dallasb84 you have been such a help guiding someone through the process. Thanks so much for this it has given me a few ideas on some parts we are producing.
I am keen to know what the semi permanent release agent is that you guys have used? We currently use one from ec fiberglass.
I understand it is called frekote? however there is so many http://www.nfgsales.com/partners/henkel/frekote_mold_releases
815 and b15 as well as 1711 are most commonly used. I think Doug got the 815 release.
In the us the most common type is aerosol can for the common room temp solution.
I’ve been real excited to help Doug out. I knew right away he would sponge up the help this forum has to offer. There are alot of really skilled people in here that once you show some effort come out of the woodwork to help you out.
I saw right away he wanted to try his best to follow the meat and potatoes we were throwing at him and hes done an outstanding job so far. He’s not afraid to take advice and ask questions.
I think Roto deserves some credit too. I’m sure he’s been in the background with some good advice. 
dallas, last we we talked about cutting the fabric more accurately…so the fabric just reaches to the top of the bowls and not out onto the flange. do you remember?
do you think it would be a waste of time and material to try again with better placed fabric rather than taking the time to the caul plates. or just bite the bullet and make the caul plates:confused:
Nah give it another shot
cool, “wish me luck”
wade, each of frekotes products has a specific application for the type of mold you built. i made a fiberglass/epoxy mold so i chose fms sealer. and i wanted i shiny finish so i chose 77nc for my release.
i forget wher i got my info, mite have been manufacturers website. i just matched my criteria and came up with that combo. things, mold composition, whether your mold will go into an oven or not, shiny finish or dull finish. things like that.
How’d your first week go Doug?
wow what a bazzar job…there is one biologist for every 2 construction workers. they are the rattle snake wranglers…and turtles too…
get this…we have to build OVER 170,000 heliostats…those are the mirror stacks. each mirrow is like 10 ft x 10 ft. each heliostat gets 2 mirrors. each heliostat is motorized to track the sun. and the heliostats are built right on the job, with robots. thats the building i am in right now. installing the robots. no camera allowed on the job. everything here is a prototype. i guess they dont want anyone steeling there ideas…im just glad we get to build them…this place is gigantic. i forget how many acres but they told us they have already install 8 miles of chain link fence up, to keep the turtles out. and that is just for solar field #1. and there will be 3 feilds. each field will be the same size.
ya bro, its big… there are about 400 constuction workers on the job and i think they said it will top out about around 900. parking sucks…LOL
and the sun is intense out there…not like at home. the air is crystal clear, so we are getting full power on our skin…lots of sun screen. one older man dropped with a heart attack on my first day. before the sun was even up. i almost quit right then and there. but my friends talked me out of it…plus those guys are gambleing fools. being so close to vegas im sure you can just imagine.
not me bro. i am there for one reason. to MAKE big dough…not give it to the casinos. i didnt spend a dime the whole time i was there…get in and get out. thats my goal…
here is the project. http://ivanpahsolar.com/
Nice man!!! Sounds neat. Hope u get per diem and find a buddy to bunk up with. I did some contracting and made more on per diem by the end of the year!
it is neat…its kind of like being on the hoover dam, or golden gate bridge…historic…
and the perdiam is good.
jobs like this makes you realize why our country is great. everybody has a real real feeling of national pride.
Can you explain the picture?? The tower looks like its reciving light but i dont understand why?
brainstorm, the mirrors reflect the sunlight to the top of the tower. to boil the water up there to create steam. the steam spins the turbine, that turns the generator, that creates electricity.
i am back at it this weekend. im working again, so progress will slow a bit…i hate it when work gets in the way of fun:mad2:.
anyways, all week i have been haunted by dallas’s words…“that mold had better be super smooth”…and in the back of my mind i knew it could be better. so i stripped off the frekote and sanded on it some more. 2000, then 2500, then 3000, then polish…
now i am confident that this mold is ultra smooth. these carb hats should just fall out of this mold;).
tomorrow will be infusion day…
check it out now dallas. yes that is the reflection of the tree in my yard…
The panels reflect to the tower that boils water into steam to turn a turbine. It’s a parabolic mirror.
Ahhh more eficent than solar panels i take it
That mold is money Doug!
Take some extra time tailoring the carbon, infusion mesh, peel ply, and your vacuum bag. Even though you have stretchelon add about 15% more bag than last time. Make sure you can feel the corners when you leak test and debulk. Use your first try as a guide to get the bag setup right.
when i spray the tacky to hold the fabric down, do i spray it on the fabric or do i spray it into the mold and then lay the fabric on it?
Imspray it LIGHTLY to the fabric keeps your weave straighter but thats my personal choice
Watch the MTI hose video to give you the idea