Hot Stuff glue is a versatile glue that can be used on many different surfaces for a superior bond. But did you know that it can also be used in fiberglassing?
First, make sure that the surface is properly prepared for fiberglassing: Spray a very light coat of 3M 77 spray cement over the entire area to be glassed. It should cover the surface with little pinhead-sized dots, not a coating. For best results, spray from 18 inches to 2 feet away.
Next, Place the cloth: lay a pre-cut piece of fiberglass into position on your surface. Lift one end of the cloth and align it to the desired position. Then, lift the other end of the cloth and pull just enough to remove folds and wrinkles, and replace on the surface. This process can be repeated in necessary. Once the cloth is positioned properly, press the cloth onto the spray cement and smooth it out. The cloth will now stay put over unusual contours and even inverted.
Next, apply Hot Stuff Original (thin). Tilt the work surface and begin applying Hot Stuff at the top. As one area of cloth is saturated, the glue moves on to another area. This feature allows a small amount of glue to go along ways, and keeps weight to a minimum. The object being glassed should be held or propped so that the area where glue is being applied allows the glue to run downhill without puddling. Apply the glue in horizontal passes following the glue from the previous pass down towards the lowest portion of the project. As the glue is applied, the saturated areas will instantly become more transparent.
When finished, check to see that all of the fiberglass has the transparent appearance. Apply glue to any missed areas. Spray a light spritz of Satellite City Spray N’ Cure over the entire surface. (Note: do not hold the spray N Cure over the work area when spraying. Drips can cause a bumpy surface as the glue cures too quickly). After accelerator has been applied, wait 30 minutes. The surface should be tack-free. Pass your hand over the entire surface and re-spray any tacky spots.
Full cure takes 24 hours at which point the cloth will be completely set. However, it must still be handled carefully to avoid dents while preparing the surface for painting.
Finally, finish the fiberglass for painting: Do not apply fiberglass resin over Hot Stuff. This adds nothing to the overall strength while adding significant, unnecessary weight to the project. It is also miserable to have to sand! Smooth finishes are accomplished by applying easy to sand and lightweight automotive paint primer.
So, what are the advantages of using Hot Stuff over traditional fiberglass resins?
1. Speed – Using Hot Stuff rather than resin means no waiting for long set times. Your fiberglassing job is finished as fast as you can do the procedure. And, since the cloth stays where you put it, there are none of those time consuming repairs when a section of cloth lifts during curing.
2. Little or No Fumes – With Hot Stuff, the whole job can be done without the long lasting odor of typical polyester resins. Use Hot Stuff UFO for no fumes at all!
3. Light Weight – Hot Stuff is significantly lighter than polyester resins. When used with lightweight automotive paint, your project is as light as it can be. Adding resin adds weight without substance, and in some cases, it never even cures.
4. No Itching – Because all the fibers are completely surrounded with Hot Stuff glue, cutting, drilling or sanding doesn’t cause fraying and sanding doesn’t create all of those little fiberglass needles.
I know you’re probably thinking that it would take an enormous amount of glue to fiberglass a project of any size. However, one 2oz bottle of Hot Stuff will do approximately 1000 to 1200 square inches.
So, for your next fiberglass project, try Hot Stuff Original or UFO for a better glassing finish!
