fiberglass like fabric but safer to handle?

[Jerry Sievers]

hello artists.

can someone offer a suggestion of a cloth like fabric material to be
used with resin such as polyurethane, polyesther or similar.

looking for something that will compete with fiberglass on strength
but can be handled without the skin irritation problems.

is there any such thing?

i am a beginning sculptor without a proper shop to work from and (for
now) worry about my home being littered with fiberglass threads and
people getting the "itchies" from this.

would a course weave polyester material do the trick?

thanks.

[Simon]

Post by Jerry Sievers
hello artists.
can someone offer a suggestion of a cloth like fabric material to be
used with resin such as polyurethane, polyesther or similar.
looking for something that will compete with fiberglass on strength
but can be handled without the skin irritation problems.
is there any such thing?
i am a beginning sculptor without a proper shop to work from and (for
now) worry about my home being littered with fiberglass threads and
people getting the "itchies" from this.
would a course weave polyester material do the trick?
thanks.
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----

Post by Jerry Sievers
Jerry Sievers 305 854-3001 (home) Unix Administrator/Consultant
305 321-1144 (mobile http://www.JerrySievers.com/

Hi Jerry, if you are doing it in your own home then I would stick to fibrous
plaster work and steer clear of resins as well as fibreglass .....
especially Polyester as the styrene fumes linger for days. If you are
really desperate to use resins then you can use them with natural fibres
too, canvas and linen are among some of the materials you can use, might be
an idea to use thickened Polyurethanes or Epoxies rather than Polyester, as
the smell isn't as bad. Another option is a material called Jesmonite, or
something equivalent, which can also be used with natural fibres, as well as
a woven fibreglass (which is less likely to get in to the atmosphere unless
grinding it), it's a non toxic alternative to resins.

Simon

[Andrew Werby]

[Simon's giving you good advice, Jerry. You can do a lot of sculpture with
plaster and sisal; materials that won't drive you out of your house. The
fumes from polyester resins keep exuding out of the material for months
after casting, and although other resins may smell better, that's not to say
they are any less toxic.

Fiberglass cloth is great stuff, but you're smart not to want it in your
home. You can get similar cloths made from aramid fibers (eg. Kevlar and
Nomex, trademarks of Dupont: http://www1.dupont.com/), which are stronger
but not irritating. They are more expensive, and hard to cut with scissors,
but your sculpture will be bulletproof! If you find any open weave fabrics
in these materials (let me know if you do), they'd be best for work with
gypsum-based cements. If you must work with resins, get yourself a studio
away from home to do it in.]

Andrew Werby
www.unitedartworks.com

Post by Jerry Sievers

Post by Jerry Sievers
hello artists.
can someone offer a suggestion of a cloth like fabric material to be
used with resin such as polyurethane, polyesther or similar.
looking for something that will compete with fiberglass on strength
but can be handled without the skin irritation problems.
is there any such thing?
i am a beginning sculptor without a proper shop to work from and (for
now) worry about my home being littered with fiberglass threads and
people getting the "itchies" from this.
would a course weave polyester material do the trick?
thanks.
--

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----

Post by Jerry Sievers
Jerry Sievers 305 854-3001 (home) Unix Administrator/Consultant
305 321-1144 (mobile http://www.JerrySievers.com/

Hi Jerry, if you are doing it in your own home then I would stick to fibrous
plaster work and steer clear of resins as well as fibreglass .....
especially Polyester as the styrene fumes linger for days. If you are
really desperate to use resins then you can use them with natural fibres
too, canvas and linen are among some of the materials you can use, might be
an idea to use thickened Polyurethanes or Epoxies rather than Polyester, as
the smell isn't as bad. Another option is a material called Jesmonite, or
something equivalent, which can also be used with natural fibres, as well as
a woven fibreglass (which is less likely to get in to the atmosphere unless
grinding it), it's a non toxic alternative to resins.
Simon

[artspark]

Jerry, I have used hesian mixed with cement to form large sculptures - not
so many fibres etc. Good Luck Margaret

Post by Jerry Sievers
hello artists.
can someone offer a suggestion of a cloth like fabric material to be
used with resin such as polyurethane, polyesther or similar.
looking for something that will compete with fiberglass on strength
but can be handled without the skin irritation problems.
is there any such thing?
i am a beginning sculptor without a proper shop to work from and (for
now) worry about my home being littered with fiberglass threads and
people getting the "itchies" from this.
would a course weave polyester material do the trick?
thanks.
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----

Post by Jerry Sievers
Jerry Sievers 305 854-3001 (home) Unix Administrator/Consultant
305 321-1144 (mobile http://www.JerrySievers.com/

[Bill and Aimee' Bywater]

Jerry,
You can also use woven carbon fiber. It behaves alot like fiberglass cloth but
without the itch. You would use it with a resin system like the West pump system.
look in your hardware store or boat supply store for this resin.

Post by Jerry Sievers
hello artists.
can someone offer a suggestion of a cloth like fabric material to be
used with resin such as polyurethane, polyesther or similar.
looking for something that will compete with fiberglass on strength
but can be handled without the skin irritation problems.
is there any such thing?
i am a beginning sculptor without a proper shop to work from and (for
now) worry about my home being littered with fiberglass threads and
people getting the "itchies" from this.
would a course weave polyester material do the trick?
thanks.
--
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jerry Sievers 305 854-3001 (home) Unix Administrator/Consultant
305 321-1144 (mobile http://www.JerrySievers.com/

[Jerry Sievers]

thanks for this tip and also to the many others who offered
suggestions on this thread.

for the record, the application needs high strength but thin wall
thickness and is more of a structural work then an art piece.

i'll investigate this carbon cloth and probably contact the resin
manufacturer to see what reinforcement fabrics are compatible.

thanks again.

Post by Simon
Jerry,
You can also use woven carbon fiber. It behaves alot like fiberglass cloth but
without the itch. You would use it with a resin system like the West pump system.
look in your hardware store or boat supply store for this resin.

[maxpowa]

Jerry,

If you need high strength you could also look into kevlar fabrics, these do
tend to be a lot more expensive than the ones mentioned earlier. These can
also be found at boating supply houses or something like that.

Steve