Has anyone had any experience wiht Bondline’s inflatable mandrels? I’ve been looking into getting one for some carbon fibre tubing we’re making.
I have some experience! I make composite tubes and I use tire tubes for make the mandrels. The only problem is that if the resin contact the rubber the mandrel explode. I use silicon spray for release.
We have a couple of Bondline’s RVBS in the classroom (1x was donated from them and my business bought the other) and I’m hoping to maybe get a mandrel bladder system maybe some time this year to use in the classroom.
Did you get their handbook and videos? www.bondlineproducts.com
Haven’t gotten the handbook yet…I’ll have to contact them about it.
I use latex bladders for making tubes from http://www.latextechnology.com/
I find the bladders stretch after a couple of times used (in the oven at 300F) and they sometimes split when removing them. I hadn’t thought of using silicone release on them. They’re very inexpensive.