decades as long as when you use it its dry.

Over here cloth is twice the cost of mat.

My father had a 24 foot sailing catamaran cruiser which was a space frame clad in 3/8" marine ply then sheathed in GRP cloth, he always tried to use mat where he could get away with it because of the difference in price, he was using quantities that made a big difference in your wallet if using cloth instead of mat.

And doing flat roofs you use lots the difference would be big. Thats where my thinking is born from.

I 'spose in the quantities a seat base would need the cost would not be that much more so you have a good point.

I have only laid two layers of mat and the base is stronger and stiffer than an original steel base, so if folk are wanting to make a cheap seat I don't think they need worry (and lets face it, if folks are going to make their own bases they must be pretty short of cash..................like me )

"one square yard patches of glass from the auto parts store."

If you go to a house builders merchants you can buy 5 yards of glass and resin for the same price as 1 yard in an auto store over here.

Hope this info helps anyone planning having a go.

Tom





Pajamas LOL
Excellent!!

[79XS11F]

OK ... so now that you have your hands "into it" will you be doing some fiber fenders to sell us?? :-) Come on .. you can do it
Rob