First ply tank- from 130 to 200 gals

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
so it doesn't show on the pictures, but people who have done this before know it's a boring step that must be done. i'm glad it's done and 2D will be able to do a 2nd coat of resin with black pigment this time.

lesson learned: better put less mat than being obligated to cut off all air bubbles!




sanding




next, i rinsed everything with polyester solvant (which is better than acetone to use with my resin according to the seller)


i also made sure i wouldn't scrap other clothes and wouldn't have to cut my hair again because of rubbing to resin! (for 3 bucks a suit, would be crazy not to buy one)





here's the resin that dried into my paint pan. gives an idea that resin is quite good for waterproffing


so should have more pics today!
 
It looks like you did a really good job with your fibreglass work especially considering your seller sold you the most difficult matting to work with. Don't feel bad about a few air bubbles in that stuff it's ridiculously hard to get it perfect even when you work with it everyday. Next time get chopped strand glass it's so much easier to work with and goes around corners. As far as the polyester solvent goes it's just acetone in a more expensive bottle.
 
TOOK NOTE OF WHAT YOU SAID!

man... newbie experience


but in another sense, i'm glad to do this project now. i would have been pissed to make these mistakes on the future inwall 1000gal, and these are mistakes i had to do to know it.

thanks for sharing your knowledge!
 
i know i look ridiculous in that suit! haha but who cares?!

good news!

made my 2nd coat of resin and asked my gf if she could take pics by the way so if anyone never saw how to fiberglass, they'll have an example (since this is so messy, we usually can't take any pics during this stage)


also added black pigments so i could see where there is resin missing

first, we put a good layer of resin on the surface where fiberglass will be



then, we put the fiber mat on the resin and tap it with a brush so it really gets soaked



fiber getting soaked




we put another resin coat over the mat right after that. the more you put in your under-mat coat, the less you have to put in your over-mat coat









and i put my 2nd coat all over the tank (internal)




i'm a bit worried about some areas where the resin didn't hold well. these places where maybe too vertical for the resin to hold or have been less sanded...dunno... here's an example




maybe i'll have to sand again and re-coat these areas... what do you think?


if not, i'd be over with resin for a certain while! i don't plan putting more coats since this one was somewhat very thick and i feel it will hold water easily.

next on the schedule, if you guys think it's allright with only 2 coats, would be to drill the holes for the bulkheads and build the PVC overflow. i'll resin with chopped strand fiber the holes so if i ever have a leak within the join of the bulkhead, the wood won't rot.

also, after that, would be up to window and leak test. then finally, background.

your thoughts on my schedule?
 
not even. this is an... oh my...dunno how to say it in english...i guess it's some like "alimentary resin" or "food resin".

nywaz, it's not supposed to smell at all and can be worked with indoor. still, after the first coat i did feel disy, but that was after 4 hours smelling it.

no big deal this time as it took me about an hour
 
so? should i apply another coat on areas were the 2nd coat did not stick well (see in last pic posted)?

also, starting plumbing this week end. what size PVC you think would be best? 1,5 " would be enough you think? i can also go with 2", but seems too much for nothing to me...
 
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