Need to find carbon fibre...

[kneescraper]

Hey all,

I'm after some help...any of you good KB'ers know where I can find carbon fiber. Im after some already made bits. One to cut to shape of my top yoke to make a cover (has to be thin carbon fiber) and some other parts.

What is it worth by the sq meter? also is it hard stuff to work with if I wanted to make my own parts etc?

So if you can give me some advice on where to by some bits or sheets or even a kit I would be very gratefull.

[Swoop]

It's bloody expensive stuff!!!
Your best bet is to go and have a chat with some boatbuilding places. They will probably have small offcuts that they will probably give away to you if you are nice about it.

[pritch]

any of you good KB'ers know where I can find carbon fiber.

Try the USA?

But seriously, I know bugger-all about carbon fibre but I thought the moulding process involved heat and as such required fairly specialised equipment (and knowledge)?

Try this: http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/carbo...orcycle-parts/

[svs]

There's a guy in the hutt who does carbon fibre work. Can't find his details at the moment, but I'll keep trying.

If you're just after a yoke cover, then 'fake' carbon fibre sheet might be OK, after all if you are after saving weight, then you won't be adding anything at all.

[bugjuice]

if it's just 'for show', it's be cheaper and easier to find the carbon sticker stuff. There's some half decent ones floating around in the right places, altho it'll never look as good as the real mccoy. But it'll be a fraction of the cost. And no offense, but if it's for the RGV, that one bit could cost you as much as the RGV itself!!

[kneescraper]

No offence taken Bugjuice...I just wanted the yoke cover because its alittle scratched up and the metal has that weathered look so I thought it would tart it up alittle.

I might go talk with some of the boat builders around here...I didn't want to make fairings out of the stuff, just some little bits to trick it up.

Thanks for the help.

[imdying]

Model shops and the like often have 300x300 squares of prefinished carbon fibre. Get one of those an hack out the shape you want, done

[bugjuice]

No offence taken Bugjuice...I just wanted the yoke cover because its alittle scratched up and the metal has that weathered look so I thought it would tart it up alittle.

I might go talk with some of the boat builders around here...I didn't want to make fairings out of the stuff, just some little bits to trick it up.

Thanks for the help.

just a thought..
on the subject tho, Postie had an RGV250 and some guy was selling the whole carbon fibre farings for the bike. Postie got it for a bargain too, and the bike looked sexy as. The tank was the only non-CF bit (and screen of course!). If you have the mula, or find a bargain, then go for it! It's just expensive stuff.. nice tho, and makes a difference.

If you find anyone who'd make up the CF goodies, I have a few ideas for my bike.. keep us posted I guess, and good luck!

[SimJen]

The Fibreglass shop in Hamilton sells it. Pretty pricey but not too bad.
You can use standard fibreglass resin to make non structural components such as mudguards, tank protectors etc.
I've made guards and bits for minimoto's etc in the past. Need to know what you are doing though as it sucks to mess it up.
An Autoclave (type of pressure cooker for carbon curing) is only really used in structural applications on F1 cars etc. They use preimpregnated carbon fibre which already has the resin in a semi sticky format.
Once ready for the autoclave the items are vacuum bagged and cooked under pressure for an hour or two.
Its fun but smelly

[ferretface]

I had the same issue of wanting to hide the scratches on my yoke so bought a carbon sheet (approx A4 size) off a guy on ebay from the UK - cost approx $30 and looks great.
I even had a load left to do any other bits that might need it. Much better than paying 15 bucks for a fake carbon precut thing.

[Disco Dan]

For about $30 you can get a carbon fiber repair kit from Repco.

Has a big sheet of the stuff and the resin and hardener for it...

cut it to shape, soak it and position it... sets in about 30-40 minutes

[SimJen]

If you want to make good flat sheets, apply it to a sheet of glass and put another sheet of glass on top. Seperate once dry and you should have a nice finish to each side