Original poster: Jim Lux <jimlux@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Original poster: "seanick" <edgarsbat@xxxxxxxxxxx>
it is actually very possible for someone who doesn't fit into the "talented" category to figure out fiberglass. I have made a few things just out of pure spite for the first couple failures I had.
the only process I have learned to make work is, don't mix any resin until a form is completed, and the cloth is cut to size (use 4 times as much cloth as it looks like you will need - when you press it together it ends up a lot thinner than you think, 7 or 8 layers of alternating Matte and Cloth is less than a quarter of an inch thick...), and there is a way to vacuum out the air and/or apply a massive amount of pressure. Do it all at once, pour the polyester resin on quickly then spread it to the corners or whatnot, and apply the pressure. I used to try to make things in multiple passes but there are always air bubbles that way. Now I use a massive thing my roommate calls a "house jack" but is apparently for holding cargo in place in a semi, to press flat whatever I am working on, or sometimes hook up a vacuum cleaner hose to suck the air out of a box if the part is going to be a strange shape. sometimes you can use a thick balloon to press on some fiber project from the inside. the biggest thing is, press it so the resin goes through all of the fabric layers. once dry, sand the crap out of it with a dust mask, vacuum, hepa filter and whatever else you can as a way to keep the dust off you, and then apply a couple layers of gel-coat. sand those smooth, polish and you end up with something that looks like it could be used as a boat hull.
that doesnt really sound like it would work for a toroid, now that I read it back, so you would have to be creative. well, thats the fun in it I suppose..