Infusion

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#1

So i did another infusion using my own epoxy that i use for layup. Usually when the room is hot, the epoxy i use… its visc. level is very low. almost like water. but, since its been cold these few weeks… its getting harder. So, why call another computer to try their “infusion” epoxy, which sucks. well, i did the following.

Poured 1 cup of the harder, 1 cup of the epoxy resin. layed them right in front of a heater, not to close to cause an effect when they cool down. then added a mild heat gun while mixing, wow water! the air bubbles were also gone since the visc. level was lower then expected.

Then infused, … question thou, im using 3m. this stuff SUCKS A$$. super 77? i think it has silcone or something in it where the epoxy is not eating it and its causing the fabrics to not stick to each other. (this was with the last 2 tests with the crap epoxy) lets see what it does this time.

i had the vac. sytem turn on only once when i unclamped the resin hose. it held at 24-25" of hg. no air bubbles, nice pleats in the bagging, and i think i might of gotten it this time around. i had to clean the mold from the last time, since that crap epoxy messed it up and left a lot of resin caked on.

reports to come. + pics.

#2

Always mold release your molds after each time even the first several times with semi pernament mold releases too!

You can also find and use a old working microwave (never to be used for food again!:rolleyes:)to heat it up too…but just the resin. The hardner will also thin the resin out too.

#3

microwave… hmm… popcorn, chicken, fish? what settings =) haha

#4

oh another thing i noticed. i used a heat gun on the mold part itself. when i saw the resin slowing down, i added some heat and BOOM in spread like fire! =) be careful thou, dont keep the heat gun to close, or on a spot to long. i know for sure that bagging material would wither away. i think it can withstand 280 degree f. but i didnt push it.

#5

So 1st thing:

Can people figure out what types of fiber i used? =)

2nd: it came out nice, no pinholes, no cracking like the BS epoxy i used once.
3rd: there was 1 corner where it looked like trapped air! i saw a post on it and will do a search to find out more.

the clear coat didnt come out so good since its a rattle can UV resis. clear coat Acrylic. (this is only for testing) and the air was not clean. So a lot of dust dropped on it. =.

has anyone ever made a custom paint booth?

#6

A trick that a student found while watching my AC DVD guru was to use a syringe to remove trapped air pocket thru the sticky tape and then remove it to seal the tape back down.

#7

huh!? lol.
it was air in the resin i believe. it was on the first layer.