carbon fibre supplier (chch) ?

**Combattant de Rue** · 18th February 2005, 22:11

At the moment, im working on a custom tail for my kawa.... I wanted to use High Density Foam for a core material, but i cant seem to find a supplier in chch. At the moment I have some huge blocks of High Density polystyrene that im sculpting into a mould. Im going to have to cover it in glad wrap or something before applying the resin though (as it reacts). Maybe i'll try the plaster of paris ??

If you want to try the ploystyrene, you can get it from polycut here in chch (near to Couplands on the way to Hornby). Please keep me informed on how it goes.

**TwoSeven** · 19th February 2005, 08:35

Originally Posted by gav

You've been watching the John Britten video again , haven't you?

lol. I must be the only one that thinks the britten is a pile of shite. Even when I first saw them driving it around ruapuna testing the thing.

Foam blocks, now thats an idea, how much to they cost and what tool do you use to cut them, or can you just use a small saw and sand paper ?

**Combattant de Rue** · 19th February 2005, 13:22

I wasnt able to find a foam supplier in New Zealand.... if you find one, please let me know.

**Kickaha** · 19th February 2005, 15:56

If you use polystyrene a hotwire cutter is a good tool for shaping the bigger bits

**Coyote** · 19th February 2005, 17:09

TwoSeven, are you taking photos of your progress so far? Also how hard and costly has it been? Interested in doing the same myself now

**TwoSeven** · 19th February 2005, 22:16

no photos yet, but will take some when I stop buggering things up.

Total costs so far.

$15 chicken mesh
$6 wire
$7 wall paper paste
$1 news paper
$6 plaster
$8 beer.

Mistakes made so far is discovery process.

Didnt buy strong enough mesh - so had to stitch it with wire to make stronger and break design into small panels.

Beer ran out.

Need to use small bits of paper in paper mache. Hence I like the idea of using solid foam blocks. Much easier to do as you just cut down to shape. Rather than having to piss about building up to shape.

**Coyote** · 20th February 2005, 10:01

What do you buy carbon fibre as? Does it come in sheets or do you have to weave it yourself?

**TwoSeven** · 20th February 2005, 12:01

Carbon fibre and fibre glass are pretty much the same stuff.. One has glass fibres the other has carbon fibres. You can also get alloy fibre and iron fibre and kevlar fibre (although probably not in NZ).

Otherwise known as glass re-enforced plastic and carbon re-enforced plastic. The latter is lighter than the former but more expensive (hence I am trying with the former first). The strength comes from the size of the fibres - so each can be made as strong as the other (although I would just buy whatever is cheap and nasty).

It comes in sheets and you need to buy the resin - not sure if the latter comes in two part or ready made - the fibreglass i've used before has always been two part.

Mitre 10 sell fibreglass sheets in kits (although I havent checked the price tag on it).

I also wouldnt bother with it until you have good moulds made or you will be chucking money in the bin.

On the subject of moulds - it was pointed out to me that surfboard shops may know how to get hold of the foam stuff - its what they use to make surfboards.

**カワサキキド** · 20th February 2005, 22:31

Originally Posted by TwoSeven

$8 beer.

How many beers do you get for $8?

**TwoSeven** · 21st February 2005, 12:59

Half dozen 330ml CDs the other day. Although Rheineck or whatever is $5.60 odd but too crap to drink.

**Kickaha** · 21st February 2005, 18:07

Originally Posted by alarumba

What do you buy carbon fibre as? Does it come in sheets or do you have to weave it yourself?

You can buy it in sheets,I've seen some guys buy it like that and make a RC car chassis out of it

**Coyote** · 22nd February 2005, 15:39

Originally Posted by Kickaha

You can buy it in sheets,I've seen some guys buy it like that and make a RC car chassis out of it

Well if it's in sheets, what about the curves of the mould, won't there be those bumps where it sort of folds into itself, or something :unsure:
Also, can you mould 2 sheets together so it looks like a single sheet?
Am I making sense?

**Kickaha** · 22nd February 2005, 19:44

Originally Posted by alarumba

Well if it's in sheets, what about the curves of the mould, won't there be those bumps where it sort of folds into itself, or something :unsure:
Also, can you mould 2 sheets together so it looks like a single sheet?
Am I making sense?

When I said in sheets I mean preformed flat sheets about 5mm thick so no you cannot bend them