I live in an area where it's near impossible to find anything boat or fiberglass repair related. I managed to find the materials I needed but couldn't come up with a fiberglass roller anywhere.
Being used to having to come up with alternative ideas to get stuff done around here, I wandered aimlessely about a couple of hardware stores looking for ideas. I came up with a roller you can make yourself for under 10 bucks. Try to buy a commercial one for that!
Here 'tis...
It consists of a file handle, a piece of 1/4" all-thread, fender washers of 2 different diameters with a 1/4" hole, and (3) 1/4" nuts.
To make it you'll need a hacksaw, vice, and a propane torch to bend the all-thread.
Be careful in bending the all-thread. Make sure you get it cherry hot and bend it very slowly, otherwise it will get brittle and break at the bend.
Determine how wide you want the roller and make a 90 degree bend. (I wouldn't go any more than 4 or 5 Inches) Then leave about an inch or so and make another 45 degree bend inward. Try to eyeball where your center for the handle needs to be and then make another bend so that the handle will be perpendicular to the roller. Cut the excess all-thread leaving 3 or 4" for attachment of the file handle.
Thread one nut on the end of the roller shaft all the way to the 90 degree bend. Put the washers on starting with a small diameter one, then next a larger diameter one and so on ending with a small diameter washer. Leave enough space at the end to accomodate 2 nuts. Thread the 2 nuts on, adjusting the 1st one so that the washers roll freely but remain very close together. Lock that nut in place using (2) 7/16 wrenches with the second nut.
Wha-la! DIY Fiberglass Roller. Works just as well as any commercial one. I rolled in the matt glass in the back of my transom with it and it worked beautifully. No air bubbles, nice clear adhesion.
Enjoy!
Being used to having to come up with alternative ideas to get stuff done around here, I wandered aimlessely about a couple of hardware stores looking for ideas. I came up with a roller you can make yourself for under 10 bucks. Try to buy a commercial one for that!
Here 'tis...
It consists of a file handle, a piece of 1/4" all-thread, fender washers of 2 different diameters with a 1/4" hole, and (3) 1/4" nuts.
To make it you'll need a hacksaw, vice, and a propane torch to bend the all-thread.
Be careful in bending the all-thread. Make sure you get it cherry hot and bend it very slowly, otherwise it will get brittle and break at the bend.
Determine how wide you want the roller and make a 90 degree bend. (I wouldn't go any more than 4 or 5 Inches) Then leave about an inch or so and make another 45 degree bend inward. Try to eyeball where your center for the handle needs to be and then make another bend so that the handle will be perpendicular to the roller. Cut the excess all-thread leaving 3 or 4" for attachment of the file handle.
Thread one nut on the end of the roller shaft all the way to the 90 degree bend. Put the washers on starting with a small diameter one, then next a larger diameter one and so on ending with a small diameter washer. Leave enough space at the end to accomodate 2 nuts. Thread the 2 nuts on, adjusting the 1st one so that the washers roll freely but remain very close together. Lock that nut in place using (2) 7/16 wrenches with the second nut.
Wha-la! DIY Fiberglass Roller. Works just as well as any commercial one. I rolled in the matt glass in the back of my transom with it and it worked beautifully. No air bubbles, nice clear adhesion.
Enjoy!
