Car Parts and Accessories

To bridge holes glass fibre is used. The glass fibre used for car body repairs comes in various thicknesses and textures but generally resembles white fabric. It is quite pliable and can be easily cut using ordinary scissors. When it is impregnated with a mixture of resin and hardener it sets to form a tough skin. The strength of this skin varies with the thickness of the glass fibre and the layers used.

To give some idea of its strength, layers of glass fibre are bonded to make boats, complete car bodies and even swimming pools. In car body repairs it is used to bridge holes, reinforce corroded sections and, in non-stress bearing areas, to replace complete body sections.

Chopped strand matt

The thickest type of glass fibre is called chopped strand matt and when impregnated with a resin/hardener mixture, gives the greatest strength per layer. It has an extremely rough texture and is made up of thick strands of glass fibre about 1 inch long. Because of its rough texture and a tendency for the strands to stick out at odd angles, it is unsuitable for use on the outer surface of the car. Its strength is useful for reinforcing large corroded sections and bridging large holes from the back.

Glass fibre fabric

The second type is called glass fibre fabric and has a similar texture to fine hessian. It is generally used for bridging medium sized holes from the front or back, but can also be used for general reinforcing where the strength of matt is not required.

The finest grade of glass fibre for our purpose is glass fibre tissue. This is virtually tissue paper made from glass fibre and is mechanically very fragile. Great care should be taken when impregnating the tissue with resin hardener mix as the tissue will fall apart if handled with too much enthusiasm. Once hardened, it is remarkably strong for its thickness, but due to its fragility when wet, it can only be used for the front patching of small holes.

Repairing a hole from the rear

To repair a hole from the rear using glass fibre, clean the back of the hole thoroughly with rough emery paper or a wire brush. If there is any trace of rust after you have cleaned it, use a rust remover. After the rust remover has dried, wash the back of the hole with detergent, then rinse with clean water.

Place the piece of glass fibre to be used over the hole and cut the patch out allowing about 1 inch overlap all round. Make up a mixture of resin and hardener, lay the fibre glass on a clean surface such as a clean card, and using a stipling brush (a short stiff bristled brush), impregnate the glass fibre with the resin hardener mixture. Apply the resin hardener mixture to the back of the hole. The glass fibre is then pushed into position against the back of the hole and held until it sets, but be careful if you intend to hold it there with your fingers, otherwise not only will the impregnated glass fibre stick to the hole but your fingers will as well! The best idea is to put a piece of polythene on your hand or alternatively hold the glass fibre in position with a piece of waxed card.

After the first layer of glass fibre has hardened, further layers can be added to increase its strength. To do this, impregnate the next piece of glass fibre in the normal way and apply the resin hardener mixture liberally over the back of the first piece. Press the second piece firmly against it, and when this sets, other layers can be added until the required strength is obtained.

When the whole patch is completely cured, spray the back oaf the patch and the surrounding area with a rust inhibitor such as a spray paint containing zinc, to prevent any future rusting. The hole is now a dent and can be filled and sprayed in the usual way.

Reinforcing corroded metal

To reinforce a section of corroded metal, clean the front and back of the section with a stiff wire brush well beyond the area of the corrosion. Where there are signs of heavy rust, use a rough grade of emery paper (around 40 grade) and rub right down to the bare metal. Look for any areas of metal which are deeply pitted with rust and apply a chemical rust remover to them. When the rust remover is dry, clean the whole area with detergent and then clean water.

Cut out two or three pieces of glass fibre to the shape of the corroded section allowing a generous overlap.

Apply a resin/hardener mixture to the back of the corroded section and then impregnate one of the pieces of glass fibre and place it in position.

When this is hardened apply more resin and hardener mixture to the back of the first piece of glass fibre, then impregnate a further piece of glass fibre and place in position.

Continue until all the pieces of glass fibre are bonded together. Again use a rust inhibitor such as a zinc spray on the rear of the patch and the surrounding area.

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