Fiberglass cloth
From CosplayWiki
Fiberglass cloth is a "cloth" made out of strands of fiberglass, woven together. When combined with resin, fiberglass makes a strong, yet very light surface. It is commonly used on surfboards and other marine equipment. It comes in rolls of varying length and sizes.
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Types of cloth
Fiberglass cloth may differ in the type of weave used, and the size of the individual fiberglass strands. There are also special quality grades of fiberglass for mission critical constructions such as airplane design - though this is generally beyond the requirements of cosplay. Due to the expense and shortage of carbon fiber cloth, some manufacturers have begun producing black fiberglass cloth, to give the illusion of carbon fiber.
The choice of cloth generally depends on the level of strength required, the ability to render a smooth surface, the level of transparency that can be rendered in the finished surface, the number of layers required to achieve the needed strength, and the flexibility of the cloth, to conture to curves.
Plain Weave
Plain weave fiberglass cloth is more suited for large flat surfaces with fewer curves and "hard to reach" places.
Satin Weave
Satin weave fiberglass cloth is more pliable, and useful for complicated contours, or spherical shapes. If the object you're building has a lot of curves or rounded bits, this may be a better choice.
Mat
Fiberglass mat is pressed together instead of woven. It is made from short loose strands of fiberglass that have been pressed together in random orientation. On closer inspection, one can see that fiberglass mat is actually made up of a number of plys, which for certain tasks, may be separated by hand. The key feature of fiberglass mat is that it is held together by a styrene matrix. This matrix dissolves in the presence of polyester resin allowing the cloth to relax. In this stage, the fiberglass may be much more easily worked into tight curved areas without the wrinkling and bubbling that can occur with a true woven cloth.
Obtaining Fiberglass Cloth
Depending on your area, fiberglass cloth may be very easy or very difficult to find locally. Some form of fiberglass cloth is stocked in most marine supply stores, due to it's usage in boat repair. It may occassionally be found at automotive stores, especially those that tailor to customization and body work enthusiasts. Some hardware stores stock fiberglass cloth, but this appears to be regionally dependant. If you're lucky enough to have a plastics supplier in your area, they frequently stock fiberglass, as it caters to similar functional nessesities. Hobby stores occasionally stock finer weaves which are used in the production of model airplanes and boats.
There are many online suppliers of fiberglass cloth. These will almost always give you a wider selection of cloth than what may be found locally. Many of these suppliers' websites are storefronts to a physical store. In these cases, they very often invite you to call for assistance, and can be quite helpful.
