securing screws into fiberglass?

Started by TripleJ, April 05, 2014, 09:24 PM

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TripleJ

This is the back side of my hood. The square outlines at each bottom corner are where the hood hinge secures to the fiberglass.  There are 6 small wood screws driven into about 1/8" of fiberglass.

On one side of the hood, all 6 screws have pull out of the fiberglass.  It appears to have happened before, and larger holes were drilled in the hinge, and into the fiberglass. 

Well, they have pulled out of the glass again.  I was expecting there to be a block of wood inside, and maybe it had rotten away. But on the side that was still secured with the stock screws, there is nothing behind the fiberglass.

I had thought maybe to try and fill the void with some sort of epoxy or maybe liquid wood filler, and drilled into that.  My neighbor suggested to lay some more resin, and drive screws thru it again.  Any suggestions?  Ive never really dealt with fiberglass...



'85 Holiday Rambler Presidential '28

Neil Carrick

Just a suggestion..  is there room in there for a piece of plywood or something to line up with the holes?  I would take plywood drill the holes here needed to fit the hood and then insert wood nuts from the backside of the plywood so they are drawing in and sandwich the fiberglass to the hinge part with the plywood. is it flat or would you have to sculpt the plywood to lay in properly so it doesn't distort the hood?   i??

http://www.lowes.com/pd_137314-37672-880533_4294710805__?productId=3012534&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1&facetInfo=

Neil...
Neil and Shelley

DaveVA78Chieftain

Drill existing holes larger, refill with JB Weld, let setup well, drill new screw holes.

Dave
[move][/move]


d21 special

Why not by fibreglass cloth and epoxy/hardener and add the layer inside?  Cut several pieces to make it as thick as you like and fill in the holes at the same time.

Stripe

I wouldn't be a bit surprised if there used to be wood in there.  If it's hollow doing what Dave suggests will work, so will d21 specials suggestion( I believe this would involve cutting the back part of the box off). 
If it is hollow. 

I don't suppose you can take pics from front as well as sides could you?
Fredric,
Captain of the Ground Ship "Aluminum Goose"
28' Holiday Rambler Imperial 28

TripleJ

I could get pictures of the other side, but there is literally nothing to see.  It is the finished side of the hood, the exposed exterior. There's no evidence of anything going on behind the surface.

I stuck a pin punch in the  holes and there's absolutely nothing inside, but thinking about it now they would have had to form the glass around something to make that shape. Maybe some untreated wood or something.

Could cut it and stick wood inside, then reglass it, but I'd have to wait till the weather improves, or marinate in the fumes in my basement. Maybe I'll look into t that JB weld idea
'85 Holiday Rambler Presidential '28

Rickf1985

You will find that the bottom and top of the hood were originally two pieces that were glassed together to make one. There is an outfit out there that make a filler compound for boat transoms that pours in and solidifies which would be perfect but I don't know if it comes in small amounts. There is a place in Washington State I have dealt with for many years called Rot Doctor that has many quality epoxy resin products one of which is laminating and layup resin. This may fill your needs. Look them up on Google.

Rick

PwrWgnWalt

Depending on how much depth you have to work with, you may be able to epoxy (or JB Weld) in some sort of metal 'anchor', or nut. That should provide a very solid and fixed attachment point.  It may require the hinge to be removed from the vehicle to accurately set the bolts/anchors, though...


Just an idea.


-Walt

Walt & Tina

TripleJ

I bought some well-nuts today, and some epoxy.  I laid some of the epoxy over the surface in order to give it a little more backbone and prevent cracking when I re drill the screw holes.

I intended to drill out the holes for the well nuts, but after looking up that rot-doctor product Im having second thoughts...
http://www.rotdoctor.com/products/fillit.html 
looks like exactly what I was thinking of in the beginning, and they have a 12  oz. size too.


'85 Holiday Rambler Presidential '28

TripleJ

Well, I kind of went with quick and dirty with this one.  Heres the epoxy smeared over the surface, and the holes drilled out to 1/4 inch to accept the well nuts.



and the finished product in and secured with new stainless screws.  Im satisfied.






'85 Holiday Rambler Presidential '28

M & J

M & J

Stripe

Hey!........ Hm?

What epoxy? ???

But seriously, looks good!  :)ThmbUp
Fredric,
Captain of the Ground Ship "Aluminum Goose"
28' Holiday Rambler Imperial 28

DonD

Cool, the well nuts will allow a bit of give..A good thing !!
Don and Mary
2000 TC1000 Bluebird bus conv.

Stripe

Quote from: DonD on May 01, 2014, 10:36 AM
Cool, the well nuts will allow a bit of give..A good thing !!

Well nuts are better than not so well nuts....  I suppose..



:)rotflmao
Fredric,
Captain of the Ground Ship "Aluminum Goose"
28' Holiday Rambler Imperial 28

M & J

M & J