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Thread: anyone straightened warped fiberglass panels?

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    Spanner Monkey

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    anyone straightened warped fiberglass panels?

    Got a car with widearch fb panels but are warped - anyone ever straightened them??

    Been warped i'd say for 17 years or so - panels are pop riveted to shell and are painted. .

    Some research shows heating them and setting in a jig might work but any first hand exp will be great.

    Have pics if it helps

    Cheers

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    Bodger

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    Re: anyone straightened warped fiberglass panels?

    As a composite material, you will probably struggle to get them straight again but you have little to lose by tipping a kettle of boiling on them and supporting as they cool in the right position eh.
    Nick

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    Spanner Monkey

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    Re: anyone straightened warped fiberglass panels?

    excellent thanks a lot for the reply. had a few ideas like filling and shaping it to the correct shape (will be more than an inch of filler) then using this as a mould for making a cast - to make a new panel. . .

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    World Champion Decade Plus User exboyracer's Avatar

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    Re: anyone straightened warped fiberglass panels?

    Might also work if you leave them in a low bake oven (spray shop) for an hour or so, then take them out and prop them in their desired shape to cool.
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    Spanner Monkey

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    Re: anyone straightened warped fiberglass panels?

    thats a good idea will defo try it. thanks a lot for the replies.

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    Re: anyone straightened warped fiberglass panels?

    What about getting some 1/4 inch flat bar pop riveted across the front of the panel bend the bar first to pull panel to the shape then fiberglass matting to the rear to strengthen the panel and keep the new shape .
    Then when the fiberglass has totally cured for a few days drill out pop rivets and remove bar.

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    Tyre Kicker

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    Re: anyone straightened warped fiberglass panels?

    i had a set of guards that were concaved and all i did to get them close to a fair line was pull them straight with a batten on the outside of the panel and lay more glass on the inside to give it the rigidness to hold the shape then i just did any minimal filling to get it perfect. panels are still fair and they've been on the car for 4 years or so.

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    Spanner Monkey

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    Re: anyone straightened warped fiberglass panels?

    that sound great. thanks a lot mate - have you got any more info or fotos?
    can post up my panels and see if u think this method will wirk on mine?
    cheers

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    Re: anyone straightened warped fiberglass panels?

    ive only got photos of them painted in undercoat sorry, but post some photos up anyway ill have a look. Cheers

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    Re: anyone straightened warped fiberglass panels?

    Hey Contax! Did you straighten them yourself or was anyone here able to help?
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    Re: anyone straightened warped fiberglass panels?

    Quote Originally Posted by Dumitru Ivanov View Post
    Hey Contax! Did you straighten them yourself or was anyone here able to help?
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    Last Activity:14-06-2016 15:47.

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    Re: anyone straightened warped fiberglass panels?

    Bear in mine that fibreglass composites are thermosetting, they will most probably crack with any heat application and flex

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