@@DougBugBuilder My uncle bought a fiberglass convertible bug body from England in the late 90's if I remember the time frame right. We picked it up at the Port of Baltimore and loaded it in a pickup. The body was one piece like a regular steel bug with the fenders, doors, hood and engine cover to be bolted on. It was a high quality item. Just rambling on a little. Great ideas and workmanship on your projects. Can you buy out one of the major networks like CBS and replace it with Doug Bug TV?
Da I agree 100% I custom paint cars and motorcycles and have wanted to try this for years. That was so aesthetically pleasing, honestly just fun to watch. I’m excited for more videos.
Couple tips. Spray on tooling gelcoat first. Use a polyester resin for mold making and start with a couple layers of chopped strand mat over the gelcoat then a couple layers of cloth. The finish will come out far more rigid with a fairly glossy finish requiring a lot less work to get to a smooth mold quality. Plus you will be able to see any imperfections that need to be cleaned up. For releasing the mold from your plug try compressed air. It works great and is soooo satisfying to see the mold release with minimal effort.
Love love love watching this process this is a very similar process I’m looking to be doing in upcoming times with my street car build, I’m 19 with hugeeee plans but this helped more than you know I’ll defiantly be staying in tune with this series, not like some of these other videos on here since 2002, cool guy with awesome plans best of luck, we will be watching!!
Super job bro. I really love the way you just narrate your video in real-time instead of a production afterwards. It really brings the reality of it all a lot closer to your audience, which I think is a good thing. Good stuff man.
Wow yeah that went wonderfully! Loved the crackling sounds as it removed! I love how TH-cam recommends things, I’ve been thinking about doing this with the mini to make a trailer.
Ya know, I thought the same thing. I mean it's a lot of work. But so far it hasn't been overly difficult. Just time consuming. BTW welcome to the team. 😁
Great job I do fiberglass tub/shower repair and I’m wanting to make me a mold from a Ford model A coupe. I love them things for street rods. I’m so glad I found your videos!!!! Thanks so much Scott Stewart Cedar Grove Ga
I emailed you about the design files for the frame, I love how it looks and you have the best design on the Internet. Your ideas about building and fabricating are amazing!
I had to re sub to your channel. Always loved what you are doing and sharing your journey with all of us. This is how creative car craft made the molds back in the day. I have alot of videos to catch up on. Thanks again for all the great videos. I have learned alot. It's amazing how r/c have come over the years. I waz a sponsored driver in the 90s for team associated. Take care my friend.
Welcome back! If you were sponsored by TA you are my hero! Seriously that's cool. I still have my RC10 in the basement. And I have their newer B5M as well. I love their cars.
Hey man Kevin here from Australia. Wow i think what your trying to achieve is amazing. You certainly have your work cut out for you on this one and im so excited to be coming along for the ride with you. I look forward to your next installment. As always stay safe and stay well. ✌ Peace man .
Kevin! My buddy from Australia. 😁 I'm really excited about this as well. I want Wratchet to be a tube chassis with fiberglass panels for a "body". Stay safe!
Seeing that whole panel come off so nice was awesome. After watching this, I have much more confidence that I can make a fiberglass copy of my sunroof. Hopefully a few layers of plastic wrap will be enough to not ruin it with the epoxy
Well done! Years ago I worked for MFG, actual company name. They were know mostly for boats, but also made speed and water slides and also made concrete forms and some other products. I worked in the mold shop so am quite familiar with the process. We only did one project while I was there that used epoxy resin. It was classified but pretty cool. Mostly we used regular fiber glass resin that was activated with tinted peroxide with M.E.K. Our process was to do seven coats of wax then the mold release agent (also green). We then applied the gel coat (molds always got orange) once set, we would then apply 1-3 layers of light weight cloth. We had a chop gun that chopped the fiber glass strand (from a spool) and mixed in the resin and activator and sprayed it over the cloth. You could build up the chop pretty quickly but we didn't make it too thick as the thicker you made it the hotter it would flash off. We also placed the mold stiffeners with the chop. The chop had to be rolled to get all the air and gaps out. Our molds were meant for a high volume of parts so needed to be much stronger, and this is also why we used to apply the gel coat before the fiber glass. I've always wanted to do this with a car, maybe even design my own body and make it. Great video, if there is anything I can help you with, please feel free to pick my brain (what's left) happy to help. God bless, stay well.
Thanks for explaining the process that's actually really helpful. I went with Epoxy resin because the polyester is so stinky. It's a lot cheaper though, you might see me using it in future videos. I'll also use gel coat in future molds. This was so experimental I skipped the gel coat on this. But I'll use it on the actual piece I make with the mold. Thanks for the info!
youre my hero bro.. im actually planning on makig my own car.. my own design. using this method... was scared and worried, xcited and confused as to how i can pull it off.. watching your video made me realize the concept in my mind was about as right ...thanks brother
this really gave me the motivation to take some risks with my beetle project. it's not so much failure that keeps us back but the idea of it. either way we'll get it done.
I’ve worked on corvettes for years and have done lotsa fiberglass. We never used cloth. We always used mat. We rolled and brushed the resin in making sure all air bubbles were out of it. When making a boat they sprayed the mold with gelcoat then used chopper gun and roll out the air bubbles. There is a filler gelcoat that is like a primer that can be sprayed and sanded.
I used this for my motorcycle seat pan. I actually made a template out of duct tape and sat it exactly where my seatpan would go. Poured and layered the resin and fiber glass into the seat pan. It was pretty thick. But then i just sharpied center lines and cut lines for symmetry. Used a grinder to sand away the excess bits. Love fiberglass now!!!
How cool. I had a very similar idea for a different purpose. I thought about making a fiberglass mold of only the roof area, because I'd like to cut out a giant hole for a ragtop and roof entry or exit. And have the fiberglass top when I want a translucent ceiling
I have worked with FG for 3 years building boats and marine applications...what you did worked well 👏🏾 👍🏾 some tips I can recommend, is to get good coverage you first lay down the resin then you lay down the matt...also measure and precut smaller more manageable glass matt sections of different sizes and shapes according to the shape you are pulling a mould off of...and lastly overlaps you fray and pluck straight edges so it blends in better over lap joints and seams..always wet before laying down the matt between layers.
Well I never got a notification for this so I'm a little late watching but I gotta say that was pretty cool how it sounded like ice cracking on a frozen pond I kept cringing thinking don't break came out really nice
Once you stiffen the roof. You can sand inside of mold and spray with high build primer. Then guide coat all inperfection out. Buff gray primmer smooth. Wax it and spray relief agent ob it. Then gell coat with fiberglass ovet it. Will have a perfect finish on outside of roof everytime! Use to make molds for large yacht parts. Good luck!
Doug Bug couple of tips to make that easier. If your ever worried about cracking the fiberglass when popping it off you need to bulk up your mold with chop strand mat. Also you really need to spray your master/model with primer to fill in all you pits, dents, scratches. Most people wanna rush to get it done but once the mold is complete they then think about everything they need to fix. Point is get all your repairs fixed first. You should never have to fix your mold later unless there’s an error you weren’t aware of
very cool concept Bob and yes there used to be a lot of Steel Bugs around but truthfully they are getting harder to come by i’m 56 years old and in the 1980s growing up in south Florida we could buy a running Bug in okay shape for a hundred bucks a group of my high school freinds went into a business welding Sand rails together and they would buy Beetles for the running gear they stripped the Beetles and had so many parts in their warehouse when they got a good pan they would put a big together with good body panels mix matched and so;d the Beetle with a title that needed a paint job for one thousand dollars and those guys were making good money they did build a shop car that was a metal Beetle they welded a square roll cage in it and we used to take that car out in the Everglades and see how many times we could get it to roll over strapped into gre drivers seat of course the roof wound up flat to the roll bar and that car was technically still tagged as a street car so one of us would drive it back to the shop we got the strangest looks at traffic lights but we didn’t care it was fun at one point they also took a VW hood upside down and welded a metal kitchen chair to it that we pulled with the bug like a sled the only safety device we had was a old football helmet and jumping off the chair before the contraption flipped with you on it believe or not only one of that gang is dead from natural causes 35 years later i joke with a bunch of them now for betting on me because i was one of the more nuttier of the group the last Beetle i bought personally i paid 200 dollars and a set of used car tires to a old coworker that drove that car off to college and back i bought it sight unseen when he returned and my best freind and i picked it up at night while he drove and i followed because we had no tags or insurance on the car at one point i asked my freind how was it running and he said its pretty weak but its running when we got it to his house we opened up the engine lid and saw 2 spark plugs dangling on their wires out of the motor the next day we found both plug holes were stripped so i heli coiled those and the car ran way better my little sister needed a car for college and my Dad asked if i knew of any cheap cars for sale i mentioned that i had just bought this pretty crappy old Bug that looked like it was painted with a broom and probably would need a engine overhaul amount other things so my Dad went to look at the car i did give it to my sister and for 113dollars i bought a Brazilian made overhaul kit that had 4 pistons the rings and a complete gasket kit all my VW buddies told me those were junk but my Dad and i pulled the motor and with nothing more than a cheap auto parts store drill hone and hand tools we rebuilt that motor it got my sister thru college and she gave it back to me running it was rusted so bad i pulled the engine and scrapped the body to my knowledge that motor is still going in a freind of a freinds Beetle 35 years later that Brazilian made kit looked rough but it obviously worked heck i would;d bet if you could manufacture complete fiberglass Classic Beetle bodies at a reasonable cost guys would buy them up
There is an acreage in Texas that has many dozens of bugs parked in the weeds. It is close to Athens. I remember it being down the road from a place that repaired my BigTruck. But that was 10 years ago. Best of luck if you can find it. Could be a little gold mine if you could bring them back to life.
Amazing work! Some tips for viewers who embark on this their own, using body filler spreaders will save a lot of time vs a credit card, using different colored duct tape than white would help seeing the cut line better, and definitely be careful mixing too much epoxy, hyperthermic out of control reactions are gaseous and exciting!
PVA is Polyvinyl Acetate or wood glue. Nice job on the mould making, I hate the smell of the resin and agree with you about the glass fibre...it's nasty!. Glad you have some respect for VW bugs and not wanting to chop up a good shell just for panels. Wratchet is looking so good right now...keep up the good work.
I'll gel coat the piece I make from this mold. But to late to gel coat this mold. The gel coat seemed a little dicey reading about it. I might try it when I make a mold for the front clip. But thanks for the advice and comment!
Doug Bug it’s like the resin for fiberglass pretty much just don’t use Matt. The rondo ( fiberglass and bonds) cheaper rout I think works for stingrays I made. Sands easy prime paint. Have a question shoot I’ll try help if I can. Been in body work field over 10 years. Played with glass and stuff boats etc...
Yes if you spray gelcoat before you lay the glass the inner mold will be super slick. Then when you cast the first part it will release easier and smoother.
@@DougBugBuilder The advantage of applying gel coat first on molds is that it gives you a thickness you can sand before hitting the fiberglass cloth. It is true that you applied epoxy resin to the back of the cloth but that provided only a very thin surface to sand if needed.
Great video. Just FYI for next time... You can trim the excess off with a fresh utility knife if you cut it while the epoxy is curing/when it is still pliable. A lot less dust and fiberglass doing that way.
@@DougBugBuilder This guy has a ton of fiberglass videos. Some of his results are a bit hack but he has a ton of good info. This video shows the trimming with a utility knife: th-cam.com/video/iOZkwrfpit8/w-d-xo.html
remember to spray gelcoat on mold after waxing etc let dry and then fibre glass it you will get a nice flat shiny finish cant wait to see it on ratchet nice job
1:35 respect for thinking this way! i feel kinda the same way i own a ford sierra not a cosworth and i don't want a cosworth because i want to modify mine with widebody and other stuff and i would not feel good about cutting up a cosworth when there are low end models to get. I would not feel right doing something like that when they are so rare. (not that i have money for a cosworth to begin with but that's another story)
Any rendition I drew up with a flat top just didn't look right. So hopefully I'll be able to make it look like a traditional bug, but with a few minor changes to make it unique.
NRG, FRP-301. I bought one so far and mounted it in the drivers position. I like it so I think I'll buy another for the passenger seat. I don't know exactly what it weighs, but it's not to heavy.
Talking with the local fiberglass shop they acted like Poly was a bit tricky with shrinkage and fumes. But with the knowledge I've gathered this far I think the next mold and panel I make I'll try poly. It's way cheaper.
i GUess if you wanted a cosmetic cover you could just leave the release agent off and whilst applying more carefully, just leave in place. So a through coloured matt for the look or actual carbon fabric for example?
plan to use this info to make a headliner for my 48 willys pickup. one question, can you use plastic sheeting as a release surface or will resin melt it?
You'll need to do a test first. I've found that Epoxy resin handles plastic much better. Polyurethane resin is more reactive to plastics. But polyurethane is cheaper and easier to use. I have used some adhesive backed plastic that handles poly just fine, but I also had it attack some tapes pretty bad. So my safest advice is to test a small piece first to see. The good news is I have had good results with release from plastic. Even if it attacks it they still release well. Good luck with the project.
I grew up hearing about Baja Bugs and how iconic they were. Fast forward to a couple years ago, I owned a 2002 gas turbo beetle with a sad looking wing on the back. Super fun to drive and pretty fast however I ended up bursting the oil pan doing a tiny bit of "off-roading". Part after part I was in over my head if I wanted to fix it. Car number 2 was a 2004 Audi a6 Quattro bi-turbo that I raced and drifted out the wazzoo. Funny enough, I took that flying and crumpled the transmission pan as well as gouging all down the undercarriage. I've run across the opportunity to buy a 2006 beetle and I've been tempting the idea of a Baja New Beetle. I've looked at your videos for suspension and framing but now you have me thinking about weight reduction through fiberglass😂. I'd like to hear your thoughts on a 2006 Baja Bug and how far the build should go.
All the real modern Baja Bugs I've seen have been custom builds with the engine now in the rear. Those transaxles are expensive so it's a real commitment. However if you committed yourself to more of a trail Baja you could just improve the suspension of the existing bug without breaking the bank. But it wouldn't be a sand car or anything. And you would be limited with the front wheel drive. But whatever you fab skills are there is quite a bit you could do to it.
@@DougBugBuilder you need to come join us for one of our rally sessions!! watch the video we posted today and you'll see what I'm talking about lol Just a lot of stupid fun!
Wsup Doug I have a 2003 bug convertible that top was vandalized and has leaks. It's a good car but I'm not feeling the cloth top. I had a idea for a kinda home-made hard top kinda like a full targa. Any suggestions?
I think you could probably make a custom fiberglass top like I did here. Mold it off an existing VW bug top if you can find one to copy. Then modify that to fit your convertible. But make it so you can take it on or off if desired. That would be pretty darn cool!
good job on the mold brother, I'm planning to duplicate my 20" high top fiberglass van roof, for a custom van. plan to not use the release agent.will use reynolds wrape foil and duck tape . 1st layer will be a lite fleece.streched over foil 2nd layer will be mat fiberglass around the cruved areas, want to use very little of that itchie crape.I like your reinforcing the mold bondo the outside reinforce inside w/ aluminum braces. main objective is to incorparate the rear section for a hidden household AC. what do you think?
Sounds like a good plan, only thing I think you need to consider is any wrinkles in the foil or ducktape will transfer to your piece. So you might need to do some smoothing when you're done. Good luck with the project. 👍
What is the advantage in using a gel coat in the fiberglass mold? I've seen that using gel goat in the part made from the mold under vacuum often results in a perfect finish but I don't understand why anyone would use it in the mold itself. I have also seen a video of someone making a fiberglass mold without PVA and using solely gel coat. Can anyone describe the differences or different use cases? I have a frp rear bumper I'll be making in carbon from a fiberglass mold I'd like to make and want to do it right.
Using a gelcoat allows you the ability to sand out any perfections. Without gelcoat you really can't sand anything as you'll expose the fiberglass. So it just gives you something to work with. I think you need to use PVA, Wax, or both. I've never seen it done without at least one of those.
Cool video one question how come you didn't use gelcoat on the mold would make it easier to see imperfections, also would suggest a fiberglass roller tool to make it easier to remove bubbles and make it real smooth.
Very noble of you, Doug. Kudos. And trying to get more female viewers at the same time too, I see. 😙 But, for your first attempt, it turned out very good, didn't it? I was a bit worried... Maybe make a wooden box for the mould would give it it rigidity. And it makes it probably much easier to work with, since you'll be making the copies "upside-down".
It did turn out good. It's ugly, and currently I'm adding supports so like you said I can flip it and comfortably work the inside. But I'm pretty sure it will work. And I'm stoked to be able to have fiberglass panels on this chassis.
Doug Bug I hope you’re careful and don’t distort the mould with the stiffeners. Allow the mould to cool down before you add the egg-crate to it. Good job for a first attempt!🥳
Very good idea. I also want to redesign my old maruti 800. I need some clay work also for modify the exterior look. May you help me with any suggestion ?
I absolutely love your idea! I can't find the words to explain how cool this is!
Thanks, I'm really hoping I can make all fiberglass panels for Wratchet.
@@DougBugBuilder My uncle bought a fiberglass convertible bug body from England in the late 90's if I remember the time frame right. We picked it up at the Port of Baltimore and loaded it in a pickup. The body was one piece like a regular steel bug with the fenders, doors, hood and engine cover to be bolted on. It was a high quality item. Just rambling on a little. Great ideas and workmanship on your projects. Can you buy out one of the major networks like CBS and replace it with Doug Bug TV?
@@DougBugBuilder 👍✌️
@@DougBugBuilder 👍✌️
Da I agree 100% I custom paint cars and motorcycles and have wanted to try this for years. That was so aesthetically pleasing, honestly just fun to watch. I’m excited for more videos.
Couple tips. Spray on tooling gelcoat first. Use a polyester resin for mold making and start with a couple layers of chopped strand mat over the gelcoat then a couple layers of cloth. The finish will come out far more rigid with a fairly glossy finish requiring a lot less work to get to a smooth mold quality. Plus you will be able to see any imperfections that need to be cleaned up. For releasing the mold from your plug try compressed air. It works great and is soooo satisfying to see the mold release with minimal effort.
Excellent tips! Thanks.
I'm already experimenting with Polyester resin for the next piece.
First video I see where somebody respects a car for what it is, AN ENTITY, not the sum of his parts...Respect for you and your way of doing things
I agree, when they're gone they're gone. 😢
Thanks for the comment.
Love love love watching this process this is a very similar process I’m looking to be doing in upcoming times with my street car build, I’m 19 with hugeeee plans but this helped more than you know I’ll defiantly be staying in tune with this series, not like some of these other videos on here since 2002, cool guy with awesome plans best of luck, we will be watching!!
Thanks buddy, glad these can help you out some. Good luck with your build too!
Super job bro. I really love the way you just narrate your video in real-time instead of a production afterwards. It really brings the reality of it all a lot closer to your audience, which I think is a good thing. Good stuff man.
Thanks buddy!
Appreciate the comment.
Wow yeah that went wonderfully! Loved the crackling sounds as it removed!
I love how TH-cam recommends things, I’ve been thinking about doing this with the mini to make a trailer.
The crackling was awesome! 😉
Just found your channel and instantly subbed, I'm surprised I've never seen anyone do this before. Great idea.
Ya know, I thought the same thing. I mean it's a lot of work. But so far it hasn't been overly difficult. Just time consuming.
BTW welcome to the team. 😁
Great job I do fiberglass tub/shower repair and I’m wanting to make me a mold from a Ford model A coupe. I love them things for street rods. I’m so glad I found your videos!!!! Thanks so much Scott Stewart Cedar Grove Ga
With your fiberglass experience making the molds should be no problem.
Go for it, you'll love having a fiberglass bodied coupe!
My search has been rewarded!! Thanks for the tips and being the guinea pig for us all!!
More than happy to be the lab rat. ;-)
I emailed you about the design files for the frame, I love how it looks and you have the best design on the Internet. Your ideas about building and fabricating are amazing!
Thanks for the kind words buddy, I sent you the files.
I could feel your excitement as it came off. Nice job.
Thanks, it was sooooo satisfying. 😉
I had to re sub to your channel. Always loved what you are doing and sharing your journey with all of us. This is how creative car craft made the molds back in the day. I have alot of videos to catch up on. Thanks again for all the great videos. I have learned alot. It's amazing how r/c have come over the years. I waz a sponsored driver in the 90s for team associated. Take care my friend.
Welcome back!
If you were sponsored by TA you are my hero! Seriously that's cool. I still have my RC10 in the basement. And I have their newer B5M as well. I love their cars.
@@DougBugBuilder had 50 percent sponsor. I was only a state team member for associated here in FL.
Couldn’t stop watching. Very inspirational stuff!
Thanks!
Hey man Kevin here from Australia. Wow i think what your trying to achieve is amazing. You certainly have your work cut out for you on this one and im so excited to be coming along for the ride with you. I look forward to your next installment.
As always stay safe and stay well.
✌ Peace man .
Kevin! My buddy from Australia. 😁 I'm really excited about this as well. I want Wratchet to be a tube chassis with fiberglass panels for a "body". Stay safe!
Wow Doug, You rock brother.
I really enjoyed this video
Thanks, it was so exciting popping off that roof. 👍
Seeing that whole panel come off so nice was awesome. After watching this, I have much more confidence that I can make a fiberglass copy of my sunroof. Hopefully a few layers of plastic wrap will be enough to not ruin it with the epoxy
Wax it then do like three layers of PVA. It'll come off and then the PVA just hoses off with water.
Good luck with the project.
You have to love that moment when you hear the "pop" and know the mold just released. Will keep following to see how you move ahead on this.
It was very satisfying! 👌 I was glad you could hear it on the video.
Well done! Years ago I worked for MFG, actual company name. They were know mostly for boats, but also made speed and water slides and also made concrete forms and some other products. I worked in the mold shop so am quite familiar with the process. We only did one project while I was there that used epoxy resin. It was classified but pretty cool. Mostly we used regular fiber glass resin that was activated with tinted peroxide with M.E.K. Our process was to do seven coats of wax then the mold release agent (also green). We then applied the gel coat (molds always got orange) once set, we would then apply 1-3 layers of light weight cloth. We had a chop gun that chopped the fiber glass strand (from a spool) and mixed in the resin and activator and sprayed it over the cloth. You could build up the chop pretty quickly but we didn't make it too thick as the thicker you made it the hotter it would flash off. We also placed the mold stiffeners with the chop. The chop had to be rolled to get all the air and gaps out. Our molds were meant for a high volume of parts so needed to be much stronger, and this is also why we used to apply the gel coat before the fiber glass. I've always wanted to do this with a car, maybe even design my own body and make it. Great video, if there is anything I can help you with, please feel free to pick my brain (what's left) happy to help. God bless, stay well.
Thanks for explaining the process that's actually really helpful. I went with Epoxy resin because the polyester is so stinky. It's a lot cheaper though, you might see me using it in future videos. I'll also use gel coat in future molds. This was so experimental I skipped the gel coat on this. But I'll use it on the actual piece I make with the mold.
Thanks for the info!
Fantastic video. Love the rally rigs!
Thanks!
Good vid. I am just glad to see someone else uses the same PPE sanding that I use LOL
LOL, yeah, wet sanding is such a mess. Easier to just shower when done. 👍
youre my hero bro.. im actually planning on makig my own car.. my own design. using this method... was scared and worried, xcited and confused as to how i can pull it off.. watching your video made me realize the concept in my mind was about as right ...thanks brother
That's awesome! I love comments like this.
Good luck with the build. 👍
this really gave me the motivation to take some risks with my beetle project. it's not so much failure that keeps us back but the idea of it. either way we'll get it done.
So glad it helped motivate you, and great quote BTW. ✌
yes please make the bug shell i love the bug shape on baja stance, that's so cool dude, can't wait the next one.
I agree, the VW bug body as a Baja is a great look! I'm hoping this works out.
you did an excellent job with this. . . thanks for sharing.
Thanks!
Pretty cool turned out really nice...
Thanks!
Great video buddy, I've just done some fibreglass videos myself and know how tricky they are to make. Great job👍
I just watched your vids. You had some helpful info in there about the wax and PVA for releasing the parts from the mold.
Thanks!
I’ve worked on corvettes for years and have done lotsa fiberglass. We never used cloth. We always used mat. We rolled and brushed the resin in making sure all air bubbles were out of it. When making a boat they sprayed the mold with gelcoat then used chopper gun and roll out the air bubbles. There is a filler gelcoat that is like a primer that can be sprayed and sanded.
oooh, that filler gelcoat sounds like what I need to clean up this mold. I'll see if I can find that. Thanks for the tip. 👍
I used this for my motorcycle seat pan. I actually made a template out of duct tape and sat it exactly where my seatpan would go. Poured and layered the resin and fiber glass into the seat pan. It was pretty thick. But then i just sharpied center lines and cut lines for symmetry. Used a grinder to sand away the excess bits.
Love fiberglass now!!!
Sounds like a job well done! 👍
Greetings boy-o-boy was i excited to when you lifted that top off😊😮😊, great job 👍🏽
Yeah me too, it was a big relief. 👍
How cool. I had a very similar idea for a different purpose. I thought about making a fiberglass mold of only the roof area, because I'd like to cut out a giant hole for a ragtop and roof entry or exit. And have the fiberglass top when I want a translucent ceiling
This would be perfect for something like that. Good luck.
I have worked with FG for 3 years building boats and marine applications...what you did worked well 👏🏾 👍🏾 some tips I can recommend, is to get good coverage you first lay down the resin then you lay down the matt...also measure and precut smaller more manageable glass matt sections of different sizes and shapes according to the shape you are pulling a mould off of...and lastly overlaps you fray and pluck straight edges so it blends in better over lap joints and seams..always wet before laying down the matt between layers.
Thanks for the tips, I'll use that when I do the one piece front end. 👍
I love a good part pull. Nice job.
Thanks 👍
Sensational ,espectacular work 👍👏👏🙌🙌
Thank you very much!😁
Well I never got a notification for this so I'm a little late watching but I gotta say that was pretty cool how it sounded like ice cracking on a frozen pond I kept cringing thinking don't break came out really nice
Yeah me too, the cracking was really cool.....and satisfying!
Very good job dug 👏
Thanks 👍
Excelente tutorial esperaré el episodio 2
¡Gracias amigo! El episodio 2 debería salir pronto.
Baja’s are cool ! Pwwwwwwddddd dig the stinger sound!
Great 👍 Tips and Job thank you for your Videos
No problem 👍
Once you stiffen the roof. You can sand inside of mold and spray with high build primer. Then guide coat all inperfection out. Buff gray primmer smooth. Wax it and spray relief agent ob it. Then gell coat with fiberglass ovet it. Will have a perfect finish on outside of roof everytime! Use to make molds for large yacht parts. Good luck!
That's great info buddy! Thanks.
I just cover with Saran Wrap. Seems to work well for me! Love the video,
Actually that sounds like a good idea. Thanks for the tip.
This is cool I love Baja Bugs too just something cool about them.
I hear ya on that!
Plum Crazy Jeep nice !!!
I have a 98 TJ, Deep Amethyst Pearl
Purple Jeeps are cool
I agree, the wife and I love deep purples! I'm surprised there aren't more purple Jeeps out there.
Great vid once again.
Thanks!
Very Motivational, I thinking of remaking my baja fenders.
Sounds like a good project to me. 👍
Great video!
Thanks!
Dude...I love your videos...that is all.
Thanks Mr. SlowerThanU. 😉
Doug Bug couple of tips to make that easier. If your ever worried about cracking the fiberglass when popping it off you need to bulk up your mold with chop strand mat. Also you really need to spray your master/model with primer to fill in all you pits, dents, scratches.
Most people wanna rush to get it done but once the mold is complete they then think about everything they need to fix.
Point is get all your repairs fixed first. You should never have to fix your mold later unless there’s an error you weren’t aware of
I love seeing people so things out of passion vs chasing profits.
Thanks, definitely not making any profits on this. 😁
I love your trailer
Thanks!
Great job!!
Thank you!
Great video! You should wear a mask when working with epoxy. I know that noone does but that is not good to breath. Keep safe!
Thanks, I'll try and mask up when using the Epoxy. I'm running low on brain cells. 😉
very cool concept Bob and yes there used to be a lot of Steel Bugs around but truthfully they are getting harder to come by i’m 56 years old and in the 1980s growing up in south Florida we could buy a running Bug in okay shape for a hundred bucks a group of my high school freinds went into a business welding Sand rails together and they would buy Beetles for the running gear they stripped the Beetles and had so many parts in their warehouse when they got a good pan they would put a big together with good body panels mix matched and so;d the Beetle with a title that needed a paint job for one thousand dollars and those guys were making good money they did build a shop car that was a metal Beetle they welded a square roll cage in it and we used to take that car out in the Everglades and see how many times we could get it to roll over strapped into gre drivers seat of course the roof wound up flat to the roll bar and that car was technically still tagged as a street car so one of us would drive it back to the shop we got the strangest looks at traffic lights but we didn’t care it was fun at one point they also took a VW hood upside down and welded a metal kitchen chair to it that we pulled with the bug like a sled the only safety device we had was a old football helmet and jumping off the chair before the contraption flipped with you on it believe or not only one of that gang is dead from natural causes 35 years later i joke with a bunch of them now for betting on me because i was one of the more nuttier of the group the last Beetle i bought personally i paid 200 dollars and a set of used car tires to a old coworker that drove that car off to college and back i bought it sight unseen when he returned and my best freind and i picked it up at night while he drove and i followed because we had no tags or insurance on the car at one point i asked my freind how was it running and he said its pretty weak but its running when we got it to his house we opened up the engine lid and saw 2 spark plugs dangling on their wires out of the motor the next day we found both plug holes were stripped so i heli coiled those and the car ran way better my little sister needed a car for college and my Dad asked if i knew of any cheap cars for sale i mentioned that i had just bought this pretty crappy old Bug that looked like it was painted with a broom and probably would need a engine overhaul amount other things so my Dad went to look at the car i did give it to my sister and for 113dollars i bought a Brazilian made overhaul kit that had 4 pistons the rings and a complete gasket kit all my VW buddies told me those were junk but my Dad and i pulled the motor and with nothing more than a cheap auto parts store drill hone and hand tools we rebuilt that motor it got my sister thru college and she gave it back to me running it was rusted so bad i pulled the engine and scrapped the body to my knowledge that motor is still going in a freind of a freinds Beetle 35 years later that Brazilian made kit looked rough but it obviously worked heck i would;d bet if you could manufacture complete fiberglass Classic Beetle bodies at a reasonable cost guys would buy them up
That's a great story! Thanks for sharing.
Lots of fun stories about the VW bugs. Sounds like you had lots of fun with a lot of bugs.
There is an acreage in Texas that has many dozens of bugs parked in the weeds. It is close to Athens. I remember it being down the road from a place that repaired my BigTruck. But that was 10 years ago. Best of luck if you can find it. Could be a little gold mine if you could bring them back to life.
Thank you for loving beetles enough not to destroy them.
You're welcome. I just couldn't sacrifice another bug body, there's only so many out there. ✌
Nice work brother
Thanks
Very cool.
Thanks!
Good job 👍
Thanks 👍
GREAT, JOB THANKS!!!!
Lol, thanks for the comment!
Amazing work! Some tips for viewers who embark on this their own, using body filler spreaders will save a lot of time vs a credit card, using different colored duct tape than white would help seeing the cut line better, and definitely be careful mixing too much epoxy, hyperthermic out of control reactions are gaseous and exciting!
Hey, it's an Amazon gift card, not a credit card. 😉
Thanks for the tips. 👍
@@DougBugBuilder haha no doubt! thanks for the inspiration!!
you are very good at naming the material you used
Thanks.
PVA is Polyvinyl Acetate or wood glue. Nice job on the mould making, I hate the smell of the resin and agree with you about the glass fibre...it's nasty!.
Glad you have some respect for VW bugs and not wanting to chop up a good shell just for panels.
Wratchet is looking so good right now...keep up the good work.
Thanks buddy!
Thanks for saving steel bugs
Just doing my part. 😉
You should use a gel coat then glass on top of that. Would give you smoother outcome. Or I use a rondo mix. I use it on the sting ray molds I made.
I'll gel coat the piece I make from this mold. But to late to gel coat this mold. The gel coat seemed a little dicey reading about it. I might try it when I make a mold for the front clip. But thanks for the advice and comment!
Doug Bug it’s like the resin for fiberglass pretty much just don’t use Matt. The rondo ( fiberglass and bonds) cheaper rout I think works for stingrays I made. Sands easy prime paint. Have a question shoot I’ll try help if I can. Been in body work field over 10 years. Played with glass and stuff boats etc...
Yes if you spray gelcoat before you lay the glass the inner mold will be super slick. Then when you cast the first part it will release easier and smoother.
@@DougBugBuilder The advantage of applying gel coat first on molds is that it gives you a thickness you can sand before hitting the fiberglass cloth. It is true that you applied epoxy resin to the back of the cloth but that provided only a very thin surface to sand if needed.
Great video. Just FYI for next time... You can trim the excess off with a fresh utility knife if you cut it while the epoxy is curing/when it is still pliable. A lot less dust and fiberglass doing that way.
I'll definitely try that. Because trimming it is horrible with the dremel!
@@DougBugBuilder This guy has a ton of fiberglass videos. Some of his results are a bit hack but he has a ton of good info. This video shows the trimming with a utility knife: th-cam.com/video/iOZkwrfpit8/w-d-xo.html
remember to spray gelcoat on mold after waxing etc let dry and then fibre glass it you will get a nice flat shiny finish cant wait to see it on ratchet nice job
Thanks for the tip. I'll do just that. I hope it comes out nice. (fingers crossed)
1:35 respect for thinking this way! i feel kinda the same way i own a ford sierra not a cosworth and i don't want a cosworth because i want to modify mine with widebody and other stuff and i would not feel good about cutting up a cosworth when there are low end models to get. I would not feel right doing something like that when they are so rare. (not that i have money for a cosworth to begin with but that's another story)
Totally agree, don't want to tear them up if not totally necessary. There's only so many out there.
Thank you for changing your mind
it is a bug not a buggy with bug front
Any rendition I drew up with a flat top just didn't look right. So hopefully I'll be able to make it look like a traditional bug, but with a few minor changes to make it unique.
Nice work Mike, or should i call you Bruce, that was cool when it popped free
Lol, apparently Bruce is my twin.
Very nice 👍
Thank you 👍
I know that polyester fleece blankets work really well for making molds And parts. Cheap too. Use the same resin
Anything felt works good!
Thanks for the tip! My wife's gunna wonder where her sheets are going now. 🤣
Was cool watching it unstuck as you were trying to lift it
That cracklin noise was super satisfying!
I need an interior hard back headliner backing for a 66 Charger?
Thanks for this. Which seats are you using please? Do you have the weights? Many thanks. Ben
NRG, FRP-301. I bought one so far and mounted it in the drivers position. I like it so I think I'll buy another for the passenger seat. I don't know exactly what it weighs, but it's not to heavy.
Great project and video. Thanks for sharing. Why not use polyester resin instead of epoxy resin?
Talking with the local fiberglass shop they acted like Poly was a bit tricky with shrinkage and fumes. But with the knowledge I've gathered this far I think the next mold and panel I make I'll try poly. It's way cheaper.
In the future , might try a air blower to release parts. Really easy
Not a bad idea, thanks.
Wonder if you made one fiberglass and flex seal on top , might look good , flex and not bust.?
Love the safety gear, a pair of shorts and a hairy chest😂
Not good practice I agree, but damn it was hot that day.
Would using compressed air help release the mould, just small jets at a time. Just a thought.
Somebody else mentioned that, I'll give it a try on the next release. Thanks for the idea. 👍
i GUess if you wanted a cosmetic cover you could just leave the release agent off and whilst applying more carefully, just leave in place. So a through coloured matt for the look or actual carbon fabric for example?
plan to use this info to make a headliner for my 48 willys pickup. one question, can you use plastic sheeting as a release surface or will resin melt it?
You'll need to do a test first. I've found that Epoxy resin handles plastic much better. Polyurethane resin is more reactive to plastics. But polyurethane is cheaper and easier to use. I have used some adhesive backed plastic that handles poly just fine, but I also had it attack some tapes pretty bad. So my safest advice is to test a small piece first to see.
The good news is I have had good results with release from plastic. Even if it attacks it they still release well.
Good luck with the project.
Very Good
Thanks!
I grew up hearing about Baja Bugs and how iconic they were. Fast forward to a couple years ago, I owned a 2002 gas turbo beetle with a sad looking wing on the back. Super fun to drive and pretty fast however I ended up bursting the oil pan doing a tiny bit of "off-roading". Part after part I was in over my head if I wanted to fix it. Car number 2 was a 2004 Audi a6 Quattro bi-turbo that I raced and drifted out the wazzoo. Funny enough, I took that flying and crumpled the transmission pan as well as gouging all down the undercarriage. I've run across the opportunity to buy a 2006 beetle and I've been tempting the idea of a Baja New Beetle. I've looked at your videos for suspension and framing but now you have me thinking about weight reduction through fiberglass😂. I'd like to hear your thoughts on a 2006 Baja Bug and how far the build should go.
All the real modern Baja Bugs I've seen have been custom builds with the engine now in the rear. Those transaxles are expensive so it's a real commitment.
However if you committed yourself to more of a trail Baja you could just improve the suspension of the existing bug without breaking the bank. But it wouldn't be a sand car or anything. And you would be limited with the front wheel drive.
But whatever you fab skills are there is quite a bit you could do to it.
@@DougBugBuilder Being part of the "traditional" Baja Bug community, would you frown upon a FWD Baja inspired new beetle?
Good work! Keep it up dude. When are you going to come over and hit the track?
Lol, I was gunna hit your track while you turn my rotors. 😉 I'll give you a call.
@@DougBugBuilder you need to come join us for one of our rally sessions!! watch the video we posted today and you'll see what I'm talking about lol Just a lot of stupid fun!
Very goood
Thanks!
What cloth is work for binding wax? Like in construction iron bar is working to bind cement mixture.please reply for onward submission
This is 2oz cloth.
that was cool
Thanks!
I think you could just use some water soluble paint (like food coloring) in the PVA to make it more visible.
Wow, that's a good idea! Thanks for sharing.
Wsup Doug
I have a 2003 bug convertible that top was vandalized and has leaks.
It's a good car but I'm not feeling the cloth top.
I had a idea for a kinda home-made hard top kinda like a full targa.
Any suggestions?
I think you could probably make a custom fiberglass top like I did here.
Mold it off an existing VW bug top if you can find one to copy.
Then modify that to fit your convertible. But make it so you can take it on or off if desired.
That would be pretty darn cool!
nice dood!im feeling the no canibal thing.
Thanks buddy.
One trick is to blow compressed air underneath the part to help separate the mold/buck or mold/part.
I've heard that, I keep meaning to try it on my next part.
good job on the mold brother, I'm planning to duplicate my 20" high top fiberglass van roof, for a custom van. plan to not use the release agent.will use reynolds wrape foil and duck tape . 1st layer will be a lite fleece.streched over foil 2nd layer will be mat fiberglass around the cruved areas, want to use very little of that itchie crape.I like your reinforcing the mold bondo the outside reinforce inside w/ aluminum braces. main objective is to incorparate the rear section for a hidden household AC. what do you think?
Sounds like a good plan, only thing I think you need to consider is any wrinkles in the foil or ducktape will transfer to your piece. So you might need to do some smoothing when you're done.
Good luck with the project. 👍
What is the advantage in using a gel coat in the fiberglass mold? I've seen that using gel goat in the part made from the mold under vacuum often results in a perfect finish but I don't understand why anyone would use it in the mold itself. I have also seen a video of someone making a fiberglass mold without PVA and using solely gel coat. Can anyone describe the differences or different use cases? I have a frp rear bumper I'll be making in carbon from a fiberglass mold I'd like to make and want to do it right.
Using a gelcoat allows you the ability to sand out any perfections. Without gelcoat you really can't sand anything as you'll expose the fiberglass. So it just gives you something to work with.
I think you need to use PVA, Wax, or both. I've never seen it done without at least one of those.
Oh, how I wanted to put a Wonderbug hood on my "65 Beetle
Now I want one for my '08 Smart 💕
And I betcha they would sell like hotcakes
I would love to reproduce my door panels but I have failed to get a right video with beginners' knowledge on fiberglass. Help if you can please
You're in luck dude! I'll be doing doors on this in the next couple weeks.
Cool video one question how come you didn't use gelcoat on the mold would make it easier to see imperfections, also would suggest a fiberglass roller tool to make it easier to remove bubbles and make it real smooth.
I thought I didn't need it just for the mold. But I was wrong, I always use gelcoat on my molds now. It works much better.
Very noble of you, Doug. Kudos.
And trying to get more female viewers at the same time too, I see. 😙
But, for your first attempt, it turned out very good, didn't it?
I was a bit worried...
Maybe make a wooden box for the mould would give it it rigidity.
And it makes it probably much easier to work with, since you'll be making the copies "upside-down".
It did turn out good. It's ugly, and currently I'm adding supports so like you said I can flip it and comfortably work the inside. But I'm pretty sure it will work. And I'm stoked to be able to have fiberglass panels on this chassis.
Doug Bug I hope you’re careful and don’t distort the mould with the stiffeners.
Allow the mould to cool down before you add the egg-crate to it.
Good job for a first attempt!🥳
would you recommend more layers af fabric for mor strength?
No, but I wish I epoxied in some wood bracing for strength. When I layed up the piece in this mold is was moving around more than I wanted it to.
what tipe of frame did you use, i want to do exactly the same thing but thought of buying the complete frame
Which frame are you talking about?
@@DougBugBuilder the new one you working on, you 're making fiberglass parts for it
Very good idea. I also want to redesign my old maruti 800. I need some clay work also for modify the exterior look. May you help me with any suggestion ?
Sorry buddy, I really don't have any clay experience. Although I have done some similar work where I used drywall mud to build things up.
Ok.. thank you bro
Hi, amazing work on the bug, how much do you think you spent on materials to make it?
Probably about $200, it took a lot of resin.
Yep.... fiberglass resin sticks to metal really well.... unless you want it to.
Muito bom mesmo
Obrigado parceiro!
Pq ele tava lixando o em quanto ele tava pelado?