Fiberglass Mat, also known as Chopped Strand Mat or CSM for short, is a non-woven material typically used for laminate build-up and repair work. It consists of glass fibers laid randomly across each other and held together by a styrene binder.
Polyester is the preferred resin for wetting out this form of glass fiber material as it readily dissolves the styrene bonding agent.
Offered in various weights per square foot. The lightest version, veil mat, is used commonly as a finishing layer to mask any print-thru in a laminate schedule. This particular veil mat uses longer, thinner fibers than heavier mat weights also offered here. Think angel hair pasta to spaghetti fibers. Coarser, heavier mat is commonly used for bulk, random axis strength buildup and is also an excellent initial layer when bonding repair work.
I'd recommend 6 oz woven cloth, it will lay down better. It comes in 38 and 50" widths.
Answered on 4/17/2017 by JD Tech Team
Q:
I have a 20ft sea ox center console boat, im replacing the floor from front to back, along with new stringers, could you tell me how much and what thickness mat I should use and approximately how much resin and hardner?
Asked on 3/22/2017 by Fred from Frankford Delaware
I'd recommend 1708 biaxial cloth which is a total of 25oz / sq yd and would take a 3 to 1 ratio of resin to cloth.
Answered on 3/27/2017 by JD Tech Team
Q:
I just want to put a layer of FG between my new plywood floor and the carpet on a 6' x 12' boat deck. How wide are the rolls and how many layers should I use?
6 oz cloth comes in 38" or 50" wide. A couple layers depending on how strong you need it to be. 10 oz cloth only comes in 38" width.
Answered on 3/9/2017 by Anonymous
Q:
hey there I'm looking to extend my jeep fiberglass body n would like some ideas of what i should be using instead of just guess?? i have to extend it about 26" i'm going to cut it all most in half n rebuild the middle n that is were i need help??? any pointers would be a great help thanks.
it will roughly take about one quart per yard on a flat surface. laminating resin is better than a all purpose resin (it has less wax and saturates better). a gallon container should do the trick and is cheaper than three quarts, and should be plenty for later use. i hope this works good luck
Answered on 9/3/2013 by RYAN ELLIOTT from undisclosed
A:
I am sorry ed never mind my entry i just reread your question and realized you said epoxy. polyester resin will not stick to epoxy.
Answered on 9/3/2013 by RYAN ELLIOTT from undisclosed
Q:
Couldn't see where to enter question. How thick is 1.5 oz fiberglass mat in inch, cm, micron, etc.?
i have rebuilt 4 boats . that ads up to around 30 gallons of west systems epoxy. a good layup 1.5 =1/6". +/-
Answered on 8/20/2013 by DANIEL CHASE from undisclosed
A:
About one or two millimeters. There is a slight variation throughout due to the matte. It is also lays down thinner once resin is applied and rolled through the material.
Answered on 9/4/2013 by EVAN GRUETTER from undisclosed
Q:
I am replacing the floor in my boat 20' center console, Floor is out and wood is cut and ready to go back in.. I plan to screw it down w/ stainless screws and adhesive 1. What adhesive do you recommend? 2. What type of fiberglass mat do you recommend..Cloth or Chopped Strand ?
I found that when working with fiberglass resin, the resin itself is a wonderful adhesive for wood, especially if you have a thin later of mat resin-ed between two pieces of wood. I personally did not use any screws, whatsoever, to secure wood to fiberglass. The only place I would recommend using screws of any kind is on wood to wood applications.
When I was redoing the fiberglass bottom (hull) of my boat, I alternated between chopped mat and woven. Woven is much stronger than mat, so I think that is necessary for stability/strength purposes. The mat helps to fill in the spaces between each layer of woven and helps to keep the overall area flatter. Basically, I kept this thought in mind throughout my project - Woven for strength, mat for fill. When I was finished repairing the fiberglass hull and I had my plywood ready to go down, I used construction adhesive (liquid nails or PL400) for the places the plywood would meet the wood foundation pieces below it and also where the plywood met the hull. On my boat, plywood meets the hull only at the outer edges of the boat. My boat has something akin to a 'shelf' around the edges that I tapered the joists into. So, the plywood floor sat on both the joists and this shelf seamlessly. If you want to screw the floor to it's wood foundation (the joists) below, I suppose you could. I think it's overkill. The floor will be sandwiched as it is and construction adhesive bonds like you wouldn't believe.
So, again, avoid screwing (or nailing) into fiberglass if you can. Construction adhesive has plenty enough bond...that floor won't move! Use woven fiberglass for strength and mat for fill. If you need to build up an area and one layer of glass won't do it, alternate woven and mat, woven and mat, until you realize your desired thickness. You will want to end this layering with mat being on the top. It will be more flat and easier to sand flat.
Best of luck
Answered on 6/7/2013 by PAUL KOZAK from undisclosed
A:
Well George I can't answer this question without knowing a couple of things ,like is this a deck that is being tabed into the hull or does it need to be removed later,how thick is your plywood? If this is a permenant deck I wood use epoxy to glue and screw it then I would probably use a layer of mat ,a layer of roven and then another layer of mat and overlap the last layer up the sides of the hull 3 or 4 inches.Then you can gell coat or paint it. I use 1.5 oz. mat on my finish layer and 3/4 oz on my first layer and a heavy roven in the middle. hope this helps.
Answered on 6/6/2013 by MARK TIBBETTS from undisclosed
A:
George, I used the Chopped strand mat to redo the transom on my boat and it worked out great.
Answered on 6/6/2013 by KEITH UNDERWOOD from undisclosed
A:
I would use 5200, On the fiberglass i would use 1.5 oz mat with
Answered on 6/10/2013 by ELUTERIO VALLEZA from undisclosed
Q:
how many layers of mat-roving-mat.... can be done in one session?
usually it is the wood under the fiberglass is rotten causing the problem. Often the entire floor including the wooden stringers supporting the floor need to be replaced as well. This is an expensive and time consuming job. The entire interior of hull needs to be stripped to do it right. Then gIass in new stringers, replace floor and cover that withe glass then replace all of the fixture and interior. I have done it twice . The last time I wish I wouldn't have. Careful consideration needs to be given to the cost of the project and the value of the boat when finished. Good luck with it what ever you decide to do.
Answered on 9/19/2012 by DAVID DAVIS from undisclosed
Comments about Jamestown Distributors Fiberglass Mat:
I used this product to build up the space left after I removed the rotten wood in the repair of my trawler's door. I found this messy and difficult to work with mostly because I really don't know what I'm doing. The good news is in the end it does the job.
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No
12/17/2014
(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
4.0
very good purchase
By Mister B
from Scott City Kansas
About Me Beginner
Pros
Easy to Use
Visually Pleasing
Cons
Messy
Best Uses
Indoor
Outdoor
Comments about Jamestown Distributors Fiberglass Mat:
Really like your company and plan to do business again on a regular basis
Was this a gift?:
No
9/22/2014
(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
5.0
Good delicate material
By JESSEW
from ANNA, IL
Pros
Easy to Use
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Jamestown Distributors Fiberglass Mat:
I actually bought this to use in a situation it was not created for I assume. I have used Nu Wall fiberglass to repair cracked plaster walls, it works very well using it and their other products. This fiberglass mat is much lighter and delicate, so I thought it would be useful on smaller cracks. It worked, I used a glue and then plastered over it successfully to hide the crack. I am sure it would work great as a fiber/epoxy build up for curves etc.
3/5/2013
(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
4.0
1708
By t-townboater
from Tacoma, WA
About Me Advanced
Pros
Easy to Use
Protects Well
Rolled Not Folded
Cons
Ends Frayed
Best Uses
Marine
Comments about Jamestown Distributors Fiberglass Mat:
I requested the 1708 be rolled rather than folded. Received the product on a nice sturdy cardboard tube. The CSM I also ordered did not, which made it much more difficult to unroll and cut.
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No
10/25/2012
(3 of 4 customers found this review helpful)
4.0
material usage
By jayspher
from american samoa
About Me Beginner
Comments about Jamestown Distributors Fiberglass Mat:
we are building a mold form for our tribar project, will you help me in determining the kind of materials to use. the mold shall be of high strenght because concrete will be filled in. thank
Was this a gift?:
No
4/15/2012
(2 of 4 customers found this review helpful)
5.0
Product advertised was what I needed
By Seadoo Wave
from Tampa, fl
About Me Advanced
Pros
Easy to Use
Cons
Best Uses
Outdoor
Comments about Jamestown Distributors Fiberglass Mat:
Recoated my boat floor
Was this a gift?:
No
4/2/2012
(2 of 3 customers found this review helpful)
4.0
it worked great very easy too use
By k and l do it all
from clarksville tn
About Me Beginner
Pros
Easy to Use
Protects Well
Visually Pleasing
Weather Proof
Cons
Best Uses
Indoor
Outdoor
Comments about Jamestown Distributors Fiberglass Mat:
i used it to fix my 85 bayliner boat floor
Was this a gift?:
No
1/28/2011
(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)
5.0
Good product[...]
By psiclown
from Sacramento, CA
About Me Casual/ Recreational
Pros
Easy to Use
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Jamestown Distributors Fiberglass Mat:
Great product. I am restoring a vintage fiberglass boat and this stuff works great for stringers, transom, hull, and anything else needing to be laminated.
Was this a gift?:
No
10/11/2010
(2 of 3 customers found this review helpful)
5.0
Nice products and services
By Hydra Hovercraft
from Pagosa Springs, CO
About Me Professional
Comments about Jamestown Distributors Fiberglass Mat:
The product is great, as expected. I'm always pleased with Jamestown's product and services
5/31/2010
(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
5.0
Fantastic deal
By paulie
from Brookfield, WI
About Me Casual/ Recreational
Pros
Easy to Use
Great price
Size -good for bassboats
Cons
Fine long pieces of FBR
Best Uses
Indoor
Outdoor
Comments about Jamestown Distributors Fiberglass Mat:
Don't buy the small packaged fiberglass mat from the local hardware store if you're going to be using a lot of it, and you usually need more than you first think. I made the hardware store mistake and paid about 8x too much per sq foot than through JTD. It comes in a nice sized roll, easy to use and the size let's you utilize big pieces of Fiberglass or cut it small ones. It's a convenient size/shape and at a great price.
Special order items are not stocked and are ordered direct from the manufacturer. They are non-returnable, may take 2-4 weeks, price and shipping charges subject to change.
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