Fabric Layup help

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#1

So i started to do an overlay project for the interior of my car. I have a post of my initial piece in the showcase section. Since I am new I was hoping to get some tips for a particular part that i need to wrap.

Little info: I am using simlar 249a resin with red/black carbon kevlar. i am using a hand layup process no bagging.

Its not the easiest material to cut so here is a picture of the part that I want to wrap as you can see the top three ari vents are recessed on the bottom of the vent about 1/4". I want to lay the fabric in there to make it look complete instead of an overlay.

So if there are any tricks that would help.

Here are my thoughts
1: Try and cut small holes before I lay the fabric- trying very hard not to have pulls in fabric. I have serrated shears that cut well but they are big.

2: lay fabric down on first resin layer let dry and then try and cut a hole carefully put down some resin in the airvent hole and then lay down fabric-basically two step inital step

3: dont lay it back there and do everything normal and just make sure the section is black to avoid any major eye sore.

Let me know if there is somthing i am missing. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Here is the part:

#2

I think I would opt for the 2-step system: first do it straight, after cure or at least tackiness, carefully cut an X in the holes, and work the fabric down.

Are you sure the stuff we are looking at is real carbon? It could be a film adhesive.

#3

The stuff that is on there now is the 3M di-noc: self adhesive material, i am redoing it with red/black kevlar see here is one of my door handles:

#4

It seems like a lot of post on this forum just die with no showing of the results.

To the op did you ever finish the dash? BTW your center console looks fantastic in the other thread. http://www.compositescentral.com/showthread.php?t=7405&highlight=overlay

#5

Are you really going to use polyester 249 with carbon and kevlar?

#6

Is better polyester resin than epoxy resin to lay up?

#7

My advice:
Lay the carbon over the holes, do a first layer and go inside the circle you want to cut with the resin. Cut a cross and easily push the fabric inside the vent. Use a very sharp knife otherwise you will struggle too much.
work on it as per normal (more layers, etc).

#8

epoxy is way better for laying up carbon, carbon/kevlar. Saturates better, longer working time, and no odor.

www.fiberglasshawaii.com

#9

I never finished the Center console. I tracked down a second console but have been waiting for the weather to warm up so I can continue to work in the garage comfortably.

I chose the simlar 249 for the UV protection was that a bad choice? I am clearing over with 2k clear as well. Since this was my first project I thought through my readings of other posts polyester was better than epoxy for the UV protection and also binds better with ABS plastic.

Curretly I am fabraicating door switch panels to put 06 mazdaspeed 6 doors in my 05 mazda 6. So I am creating new plastic switch holders and will possibly overlay those peieces as well. As I finish pieces this summer I will definetly be posting up results.