CF door cards

[hawk77]

Hi all,

I would like to build my car door cards out of CF. What is the best way to do it?

1. I have seen it done by : covering the part in a thick layer of mold release wax and then two coats of PVA. than they laid down the carbon and wet-applied the resin. After that the back has been reinforced
2. Creating a plug type mold - using an old t shirt or just laying fiberglass over the part and create a mold.

I am not really sure where to start and how to do it so maybe some step by step instructions would be greatly appreciated. I think a plug type mold would probably work better but I am open to options/recommendations.

Thanks in advance!

[hojo]

you would want to splash a fiberglass mould off the original. Depending on your process you might want to add flanges around the perimeter. The mould should at least be made from 6mm fiberglass and VE resin with some kind of backing strcuture. Once again this depends on your final process. Without knowing exact details it hard form me to add more to this discussion. Def can say, DO NOT USE AN OLD T-SHIRT THOUGH!

[hawk77]

you would want to splash a fiberglass mould off the original. Depending on your process you might want to add flanges around the perimeter. The mould should at least be made from 6mm fiberglass and VE resin with some kind of backing strcuture. Once again this depends on your final process. Without knowing exact details it hard form me to add more to this discussion. Def can say, DO NOT USE AN OLD T-SHIRT THOUGH!

LOL at the old t shirt comment. I know mate, I was never intending to use the old t shirt…to redneck backyard type of work.

What sort of details do you need? I am more tempted to build a mould with (as you said, a backing structure) and lay the CF over a tacky epoxy and wet it. I could have one layer of fiber glass and another of CF just to give it a bit more strength. Or, build the mould with flanges and do a plug mould. Once cured I could easily build up the thickness with fiber glass and/or carbon fiber in different direction. So you reckon the VE would be the best to use with fiber glass, right?

I am not sure, in terms of the mould building process, how should I proceed? Any advice?

[hojo]

depends if you plan to only make one or hundreds. If you will use vacuum or no vacuum. Post cure, or room temp cure

[hawk77]

depends if you plan to only make one or hundreds. If you will use vacuum or no vacuum. Post cure, or room temp cure

I am planning to make quite a few of them, no vacuum, maybe post cure or just room tempt cure.