DIY carbon fibre

[skelstar]

Without being able to ride my bike and no commitments, I've got a fair bit of time on my hands now and am considering giving Carbon Fibre fabricating a bit of a nudge. I remember watching a YouTube video on how to do it (maybe before my accident not sure) and it does look a little involved but I was wondering what you guys thought.

• Had a go and found it too difficult?
• Materials just too expensive/hard to obtain?
• Have a garage to do this in, but not a huge amount of space... problem?
• Watch more YouTube vids to learn how, or maybe a book?

Thought I would start with something simple like some heal-guards, ultimately nothing more serious than a hugger, or front-guard I think.

Thoughts?

[Qkchk:Me]

Id be interested in finding this out myself. I used to deliver carbon fibre / fibreglass / resins by the truckload to boatbuilders and always wondered how difficult it would be to DIY.

Nuplex in Patiki Road (AKL) used to have a treasure trove of CF......

[imdying]

Definitely give it a go, it's fun. Probably burn no more than a grand getting started, by the time you have the tools and have made half a dozen moulds and parts.

[skelstar]

Hmmm, a grand. I'm am cheap but was hoping to spend little less before I found out the intricacies I suppose.

[Skunk]

Talk to nudemetalz, he does carbon fibre stuff.

[imdying]

Well, carbon is around $80-120 a square metre, but fibreglass is nice n cheap. Do everything you were going to do, but in fibreglass. Once you've mastered that, then move to carbon... less expensive waste

You want to be vacuum bagging your stuff, so you want to get a vacuum pump as cheaply as possible. They're around $400 new, so look for a second hand one.

Rollers... brushes... resins... cleaning stuff... the list of stuff you need is endless.

[imdying]

Oh, and get used to seeing the word poison everywhere

And do not fuck with the MEK, it's not very nice to humans.

And do not sand your carbon bits without wearing a respirator... it's called the black death for a pretty good reason.

Other than that, have fun!

[skelstar]

Sounds like bags of fun ...yeah like the look of CF, not trying to save weight. I'm shallow like that.

[Freakshow]

As they suggest playing with glas first is a cheap and easier way to start.
There are also some nasty shortcuts like we are using a few frdge compressors in reverse to make the vacum pump.

[imdying]

Well in that case, you can do the outside layer in carbon, and the internal layers in fibreglass... that'll save many dollars

You can get woven fibreglass, which effectively is like carbon to work with (as opposed to the chopped strand mat).

[imdying]

There are also some nasty shortcuts like we are using a few frdge compressors in reverse to make the vacum pump.

Yep, that'll work... a nasty big rotary would probably be good, although a little noisy :s

[skelstar]

Awesome write-up in that link you sent imdying. Shit... looks scary, and to be honest not having a license to drive and source this shit is going to be more difficult than buying groceries. Might have a think about it for a bit, was going to wait until the weather heats up a bit anyway

[imdying]

Yeah, I've been hibernating over winter, it's a very time consuming process, sitting in a garage sanding stuff isn't the most fun you'll ever have.

[imdying]

Here's a little more light reading that will help: http://www.harveyscomposites.co.za/I...ing_table.aspx

[dilz]

Ever considered asking a local boat yard if it would be possible to watch/participate in a cf lay up every other satday?I know my boss would be sweet if someone asked as long as we didnt have any confidential work going on.
they may even flick you some scraps that you could use on small pieces,or cost materials if your lucky..

just a thought