Make a fiberglass fan shroud

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This in-progress article demonstrates one way to build a fiberglass fan shroud. The techniques used in this article can be applied to just about any part that can be constructed from fiberglass.
 
This in-progress article demonstrates one way to build a fiberglass fan shroud. The techniques used in this article can be applied to just about any part that can be constructed from fiberglass.
  
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===Measurement and analysis===
 
This is a radiator in a 1961 Ford Galaxie which needs a fan shroud.
 
This is a radiator in a 1961 Ford Galaxie which needs a fan shroud.
  
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I had a bunch of 2 lb polyurethane foam left over from other jobs, so I thought this project would be a good place to use some up.
 
I had a bunch of 2 lb polyurethane foam left over from other jobs, so I thought this project would be a good place to use some up.
 
It also can illustrate how easy it is to use this foam -- it cuts so easily and shapes so well that piecing it up doesn't add all that much time to the project. This foam is available in thicknesses from 1/2" up to 6" thick at any fiberglass supply house. You can also use the polyurethane insulating foam that is available from building supply stores. Just peel the foil layer off. (Keep in mind that styrofoam won't work under any resin with styrene in it, unless you can bar the resin from it.)
 
It also can illustrate how easy it is to use this foam -- it cuts so easily and shapes so well that piecing it up doesn't add all that much time to the project. This foam is available in thicknesses from 1/2" up to 6" thick at any fiberglass supply house. You can also use the polyurethane insulating foam that is available from building supply stores. Just peel the foil layer off. (Keep in mind that styrofoam won't work under any resin with styrene in it, unless you can bar the resin from it.)
[[Image:7box o scrap foam.JPG|center|600px]]  
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[[Image:7box o scrap foam.JPG|thumb|center|600px|Leftover scraps of polyurethane foam are useful for constructing a buck.]]  
  
 
Cut foam to shape with a handsaw, putty knife, or bandsaw. Then, fit and glue pieces of foam larger than your layout on the board. A hot melt glue gun makes gluing this foam fast and easy. Glue the foam down with an expanding urethane glue, or some of the expanding foam that comes in an aerosol can. The different glues can make sanding over seam lines difficult, as they are usually a different density and hardness than the surrounding foam.  
 
Cut foam to shape with a handsaw, putty knife, or bandsaw. Then, fit and glue pieces of foam larger than your layout on the board. A hot melt glue gun makes gluing this foam fast and easy. Glue the foam down with an expanding urethane glue, or some of the expanding foam that comes in an aerosol can. The different glues can make sanding over seam lines difficult, as they are usually a different density and hardness than the surrounding foam.  

Revision as of 07:26, 24 June 2007

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