My "new" spoiler isn't so new: cracked / craized fiberglass

[Bowze]

Hey guys,

just won a DTM lwt style spoiler on ebay. Listing said it was in brand new never used condition.
When I got it a week later I opened the box and it looked like its 80 years old.

The surface is cracking every where and I don't know if its fixable.
I'll upload photos later I'm at a public comp right now.

Does anybody know of this problem or how to fix it? thanks

[electr0fryin]

It depends how bad it is...if you're planning on painting it, i'm sure you could just sand it and paint it. Surface cracks in the resin shouldnt affect the structure too bad, unless it's all the way through.

If it's real bad you could always buy some more resin, sand the old stuff down and put new resin on. I have no idea what this would cost though.

When I used to do composite repair we used EA956 resin made by Hysol. I think it was listed in one of our magazines as like $70 for a 2 part kit which should be plenty, but dont quote me on the price.

I have no idea if you can order this stuff, we considered it hazardous material, so you may run into issues if you try mail order.

Post up some pictures.

[Bowze]

It depends how bad it is...if you're planning on painting it, i'm sure you could just sand it and paint it. Surface cracks in the resin shouldnt affect the structure too bad, unless it's all the way through.

If it's real bad you could always buy some more resin, sand the old stuff down and put new resin on. I have no idea what this would cost though.

When I used to do composite repair we used EA956 resin made by Hysol. I think it was listed in one of our magazines as like $70 for a 2 part kit which should be plenty, but dont quote me on the price.

I have no idea if you can order this stuff, we considered it hazardous material, so you may run into issues if you try mail order.

Post up some pictures.

I think it might be all the way through the resin....
I'll post some pics up this afternoon

thanks for the suggestion, I just wasnt expecting to have to fix the damn thing

[electr0fryin]

If it goes all the way through it, you could do this:

Cut out the cracked parts with a dremel or something similar

Sand/score the area where you're going to repair

Get yourself some mylar (plastic) sheeting

it would be best to get some actual fiberglass fibers, but you may be able to do without. If you can get some, chop the fibers up into small pieces and mix it in with the resin, it will help it bond better and be much more structurally sound

Take some of the mylar and something to hold the mylar in place, like a piece of wood or scrap metal and tape it to the assembly

mix up the resin

Apply resin to area to be repaired

Depending on access to the repair area, I'd fold the piece of mylar over so that it sandwiches the repaired area. You would want to clamp this down, preferably, although taping it would work I guess, you'll just have to sand more off.

Let it set for at least 24 hours at around 75 degrees, it'll cure faster if you have a heat gun to put on it.

Once it's done, sand the excess off and paint. Hope that you aligned it properly.


Hopefully that helps if you decide to repair it. It may take a few lay-ups to get it good. If there are voids in the repair you can just lay it up again.

Good luck.


You may be able to get some scrap fiberglass pieces (actual fiber, without resin) from like a boat repair/fabrication place? Call those places up and see, as you wouldnt need much at all.



edit: if you're doing any extensive sanding on fiberglass, wear a respirator and do it in a well ventilated area. Bad joojoo for your lungs.

[Bowze]

one quick pic

http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/ae91/Bowze/IMG01091.jpg



Hopefully that helps if you decide to repair it. It may take a few lay-ups to get it good. If there are voids in the repair you can just lay it up again.

Good luck.

That sounds terrible :( I think i may return it to the douche that advertised it as new

[Kyle Anderson]

I think i may return it to the douche that advertised it as new

This.

You paid for a brand new part and didn't get it.

[Dantesboyz]

take plenty of pictures and have your case built before you contact the vendor. this will prevent them from making up excuses to try and deny their fault

[tozovr]

take plenty of pictures and have your case built before you contact the vendor. this will prevent them from making up excuses to try and deny their fault

And be sure every bit of communication is through ebay.

First try to get them to send a call-tag for it. If you file an ebay claim, you will be responsible for return shipping. If that happens, be sure to get tracking/delivery confirmation info. If you don't supply it, you will lose the claim.

[Bowze]

Ok, so i contacted him through ebay and he says he'll give me 10 bucks back and let me keep it...
by the way i paid 37 for it.

Opinions?

[electr0fryin]

If you keep it are you going to try to use it? I think I would still be rather pissed he advertised it as new and sold you something that, while maybe it hasn't been installed, certainly isn't "new."

Giving you barely over 25% of you purchase price back on a product that you weren't looking to buy in the first place seems kinda shitty. I personally would rather get full price back and use the money to buy something I don't need to attempt to repair in order to use it...

[Bowze]

If you keep it are you going to try to use it? I think I would still be rather pissed he advertised it as new and sold you something that, while maybe it hasn't been installed, certainly isn't "new."

Giving you barely over 25% of you purchase price back on a product that you weren't looking to buy in the first place seems kinda shitty. I personally would rather get full price back and use the money to buy something I don't need to attempt to repair in order to use it...

I agree, I think i should probably still report him for false advertising because he's still selling these.
I don't know where the hell you get a bunch of old crappy DTM spoilers :dunno

Anyway, I'm just disappointed that i finally got a really good deal on one of these and it was a lie :(

Also:

The reason I'm hesitant to do the whole thing over with new resin is because i
fiberglass-resin-ed my headliner some time ago and it didn't come out anywhere near as smooth as I was expecting.
Not sure I'm cut-out for resin laying

[electr0fryin]

The reason I'm hesitant to do the whole thing over with new resin is because i
fiberglass-resin-ed my headliner some time ago and it didn't come out anywhere near as smooth as I was expecting.

I'm not sure what you mean by fiberglassing your headliner, but anytime you do any kind of lay-up you will have to sand it. I'm not sure how people get the glossy finish on carbon-fiber, as I've never attempted it. You could probably do it like you sand anything to make it glossy, keep working up to a higher grit, I guess.

Doing decent fiberglass/carbon fiber work takes lots of sanding and patience...at least for me. I dont really like doing it if I dont have to, lol.

[Bowze]

uhhhhh....... this is hard. another one is 170.... a big can of bondo fiberglass resin is $20...
so if i need 2 of those, sand paper, paint.....
37 spoiler
20 resin
20 resin
15 sand paper
+ 20 paint
----------------
$112
not bad....


versus

170 spoiler
20 paint
+ 15 sand paper and prep
------------------
$205


so i should keep it?