Question for fiberglass experts

[Zerrari GTO]

There is a place on my V/R rear tub that will need to have a small patch of glass that will wrap into the door jamb. It will need to be several layers thick so I was going to lay one or two layers and then rivet it to the door jamb to help prevent delamination from the body. I was then going to lay 2-3 layers over this riveted layer.

My question is: Will the rivets present a problem later such as eruptions in the glass?

Thanks.

[blueovalz]

I do not believe this will cause a problem. I don't know what material you'll be using (cloth, mat, or weight, etc), but you should be fine regardless. I assume no separation has occured anywhere on this quarterpanel?

[EMWHYR0HEN]

That should work. I did some similar work on my boat.

 

I would lay 2 or more layers before riveting, then use chopped strand mat to go over the rivets because it's a little thicker than cloth and will hide the rivets better ( i'm assuming your trying to make it look flush).

[Zerrari GTO]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

 

I was planning on three-four layers (alternating stranded mat and cloth) over the rivets. I just wanted to be sure those rivets didn't come back to haunt me!

[blueovalz]

I've got 1/8" aluminum rivets holding the entire quarter (no bonding at all) onto my car and have never, in 15 years had one work loose or move.

[Zerrari GTO]

I've got 1/8" aluminum rivets holding the entire quarter (no bonding at all) onto my car and have never, in 15 years had one work loose or move.

 

I was told that you should use rivets of the same metal as the material you are joining (steel rivets on steel body panels, etc.). Anybody have any experience with this?

[blueovalz]

I'm guessing because of electrolosis. In my application it has never been a concern (kept very dry), and has never shown any sign of this action. The major reason I chose the softer material was a concern that the higher grip pressure of the steel rivets would distort, or worse, crack the fiberglass when installed.