Lets talk Bumperettes if your interested.

[azygoustoyou]

Thanks for your thoughts. I appreciate everyone's help.

[grittracing]

how about rocket launchers ? or machine guns?

[v6spider]

I look forward to seeing these mounted on your spider...

Rob

[azygoustoyou]

Just getting some prices of the resin and materials needed to make the bumperettes.
It seems that making items out of ordinary resin will yellow after time. I found a vinyl ester resin that is translucent and good with high temperature. There is a surf board resin but it isn't good with high heat. The cost of the vinyl is $50/gal. If I'm making a set (4), it will probably take about that. If I'm using plain fiberglass, it will cost about $40 for the fiber to make and if it's carbon fiber (+$40 more). Shipping is $50 on top of that for me to get this stuff. Then I would have to ship them to you.
Not counting tooling gel coat and fiber to make a mold.
These would still have to be maintained (waxed) if they are carbon fiber.
I could make them with a pigment in the resin to make them black for the ones with the plain fiberglass.
Question is Are these worth doing? What do you guys think?

[DocGraphics]

From the looks of the other things you have done they should very well made. I would be definately interested.

The other ones out there are cost prohibitive for my X amount I can "invest" each month, and I imagine the same for others too.
If you can make them for a decent price I would think you would have more than a few takers!

[fiat218]

i will take a set for a 69, i like the bumperless too
make them and charge what u need and plus your time and shipping
they will sell

[v6spider]

So update on my aluminum bumpette idea ... my machinist buddy is going to cut me some 3" blocks on his waterjet table out of solid aluminum. They will be cut to fit just inside the stock rectangular holes where the otriginal bumper mounts were removed. The sides will be angled slightly and I am going to polish them. I will post pics when they are done...

[azygoustoyou]

Just got done waxing everything. I'm going to make my first bumperette mold in the morning. It's hot here.
I had a hell of a time getting the back to stay. I ended up putting bolts on the back on the studs with a piece of metal to hold it together. I had to shim one place. This was supposed to hold together with the clay. Yeah right.
I want to familiarize myself with the new resin and tooling gelcoat before I attempt the hood liner.

[grittracing]

so brady what are you saying the shipped cost will be

[azygoustoyou]

These aren't the ones I would sell. I still have to do a plug for that one. I don't want anyone to have the same bumpers as me.
I pushed those to the side due to having a hard time figuring out how to fasten them to other cars. It would be easier if all the cars had the same shape. I don't want to hear anyone complain about them not fitting. So, I will eventually do a mold for others and they will be cheap. Only thing is, everyone will have to shape them and fasten them on their own if they don't fit correctly.

[azygoustoyou]

I was able to work with the new tooling gelcoat today. I have the front bumperettes almost done. I think I'll add one more coat of resin and cloth to them tomorrow just to make sure they are strong enough. As soon as I get a little time. I will do some sculpting to get the design for the bumperettes I plan on selling.

[azygoustoyou]

I'm done! I am so pissed! I was able to get one bumperette to come out of the mold. The other won't separate. I waxed this stuff more times than needed and used a PVA release agent. Now I have to grind off the mold to at least get a bumper. I called the place I purchased the stuff and he said it sounded like I did everything right. He doesn't understand why it didn't separate.

[azygoustoyou]

I was able to salvage my bumperette. After two days of fixing the one and recoating both of them. These look better with the better quality resin which is clearer.
I'll still make a universal bumperette mold for the front and one for the back. This way I don't ruin mine. I had to take a breather to calm down from the last one fuzing to the mold.

[boogiedude]

They're really turning out well. Good job

[azruss]

they are lookin' good!!!
New green molds can be a pain. with small parts like that, it is easy to wax too fast. you should allow each coat to dry a half hour before applying the next. if it is cold, extend the dry time to well over an hour. when each coat doesnt cure, you are just dissolving it off with the next wax coat. with a new mold or plug, i would wax 6 times with a good mold release hard wax. (more coats with a soft wax). if you have a non-osha air nozzle, you can get a small separation between the parts. blast 90 psi air in the seam and whack with a rubber hammer to release the part. It also helsp to give the part a day or 2 cure if you cant get it out. the part will shrink during that time and will be easier to get a separation you can blow air into. on the second part, go back in and wax another 3 or 4 coats. once a mold is cured, you can get several parts off without waxing. I have stuff i made 30 years ago with a UL stabilized clear gel and they havent yellowed at all. careful about using cloth, if your mat is thin, the cloth pattern will broadcast thru the gel and you will leave the weave in your new parts. The cloth is great for light weight racing parts where weight is more important than finish. If you are leaving a carbon fiber finish, then that shouldnt be a big deal.