Dirty fiberglass roll

Discussion in 'Boatbuilding' started by mariobrothers88, Jun 12, 2021.

  1. mariobrothers88
    Joined: Sep 2020
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    Location: San Diego, CA

    mariobrothers88 Senior Member

    Hey guys I finished transporting the hull and my materials and during the process the roll of 10oz plain weave fiberglass got pretty dirty. What's the best way to clean the fiberglass so I can still use it?

    Thanks for all the help!!!
     
  2. fallguy
    Joined: Dec 2016
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    fallguy Senior Member

    Not water.

    You can use acetone, or compressed air, but air with oil is bad.
     
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  3. Mr Efficiency
    Joined: Oct 2010
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    Location: Australia

    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    Cut away the part that was exposed and has got dirty, the rest should be OK
     
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  4. mariobrothers88
    Joined: Sep 2020
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    mariobrothers88 Senior Member

    Unfortunately a lot of it got dirty and it would be such a waste to throw it all away. I'm thinking of getting an air compressor to clean it. Any other suggestions would be very helpful!!
     
  5. ondarvr
    Joined: Dec 2005
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    Location: Monroe WA

    ondarvr Senior Member

    Is it just dirt and dust, or did it get wet?

    You can't get too aggressive with any method, a vacuum or compressed air is probably your best bet. But make sure the compressed air is clean and dry.
     
    Last edited: Jun 13, 2021
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  6. Blueknarr
    Joined: Aug 2017
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    Location: Colorado

    Blueknarr Senior Member

    FG cloth has a sizing that enables resins to adhere to its fibers. Water washes away this sizing. Any FG cloth exposed to water is useless.
     
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  7. Milehog
    Joined: Aug 2006
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    Milehog Clever Quip

    However you end up cleaning it make some test coupons to see if it still good.
     
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  8. kapnD
    Joined: Jan 2003
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    Location: hawaii, usa

    kapnD Senior Member

    I’ve had no good results with cleaning dirty fabric or with just using it dirty either.
    Milehogs suggestion is very good idea.
     
  9. fallguy
    Joined: Dec 2016
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    fallguy Senior Member

    Noone suggested a wood shop brush, but it may be the first step.
     
  10. KD8NPB
    Joined: Mar 2018
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    Location: South Carolina

    KD8NPB Senior Member

    It’ll still wet out. Use it for non critical bulking.
     
  11. Mr Efficiency
    Joined: Oct 2010
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    If I had a roll of CSM that started to look a bit grimy, cut the part that was facing the world off, and trim the ends a little bit, the only way it could get dirty "in depth" would be if water or oil or something had penetrated into it. Then it is time to throw it out
     
  12. BlueBell
    Joined: May 2017
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    Location: Victoria BC Canada

    BlueBell . . . _ _ _ . . . _ _ _

    What kind of dirty, dry dirt dirty?
    Go over to your friends high-rise and shake it out over their balcony.
    Even then, if it still looks dirty, use it wisely on a less important project.
    Or simply through it out and cut your losses, could save you a bunch of time, resin, scraping, cleaning, grinding, etc, etc, etc.
    And next time, save the bag it came in and always replace it to the bag to keep it CLEAN.

    BB
     

  13. wet feet
    Joined: Nov 2004
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    Location: East Anglia,England

    wet feet Senior Member

    Throw it away.Not worth the gamble.Maybe not what you would like to hear,but the safest course of action.
     
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