Specialty Fabrics

Surfacing veil is used to create a smooth, resin-rich outer layer on composite parts and to prevent print-through from underlying fiberglass fabrics or reinforcements.

Most surfacing veils are designed with a binder that dissolves in polyester resin. For use with epoxy, make sure to use a veil specifically rated for epoxy compatibility.

It is laid on the surface of a mold or laminate and saturated with resin. It conforms easily and becomes nearly invisible after wet-out, providing a smooth finish.

No, it’s not intended for structural strength. It’s a cosmetic layer that improves surface quality and helps hide fabric weave or print-through.

Surfacing veil is typically 10 mil thick, the standard for most mold and cosmetic work. The veil is a thin layer of fine fiber laid as the surface ply to hold extra resin, block print-through from the heavier glass underneath, and give a smoother, easier-to-finish surface. Heavier veils exist for thicker resin-rich layers, but 10 mil covers most jobs.

Gun roving is a continuous strand fiberglass material specifically designed for use in chopper guns. It's chopped into short strands during spraying and combined with resin for rapid laminate buildup.

Gun roving is compatible with polyester, vinyl ester, and some epoxy resins, depending on the sizing used on the fibers.

It’s widely used in high-volume manufacturing, marine, automotive, and industrial applications where fast coverage and thickness buildup are needed.

Gun roving allows faster application and conformability to complex shapes. It also reduces labor and waste compared to cutting and placing traditional mats.

While technically possible, it’s not practical. Gun roving is designed for mechanical application and isn’t suitable for hand lay-up without pre-chopping.