carbon fibre supplier (chch) ?

**TwoSeven** · 11th February 2005, 16:29

Hey folks,

I'm in the process of designing the new fairing for my bike. Part of this is planning materials and costs.

Does anyone know if who sells carbon fibre supplies in chch. Not interested in the kits, need sheets of the stuff.

**Jinx3d** · 11th February 2005, 16:40

Dunno about chch, but High modulus in Auck courier to your door. I have used them b4 and they were fine for me. You might want to give them a ring, I think that some resins work better than others with epoxy and kevlar, tricky stuff to wet out, if you want a true strong carbon structure you may need to go to vacuum bagging.

Check out there website, http://www.highmodulus.co.nz/default.asp

**カワサキキド** · 11th February 2005, 19:13

The boat building supplies store, where my brother bought his fibreglass from, said they can get the stuff in. I'll find out the name when he gets home.

I'm going to make up some fibreglass fairings for mine, before I have a go with the carbon fibre. I'll be able to use the fibreglass ones as moulds.

Tell me when you've done some, I'ld be interested in seeing how well they turn out.

**Kickaha** · 11th February 2005, 19:29

Nuplex
14 Iverson Terrace

We used to buy all the stuff from them for doing our Kart Fairings

www.nuplexcomposites.co.nz

**TwoSeven** · 11th February 2005, 20:50

cheers for that, i'll check em out at some stage.

**cowpoos** · 13th February 2005, 09:38

Jolity design and manufacturing
custom carbon-kevlar race car parts,etc
14e tanya st ph 025331634 or a/h 3842714

**Combattant de Rue** · 17th February 2005, 22:50

Are you going to design a completely new fairing or just use your old fairing as a mould?

**TwoSeven** · 18th February 2005, 08:45

Design ?

Nope - I'm just choosing my own shapes (from memory) and some pictures I have of different shapes.

I'm also using the cheap hack student budget method of doing the moulds - currently working on the seat unit first as its the easy one, then will do the rear mud/chain guard.

Going to be doing glass fibre as well, partly because I know how to do that and also its the cheapest way of getting a faring and easy to patch if I break it somehow.

**Combattant de Rue** · 18th February 2005, 13:50

What are you going to make the initial mould out of? You need to lay the fibre on/in something that holds the shape. Do you have any progress photos of the seat?

I noticed you are from chch -Are you at canty uni?

**Dodgyiti** · 18th February 2005, 14:03

Good info folks,
I might buy some and have a go at making a few simple little things like a battery box to start with as its not seen.
I can work with fibreglass, even though I am really allergic to it- is carbon fibre any more complex.
I have searched the library and found nothing on the subject.
Perhaps someone knows if there is any how too's on the web???

**Combattant de Rue** · 18th February 2005, 15:10

Originally Posted by Dodgyiti

Good info folks,
I can work with fibreglass, even though I am really allergic to it- is carbon fibre any more complex.
I have searched the library and found nothing on the subject.
Perhaps someone knows if there is any how too's on the web???

Originally Posted by Jinx3d

Dunno about chch, but High modulus in Auck courier to your door. I have used them b4 and they were fine for me. You might want to give them a ring, I think that some resins work better than others with epoxy and kevlar, tricky stuff to wet out, if you want a true strong carbon structure you may need to go to vacuum bagging.

Check out there website, http://www.highmodulus.co.nz/default.asp

Dodgyiti,

Are you sure you are allergic to the Fibreglass? Could it be the type of resin that you were using?

**Coyote** · 18th February 2005, 15:17

Originally Posted by TwoSeven

Design ?

Nope - I'm just choosing my own shapes (from memory) and some pictures I have of different shapes.

I'm also using the cheap hack student budget method of doing the moulds - currently working on the seat unit first as its the easy one, then will do the rear mud/chain guard.

Going to be doing glass fibre as well, partly because I know how to do that and also its the cheapest way of getting a faring and easy to patch if I break it somehow.

Let us know how you do it and how it turns out. I'ld be interested in doing it myself

Maybe some stealth fighter like fairings to deflect cop radar beams

**Dodgyiti** · 18th February 2005, 16:01

I get a bad reaction to the strands, and Pink Bats and fibreglass that has lost the top resin coat
Red welts on the skin that touched it that ich like crazy and take a week or so to go away, like bee stings sorta

**TwoSeven** · 18th February 2005, 18:36

I will be making my own moulds - currently I am still experiementing with materials. Here is the progress so far.

Chicken mesh - is really good to get a shape with. But you need to buy the really tough stuff or it wont hold the weight of anything you put on it.

I've also found that you need to break everything down into small panels or it collapses under the weight. So my seat unit is two side panels, one seat bit, and the dove tail behind.

Exagerate the shape as when you paper mache over the top it will lose some form. Wait for it to dry then put on some more layers. Use very small chunks of paper and wall paper paste. Once this drys you can no longer bend the chicken wire.

Plaster of paris is a pain - it sets too fast. I shall try with some washing up liquid to stop it setting. You also need a flat putty knife to apply it with. Its also $6 for a kg bag that does a thin layer over a whole seat unit. This is what you will detail to add the final shape to.

Ducts are a pain in the preverbial to build into the design.

And dont anyone suggest I do it proper and use a clay mould. There is a reason fairings cost $1k each. I'm a cheap assed poly student who can only afford $10/wk on this project