Fiberglass 101

Text and photos by Barry C. Forrest.

Welcome to ROC's Fiberglass 101 page. This page contains instructions on how to 'glass your rocket's airframe and fins, AND how to vacuum-bag for extra strength and a better finish!

First, a word or three on safety:

Make sure to follow all manufacturers' warnings!
Use adequate ventilation, a dust mask, eye protection, and proper clothing (long sleeves/latex gloves) when working with resin and composite materials (fiberglass, Kevlar, Graphite).
Avoid getting resin on your skin as much as possible!
NEVER USE ACETONE OR ALCOHOL TO WASH RESIN FROM YOUR SKIN! USING THIS METHOD WILL ALLOW THE RESIN TO ENTER YOUR BLOOD STREAM AND CAN MAKE YOU ALLERGIC TO IT IN THE FUTURE AS WELL AS BEING TOXIC!

Thanks for listening!

We've split the lessons into several pages to reduce load times. You can see a larger version of any picture just by clicking on it. Enjoy!