Fiberglass Materials - 101

[LilRichard]

I saw this post on CM and thought it was a great addition for folks who are starting out.  Here you go:

http://www.classicmako.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=16723

Here is a summary of what it says - (there is more though so follow the link above):


Mat weights are measured by the sq. ft. All other patterns (cloth, DB, Roven woven, & etc are measured by the sq. yd.

Start simple... These are chop strand mat Or just plain "mat". One is 3/4 oz and the other is 1.5 oz. Mat as heavy as 2 oz and 3 oz ae available.


This is 6 oz cloth... They make this stuff as light as 2 oz I beleive. Its commonly used in surfboards. Also known as finishing cloth. They make cloth in 3/4 oz, 2 oz, 3 oz, 4 oz, 6 oz, 8 oz, 10 oz, & 20 oz weights.


Roven woven looks like really really heavy cloth. Fabmat and stitchmat are roven woven patterns with mat backers knitted in.
1810 (18 oz roven/1 oz mat)
1815 (18 oz roven/1.5 oz mat)
2415 (24 oz roven/1.5 oz mat)

Now we get into the heavy stuff... Double bias patterns. Both of these are 1808 (18 oz of non-woven bi-directional glass stitched to 3/4 oz mat backer. The XM1808 is an easier pattern to work with in most instances, but both have their merits. The 1808 on the right has strands at 0/90 deg. and the XM1808 has strands at +45/-45 deg. Patterns as such are also available without the mat backer (DB 170 & DB 120). 1708 is also a common fabric and is basically the same thing as 1808.






Then there are S-glass and E-glass patterns. Both are unidirectional. S-glass is stiffer and stronger, but also more difficult to work with.

Kevlar and carbon fiber are just very fancy cloths. Very expensive, very strong, and fairly difficult to work with.

[J.W.D.]

Thanks dude for this post we're just starting out and had no idea what people were talking about when they said biaxle, mat, 1808, etc..