Making a storage box

JSP · 17 April 2009, 19:19

I want to make a small box for storage in front of my console. Easiest (for me) would be one made out of marine ply. I've read something about coating the ply in something?
Any tips, advice or even ideas would be great.
Cheers

chewy · 17 April 2009, 19:44

This might help:

http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?...arider+console

Ian M · 17 April 2009, 20:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSP

I want to make a small box for storage in front of my console. Easiest (for me) would be one made out of marine ply. I've read something about coating the ply in something?
Any tips, advice or even ideas would be great.
Cheers

I assume that you intend to sheath the marine ply in glass fibre. A tip taken from Slimtim's build thread, I believe it came from Lee of Leeway Composites (he does seem to know what he is doing with fbreglass!) is before coating the marine ply in fibreglass, apply G4 sealant (available from cfsnet.co.uk and others). As this has a similar composition to resin, but is thinner, it soaks into the wood more and provides a good bond for the fibreglass and resin when you apply it on top. The instruction was to apply the matting when the G4 is just starting to go tacky. I have used this technique throughout my build, and where I have had to cut through areas where I have done this, I have not been able to fault the adhesion of the fibreglass to the wood.

chewy · 17 April 2009, 20:30

Top advice.
My Dad used G4 on his pond and its lasted well over 10 years!

m chappelow · 18 April 2009, 08:07

How about using a g.r.p motorcycle top box ,you could pick one up at a car boot sale for a few quid and its ready made with a lid ,i used an old side box or pannier from a police bike for an anchor box on a rib i had ,just a thought..regards mart.

chewy · 18 April 2009, 11:08

I'll post this here rather than the FAC thread!

I might be getting a D class anchor box if you want a mould making off that? Not sure of dimensions yet?

JSP · 19 April 2009, 14:21

Thanks for all the replies.
Phil, I haven't got a clue how to make one from a mold. But thanks for the offer anyway

Going to go price up the bits now and then ask the Trouble and Strife if I can spend more

chewy · 20 April 2009, 21:25

Does it have to be chequer plate and can you do powder coating?

I'm sure I just read a post off a lad who offers allot boxes and now its gone. Am I cracking up?

Poly · 20 April 2009, 21:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewy

I'm sure I just read a post off a lad who offers allot boxes and now its gone. Am I cracking up?

no I think you will find that post has been removed as it was commercial but was not from a trade member.

chewy · 21 April 2009, 05:49

I did notice he wasn't a trade member but wasn't sure if it was me.
Thanks for that Polwart.

JSP · 08 June 2009, 18:46

Going back to this.
The box I need to make is now bigger. I've read that only epoxy resin will stick to wood but paint wont adhere to epoxy fibreglass? I know when I used some epoxy filler and flowcoated over the top, the flowcoat didn't stick. If I coat the Ply in G4 like has been mentioned above could I then use a polyester resin? And will it bond to byaxial glass tape and vice~versa?

DonMacN · 09 June 2009, 21:50

Don't know if weight's an issue, but marine + glass might be heavy. but it also think that, despite what you might think at the outset, making a glass box from a 'contiboard' mould would likely work out much easier in the long run.

I recently built a three person seat box out of 12mm ply (18mm base) to provide boss & kids with somewhere to rest their bums. It works well, and it's swappable with a bottle rack for when the boat is being put to family use. but it weights a ton (metaphorically speaking!) and it's realistically a two person lift. It was also really time consuming to cut the CSM and sheath the wood totally.

bottom line though, in hindsight I reckon it would have been much, much easier and better to make a moulded box from the outset. I reckon I'll do that for next season.

chewy · 09 June 2009, 22:19

Why not use foam sheets, nice and light and stong when glassed over.

http://www.ecfibreglasssupplies.co.u...ets-p-397.html

I made a bulkhead in my console with some and its solid.

How big does this box need to be and how much tape do you need? PM me telling me what you need...

chris123 · 10 June 2009, 06:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSP

I've read that only epoxy resin will stick to wood but paint wont adhere to epoxy fibreglass?

I am not sure about either of those. The Mirror sailing dinghy (amongst many others) consists of ply panels glued together with glass tape and polyester resin. Likewise, sealing a boat hull / deck with epoxy resin before overcoating with paint or varnish is very common. My old composite (wood deck, transom and bulkhead, GRP hull) Fireball dinghy has a mix of two pack polyurethane paint, two pack polyurethane varnish and single pack non slip deck paint over West Systems epoxy with no problems.

Cheers

Chris

JSP · 11 June 2009, 09:23

Having problems with my internet connection. Been trying to reply to this for ages

Donmac, that's good point. This box is to go over a fuel tank and I don't want to add loads more weight. I'm going to have to learnt to make a mould aren't I?
Chewy, the foam looks a grand idea! Will Pm you now mate.

Chris, I did wonder as I know Epoxy is the stuff of choice. Goes to show you can't believe everything you read on the net

On the same webpage as that info it said you can use epoxy first on the wood and as it's still tacky apply a layer of poly and the two will bond?

Endeavour · 11 June 2009, 12:00

What sort of size are you looking at for the box. Have you not thought of using a jockey seat and cut it to fit...

JSP · 11 June 2009, 12:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Endeavour

What sort of size are you looking at for the box. Have you not thought of using a jockey seat and cut it to fit...

That was my first thought as I'm after a lean post instead of the 1.5 man jockey seat I've got. But the tanks 40cm wide so no chance.

chris123 · 11 June 2009, 17:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSP

On the same webpage as that info it said you can use epoxy first on the wood and as it's still tacky apply a layer of poly and the two will bond?

That's the first time I have heard that, though that said I am no expert.

I would suspect it would mess up either the chemical reaction in the epoxy or the polyester, or both - not a good idea.

Do you have a web link?

Cheers

Chris

JSP · 11 June 2009, 17:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris123

That's the first time I have heard that, though that said I am no expert.

I would suspect it would mess up either the chemical reaction in the epoxy or the polyester, or both - not a good idea.

Do you have a web link?

Cheers

Chris

I'll have a look for it later Chris. It came up on a google search about fibreglassing. Had to sieve through the boy racer boom box making to find it. Will post it here as soon as I do