How do I finish my glass seat?

[sark]

I searched and found nothing about this. I want to fid out how everyone else finished their fiberglass seats. At this point I have my seat pulled off the mold and it's trimmed up and mounted the way I want it. Do I need to put a glazing compound on it? Gel coat? Just paint it? I'm pretty lost. I'm afraid a glazing compaund to smooth it may eventually crack, as the glass it a bit flexy. And as far as paint goes...can i just rattle can it? Do I need special fiberglass paint for boats and bathtubs? Any advice is welcomed and appreciated. Glad the forums are back online.

[sark]

Wow just reread this. Sorry for the crap spelling, I was in a rush.

[TheCafeKid]

Did you pull it from a reverse mould or form it over a mould and use the inital casting as your finished product? If the latter is the case, make smooth with light coats of body filler, sand smooth, paint with primer and paint. Fin..

[GQROD]

I searched and found nothing about this. I want to fid out how everyone else finished their fiberglass seats. At this point I have my seat pulled off the mold and it's trimmed up and mounted the way I want it. Do I need to put a glazing compound on it? Gel coat? Just paint it? I'm pretty lost. I'm afraid a glazing compaund to smooth it may eventually crack, as the glass it a bit flexy. And as far as paint goes...can i just rattle can it? Do I need special fiberglass paint for boats and bathtubs? Any advice is welcomed and appreciated. Glad the forums are back online.

Glazing will crack if the glass is thin and flexes. So will Bondo which is why the glass has to be 1/8 to 1/4" thick depending on the project if not supported by some kind bracing.

Gel coat is used when you are working from a mold ( male or female ) it leaves the finish smooth with no filler or glazing needed if applied correctly. A tooling epoxy gel coat ( can be tinted for custom colors ) is normally used for best results.

Almost any paint even rattle can will work just make sure the surface is free of wax, and oil from your fingers.

Hope this helps

[sark]

Thanks guys, very helpful!

[drhach]

You definitely should try to brace it to minimize flex. If you brace it, then it doesn't necessarily have to be so thick. Post some piece of your seat pan. One thing that you probably could do is to put some foam strips or wooden dowels underneath the pan and glass them in. Kind of like the underside of a car's engine bay hood. That is why they or that on the hoods. It provides rigidity for an other wise flat and flexy panel.