The Basics Of Fiberglass Fabrication, Part 1

Learning the Fundamentals

This series of articles will focus on the fundamental fabrication techniques that are commonly used for creating minor mods to many of the extreme wholly custom interiors found in show cars.

Creating a project with fiberglass can be very rewarding because it can be used to make an almost unlimited variety of shapes and forms that are durable and structurally sound. It can also be very frustrating, sometimes creating an unbelievable mess in the hands of a novice. Saying something is “fiberglassed” is somewhat of a misnomer because many of the shapes and panels like the ones found in demo cars such as the Alpine vehicles are composite panels made from wood, fiberglass and body fillers. Successfully fabricating these panels and shapes requires one to be a “Jack of All Trades”, combining the skills of a cabinetmaker, boat builder, and an auto-body repairman. Learning and knowing the basics before beginning your first project can make a world of difference in terms of results (and whether or not you have to throw it away!). In this series, I will cover the fundamentals on how to build a composite speaker/sub enclosure for areas like the spare tire well, passenger footwell or storage pocket.

We'll start first with a materials list before jumping into the fabrication process.

Part 2: Applying Fiberglass and Resin