Carbon work

**Buddy L** · 25th May 2007, 14:38

Originally Posted by Pumba

Wasnt the exhust one of the few parts that didnt look to bad after the trackday:spudwhat:

Yer its true, but a carbon exuast will look pretty nice on the side of my bike.
Why becasue i might be able to, thats why.

**K6K** · 25th May 2007, 16:46

I've thought about making some carbon bits for a while. I have worked with fibreglass before (with varied success). A couple of questions about carbon fibre:

where do you by supplies from - carbon/resin etc? What is the ballpark cost? can you buy limited amounts easily?
What methods do you use to set the part in the mold? I have seen parts made on TV before and they usually seal it up in plastic and suck all the air out to drive all the air out of the part and force the resin into all the spaces. Then they 'bake it' in a type of oven, overnight I think. Is this necessary for non load bearing parts, like a hugger?

Thanks

**Thenaughtebucket** · 25th May 2007, 17:55

The most expensive part is obviously the Carbon fibre, which sells for about $60- $100 a square metre, depending on what weave/weight ya want. i was lucky enought to acquire some 'offcuts' from a previous employer.

epoxy resin is about $140-150 for 5L. which is quite alot, ive had my 5L for over two years now, and its just starting to get empty after making numerous different pieces. and can be found at any marine shop, Burnsco Marine would be the best and cheapest place (bit of a plug for an old employer) and you comes in .1, .4, 1, 5, 20L containers. they also sell some basic mold release for about $12 for 200ml, which works a treat.

If your making molds id jsut use polyester resin, as its about 30% cheaper.

**Thenaughtebucket** · 25th May 2007, 17:56

The most expensive part is obviously the Carbon fibre, which sells for about $60- $100 a square metre, depending on what weave/weight ya want. i was lucky enought to acquire some 'offcuts' from a previous employer.

epoxy resin is about $140-150 for 5L. which is quite alot, ive had my 5L for over two years now, and its just starting to get empty after making numerous different pieces. and can be found at any marine shop, Burnsco Marine would be the best and cheapest place (bit of a plug for an old employer) and you comes in .1, .4, 1, 5, 20L containers. they also sell some basic mold release for about $12 for 200ml, which works a treat.

If your making molds id jsut use polyester resin, as its about 30% cheaper.

Oh and to buy small quantities of Carbon, the only place i can think of is a company in Albany, called "High Modulus"

**Thenaughtebucket** · 25th May 2007, 18:10

bugger sent it twice!

As for manufacturing processes, The one you will have seen a video for uses Preimpregnated carbon fibre, which already has the resin 'preimpregnated" into it, and when in the oven it basically goes off. its held under a vacuum, and often in a pressurised vessel when this happens. It's the top of the line technique, uber expensive.

Ive just layed the carbon and resn in the molds i made, and let it cure at room temeprature. this is pretty much the most budget way to do it, but it works alright for the parts ive made.

Trying to source a vacuum pump at the moment, so that i can bag the parts while they cure, sucking out all the air, and forcing the carbon into the corners much better.

**imdying** · 25th May 2007, 18:50

http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...&search=Search

Watch tygaboys diy vidoes, most of what you need to know is there. As far as his credentials go, check out this sweet MV/SV650 hybrid tank he made: http://forum.svrider.com/index.php?topic=84202.0

**EZAS** · 14th June 2007, 19:51

Originally Posted by imdying

http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...&search=Search

Watch tygaboys diy vidoes, most of what you need to know is there. As far as his credentials go, check out this sweet MV/SV650 hybrid tank he made: http://forum.svrider.com/index.php?topic=84202.0

Wow .. that's a great find on youtube

Awesome progress on the bike there bucket!!! Keep us posted with any more upgrades/replacements no matter how small

**Thenaughtebucket** · 15th June 2007, 12:50

The latest piece in the puzzle, screen/blade.

I just need someone to shoot a coat of clear on these parts, as i'm rather shit at painting, think they would look a million times better.

**EZAS** · 15th June 2007, 17:52

Did you make the double bubble yourself? or did you already have that mold?

**Thenaughtebucket** · 15th June 2007, 18:30

i took a mold off a double bubble screen,

**Buddy L** · 16th June 2007, 07:52

nice work their. carbon has been done on half of the main parts of my bike.
and looks realy trippy. After the first coat of clear, it adds a real depth to the carbon. hopefully be getting some photos in the next couple of weeks with it all back together.
Keep up the good work.

**Colapop** · 16th June 2007, 08:53

How would you go about making moulds if you wanted to make larger parts like farings?

**Thenaughtebucket** · 16th June 2007, 11:26

The process is exactly the same for larger parts, just take a mold straight off the fairing.

Or you can cut corners and lay the carbon straight over the fairing.

**Pumba** · 17th June 2007, 19:39

Originally Posted by Buddy L

nice work their. carbon has been done on half of the main parts of my bike.
and looks realy trippy. After the first coat of clear, it adds a real depth to the carbon. hopefully be getting some photos in the next couple of weeks with it all back together.

I look foward to seeing some of these pictures