FIBERGLASS

for

NEWBIES

After posting pictures of my first fiberglass subwoofer enclosure, I received a lot of questions and requests for a detailed how-to on the process.  It seems that there are plenty of people who – like me – want to try their hand at fiberglass, but don’t really know where to start.  Well, neither did I! 

Hopefully, I will be able to include many of the little details that the pros frequently omit, but newbies really need to be successful.

THE CAR

My car is a 2002 Mazda Protégé 5.  Some of the procedures will be specific to this model of car, but the vast majority of the information here will work for any vehicle.  Specifically, I built this enclosure to fit the passenger side of  the hatchback trunk, to fit two 10” subs.  The passenger side of the hatch is a bit larger than the driver’s side, and also has the unique feature of a removeable panel behind which the jack is stored.  By removing this panel, I gained slightly more airspace.  This also allowed me to use the jack mounting bolt to secure the final enclosure to the car.  I can suggest that in whatever location you choose to fit an enclosure in your car, you take the time to plan out how it will be fastened to the vehicle, as well as what you’d like the final product to look like.  Take measurements, make sketches – whatever it takes to have a decent plan in place.  And then know that parts of that plan will change as you go along, but that’s okay!

        Be aware that this is MESSY stuff.  Protect yourself by wearing long sleeves and gloves.  Getting resin stuck in your arm hair is NOT fun.  Protect your vehicle with old sheets or other drop-cloths.  And when working out of the car, protect the work area.  I’m already hoping I didn’t burn my security deposit on my apartment by dripping fiberglass resin all over my concrete terrace.  Keep it clean!

        Free distribution of this write-up is encouraged.  Any commercial use is strictly prohibited!  Either give this information for free, or don’t distribute it at all.  Selling of this document, or any other for-profit use, in part or in whole, without the express written consent of the author is completely prohibited.

Now let's get started!