Stemar
Well-Known Member
I have a variety of GRP work to do, so I'm going to invest in a finned roller to set the cloth firmly in the resin. But how do I clean it afterwards? Silly amounts of acetone, or is there a better way?
Fibreglassing - a Dumb Question
- Thread starter Stemar
- Start date
Arcady
Well-Known Member
Actually a very good question. I have no idea and will be very interested to see the answers too …
Poignard
Well-Known Member
White vinegar is cheap and works well
rightstuff
Member
Acetone the only way
Moodysailor
Well-Known Member
If using a paddle roller it would be easier to clean than a finned one (will hold less resin, and easier to remove) so will use less cleaning chemical.
Hacker
Well-Known Member
Acetone. We use 3 baths and work left to right. When left one gets too full of old resin get rid of it (safely of course) and move everything left with a fresh one to the right. Reduces the waste.
Tradewinds
Well-Known Member
I find these plastic finned rollers much easier to clean.
Plastic Finned Roller - 100mm x 20mm (4" x ¾") - East Coast Fibreglass Supplies
Plastic Finned Roller - 100mm x 20mm (4" x ¾") - East Coast Fibreglass Supplies
Bobc
Well-Known Member
Acetone. Put some in a dish and sit the roller in it for half an hour.
Boathook
Well-Known Member
Use peel ply Buy Peel Ply - East Coast Fibreglass Supplies
Lay up the resin and cloth, peel ply on top and then roll. Some resin still gets onto the roller but the plastic fin roller mentioned by Tradewinds seems easier to clean than the aluminium one.
Lay up the resin and cloth, peel ply on top and then roll. Some resin still gets onto the roller but the plastic fin roller mentioned by Tradewinds seems easier to clean than the aluminium one.
PCUK
Well-Known Member
Wipe off excess then put the roller in a bath of Acetone in a sealed lid container. Will be ready for immediate use next time.
PlankWalker
Well-Known Member
Leave aluminium finned roller submerged in a small jam-jar of acetone.
Polyester resin will go off in a week rubbery state,
take a wire brush to it, comes up like new.
Polyester resin will go off in a week rubbery state,
take a wire brush to it, comes up like new.
geem
Well-Known Member
We use the aluminium roller. You can unscrew the roller from the arm. Clean the arm with acetone on a rag. We use a test tube shaped container with a lid. A spice pot works well.
Half fill with acetone and drop the roller in. Fit lid and shake. Remove the roller, clean off and reassemble. We find if you don't remove the roller from the arm, next time you use it it won't roll properly.
Half fill with acetone and drop the roller in. Fit lid and shake. Remove the roller, clean off and reassemble. We find if you don't remove the roller from the arm, next time you use it it won't roll properly.
VicS
Well-Known Member
I have one.
Don't remember any issues cleaning it.
Apparently it's ptfe which the resin does not stick to.
Never thought about it before. ....... perhaps you are over thinking things
geem
Well-Known Member
We have used ours a lot. How to clean it was advised to us by a professional boat builder. It might not be an issue if you don't use it too much
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
.For small areas
Place the mat on some polythene. Pour on some resin. Place more polythene on top. Roller the resin out with flat roller pushing it to all areas of the mat & extruding all excess.. Remove the top polythene & flip over & apply mat to the surface then roll it on through the remaining layer of polythene. Use a flat roller & it will not actually get in touch with the resin & mat. There will be a minimum amount of resin in the mat but it will be fully saturated.
Place the mat on some polythene. Pour on some resin. Place more polythene on top. Roller the resin out with flat roller pushing it to all areas of the mat & extruding all excess.. Remove the top polythene & flip over & apply mat to the surface then roll it on through the remaining layer of polythene. Use a flat roller & it will not actually get in touch with the resin & mat. There will be a minimum amount of resin in the mat but it will be fully saturated.
Keith 66
Well-Known Member
Top tip, Get a decent plastic bucket with a lid. The acetone will not evaporate away nearly as fast so your brushes & rollers will last far longer.
Make sure you change the acetone regularly before it starts to go thick & sticky, contaminated brushes are often a cause of poor laminates.
Make sure you change the acetone regularly before it starts to go thick & sticky, contaminated brushes are often a cause of poor laminates.
dankilb
Well-Known Member
Since acetone has doubled in price, I no longer clean any epoxy/grp tools if I can possibly avoid it.
I therefore mainly use alu fin rollers…
I try to keep them clean as I go with recycled rags.
Once they’re too far gone, I give them plenty of heat from a MAPP blowtorch and hit them with a wire brush (I actually use the die grinder but handheld will do). Needless to say, only safe outdoors
Also works for filling/fairing knives, etc.
Unless you’re doing very minimal/occasional glasswork projects, it’s worth factoring in the cost of things like acetone.
At current rates, enough acetone to submerge a decent fin roller (say 250ml) could easily cost a quid!
I therefore mainly use alu fin rollers…
I try to keep them clean as I go with recycled rags.
Once they’re too far gone, I give them plenty of heat from a MAPP blowtorch and hit them with a wire brush (I actually use the die grinder but handheld will do). Needless to say, only safe outdoors
Also works for filling/fairing knives, etc.
Unless you’re doing very minimal/occasional glasswork projects, it’s worth factoring in the cost of things like acetone.
At current rates, enough acetone to submerge a decent fin roller (say 250ml) could easily cost a quid!
dankilb
Well-Known Member
As for brushes, afraid to say we bin them. One and done. Again, the above acetone cost vs a 30p chip brush (we pick the shed bristles out - small change!)…
Stemar
Well-Known Member
I wish! It might be if I'm buying 50 litres, but in the penny numbers I need, it's a lot more than that.
dankilb
Well-Known Member
It's the least-known hyper inflation indicator around...!
A roofing supply place around here ('Chestnut' on Merseyside) still have a gallon under £20. It does last enough to justify the initial outlay, even for smaller jobs (and it sounds like you may have a few!) - providing the First Mate doesn't forget to put the lid back on, as happened to me the other week!