"Hi-Fiber"?..."resin"????

[ArtistPete]

I've read instructions on molding/casting fish and see "hi-fiber" as a "bedding".  I see the word "resin" a lot too---"mix bondo with resin"...."add a little resin"...etc. without any explanation of what they are!  My question is: what the heck is hi-fiber and resin?  I ordered a couple Breakthrough magazines with Gary Bruch's articles on fish casting/molding which probably will answer my question--but I can't wait.  Also, is there an alternative to this "hi-fiber" stuff  for a bedding?  Thanks in advance from a begginer--Pete

[bill@hogheaven]

Hi fiber is about as good as it gets for bedding McKenzie or Vandyke has it & it is cheap. Resin is polyester resin aka fiberglass resin available where you get bondo, is used to thin the bondo.

[JP a.k.a Taxi-lover]

I'm also interested about Hi-Fiber,because I never had a chance to get that. Is it something like papermache or what material it is. And what is similar material you can use if you cannot have Hi-Fiber? Thanks for answering!

[bill@hogheaven]

I believe hi fiber is wood fiber left from some mfg. process like paper making. But I could be totally wrong. Mix it with water to the consistency you desire. It is EXTREMELY smooth & a great bedding material. It can be frozen & reused (freezing prevents mold ). I cant see why anyone would look for a substitute when hifiber is so cheap & available. But reinvent the wheel if you must.

[newbirdman]

Why waste space in your freezer when you can just dry it out and remix with water when you need it again ? I do this all the time . Rick

[Jim B]

There are different types of resins but when they speak of mixing resin with bondo and often when they say resin without specifying,they mean polyester resin,often called fiberglass resin.You can get it from suppliers,auto parts stores etc..The polyester resin comes with a liquid catalyst that is mixed in to make it "set up" or harden.It is mixed with bondo and fiber for bondo ears,used with fiberglass mat to make molds for urethane foam mannikins,reproduction fish etc..It is generally less expensive than urethane and epoxy resins.

[JP a.k.a Taxi-lover]

I'm not reinventing the steel...or wheel, but I will ask the question other way: IF Hi-fiber wouldn't exist, what could be replasement material for the same purpose? Just my interest.

[Jim B]

In the old days it would have been asbestos.It actually made the smoothest maches,hide paste and bedding compound.Paper pulp or some types of mineral fiber insulation could be used for some applications but the Hi Fiber would probably be smoother.

[NOAH@aarrkk]

You could use potters' clay or probably damp sand as a hi-fiber replacement.  Somewhere along the line I got the impression that hi-fiber was a talc product..........the baby powder stuff.

JMHO
jerry

[steve faechner]

silica sand works great too you can add water to it and later it drys for another day, i found it is easier to work with than Hi fib and a bit cleaner

[Cole]

Why waste space in your freezer when you can just dry it out and remix with water when you need it again ? I do this all the time . Rick

If freezer space is a problem then yes, this works too. I keep mine in the fridge, a little bacteriacide keeps the mold away. This way it's ready to use, I don't have to thaw it out.

[AndyO]

silica sand works great too you can add water to it and later it drys for another day, i found it is easier to work with than Hi fib and a bit cleaner

Silica sand works very well! I live 8 miles from a silica strip pit. You can use CLEAN playground sand from Home Depot or Menard's with good results too.

[petes]

andy,

great to know silica sand can be a substiture for hi fiber. - pehpsin some wyaysome purpose.
thanks for the tip. been wanting to know a substiture for this.
becsue  icant get hi fiber here.

hi fiber, is simialr to 'paprmache like ', wroks  like a soft dough
great for using it as bedidng materials etc. . -cheap
toher   than  jsut adding paste to it to make aexcellent paper mache .

now wonder how good is so called  silica sand as  bedding  materials

best,
pete