alternative material options

General Composites Discussions Products Talk
#1

I’m new to resin infusion. So forgive me if I’m way off base here.

I want to know what people think about alternative materials.

I’m meaning for example the nylon mesh you can buy at fabric stores. Will that work for flow media?

What about breather material. It’s just polyester can I use that from the fabric store

Starting out I need to watch my spending and that mesh is a fraction of the cost of buying it elsewhere.

What else could I use? What are you small time guys doing?

I’m open to most anything. Thanks for your help in advance.

#2

Flow media is pretty cheap. I guess if you want to go cheaper you can test things out but I believe most of us use real flow media.

I only bought a little though so I may run out, I may pick up a roll of some mesh looking stuff from home depot for roofs that’s made of fiberglass.

#3

Where do you buy from?

#4

Ill street composites, but I’m probably going to buy a whole roll of it since it’s semi cheap and I don’t feel like sourcing it every time I need some.

#5

Flow media, peel ply, and breather are all relatively cheap compared to everything else you will need for infusion. What are you planning on making for your first try?
Probably $4/YD or so for breather even if you buy small amounts. Peel ply is somewhere around $5 to $9/YD depending on quantity. Flow media should be $5/YD.

Most of these are anywhere from 40" to 60" wide so you dont need much to just get started on some small parts.

#6

well, I’m torn on what resin to use.

PTM&W
Resin Research
West System
proSet

They are all about the same price a gallon. I’ve used PTM&W surface coats, so I’m inclined to choose that one.

I am going to use their surface coat for my molds so maybe just as well I use that.

Thank you for replying.