my rant

I want to express my frustration with some of the users of this forum. This is directed at all the people that come here and refuse to share techniques. It seems like you just want to post pictures. I think most of us are on here to learn or help others, not to steal your business idea. I hate it when someone will make a post and show pictures of their product then when someone ask for techniques and build pictures the op will just go silent or say they aren’t allowed. If all I wanted to see where pictures of carbon fiber products I’d use google. Just look through all the threads that die off with unanswered questions.
There are some users who are very good at helping and answering questions and to you guys I am thankful.
To the rest of you, put your defenses down and help those with less experience learn from you.

This forum will grow so much larger if everyone shares their knowledge.

Aparently you don’t do this for a living or live a competitive enviroment. There are three direct competitors of mine on this forum. I learned 85% on my own 1o% from those within the industry and 5% on the web {if that} and you want me to put out on the web my knowledge for free ? some of the members that do this stuff for a living put too much info out there far as im concerned. figure it out your self robot…

i agree with extreme, after all this forum is not about finding customers is about discussing techniques.
so all of the professionals that doesn’t share their knowledge why are they here for, to intimidate possible competitors, boost their egos ?

knowledge should be shared

There is a difference in telling someone what you do and them actually doing it and possibly getting the same results… I do this for a living now and OK I may not say what I do when I make up my own adhesives or if I have to do a technique which is specific to a part I am making and is not a general guide to what I do with the basics… I would gladly share suppliers details and offer advice on what basics I have learned and I would hope I could learn a few more simple techniques which would help with the simple problems I have and we all may have from time to time… How we lay up a structural part or specifics for a product we make can still be our intellectual property… But I do not see any problem helping with the basics… I have been doing pre-preg parts and the guy who helped me told me what to do but said he would not show me what to do as it is a feel thing as well as visual and watching him would not stop me making mistakes…

Since I do this mainly for a hobby, I don’t mind showing any of my processes…the biggest issue is that I don’t take pics the whole time so there are lots of gaps.

For example…here is a storage box I made for my vehicle:

Didn’t get any of making the backside, but I did take a few of the front:

Making the door:

Prep for molding:

Making the mold:

Door layout (vacuum bagged in mold):

Final product:

I did end up covering the interior of the door in carpet (just didn’t take a pic yet).

[b]There are a lot of steps in that process that I can’t show you…not because I don’t want to, but because I don’t have pics of it all. It ended up being a 3-part split mold and I don’t have any pics of how I join the shell and front.

I did figure out a nifty way to get my logo in my mold…had a guy reverse cut me a nametag with my logo on it, made a mold of that and now I make copies from the mold to attach to the plug with I’m making a mold:
[/b]

Would you prefer that the professionals cease to contribute here?
Creating thoughtful responses takes time and effort. Some questions require a books worth of information. Just because you have time to ask a question doesn’t mean that the rest have time and energy to answer it. Sometimes I’m just too tired to answer after a long day in the shop. Sometimes I don’t see questions or forget that they were asked. This thread does not inspire me to contribute. Instead it seems as if you are not thankful for those that contribute. You seem to be imposing that you have a right to others hard earned knowledge and can some how demand it from them.

I totally agree with you wyowindworks, you have and others,even myself from time to time have given help with some of the simple/basic fabrication. But to me a lot of the questions users have asked as already been addressed or pics have been uploaded to the forum already, all you have to do is a search.
I have spend thousands learning and trying different, supplies, tools, and equipment to get a great looking parts. Most questions dealing with composites can be found online or this forum from technique to suppliers.
I pic is worth a thousand words.

I have to agree with Wyowindworks, I’m tired when I get home and I’m not very good at giving detailed instructions. I do share what I’m able from time to time. Several have helped me extensively here. Wyo, Herman, Dominic, Juergan just to name a few. I get the general ideas then experiment on my own at my cost. I’m just grateful for this forum and those that do contribute.

BTW, there is a search function on this forum. Sometimes the same question get asked again and again and again.

I have exactly the opposite problem , I get frustrated by people asking questions without explaining what exactly they are actually trying to do
If you don’t bother to write up exactly what you are doing I will not bother to write up an answer
If I have to start the answer asking questions that should have been written to start with , Or make some sort of guesses about it I automatically disregard the poster

I understand and agree to an extent with both sides here. Maybe my frustration is more towards members who start a thread and then when questions are asked within the thread the OP never responds.

I decided not to react inthe first place, afraid of backfire. (whichturned into the right way again, kudos for you all)

My major task at work is spreading information and providing technical knowledge. For instance this tuesday I will supervise the fiber placement of a part that I do not even know the function of. The guys were not comfortable with the drawings they were supplied. I studied the drawings as well for supplying the materials, and as a service I will spend a few hours with them.

Over here I am more than willing to direct people in the right direction. But also remember the knowledge spreaders can only direct you into a certain direction. They cannot provide a fixed manual. there is a factor “skill” involved. To show that to people I actually show them the 2 videos by Wyo, making a model airplane. Very impressive skill.

I hope the sharers keep up doing their great work, I also learn a lot, and get inspired.

I also hope the askers DO post their problems clearly, and report back.

I don’t understand what your implying. Yes, I want more professionals to provide input. I clearly stated I am thankful to those who share their knowledge. I’m not saying I have a right to your “hard earned knowledge” but rather I wonder what your doing here if it isn’t to share? Isn’t that what an internet forum such as this is all about. People with the same interest sharing and learning from one another? Am I the only one who is on here to learn?
I’m a bit surprised by your defensive stance as in the past you’ve been helpful which is all l’m asking for.
I’ve learned a lot from this forum and I try to help others when I can.

I’ve briefly skimmed through these posts, specifically in an effort not to bias myself but I’ll put in my 2 cents here.

I run these forums at personal and time expense because I really believe spreading and sharing knowledge ultimately benefits everyone. After all it was the time people to post, answering my stupid and basic questions, which helped me succeed in my first project which laid the foundation for my career. Without you guys I don’t know where I would be right now, but I’m sure it wouldn’t be nearly as far.

There’s a fantastic book written on this subject exactly, Give and Take by Adam Grant. It’s a good read for this kind of discussion exactly.

In the meanwhile I personally apologize for any bad feeling on this forum or this thread. Unfortunately some people are takers without regard for other but I hope it doesn’t stop those who genuinely contribute for others.

On the technical side I’m really starting to dislike this old vBulletin software. Once I graduate with my masters (and stop paying tuition) I’ll be investing in a new forum platform, with an eye for ease of thread access.

I’ve been pressed for time but please please please please make suggestions to make this place better. I take all suggestions seriously.

Thanks for staying a part of this place.

“Figure it out for your self robot”

Seriously??? If everyone on here had your attitude then this forum would be pointless and should be shut down. Why are you on here? Is it just to promote yourself? Even you admitted in your above post that you learned 10% from others and 5% from the web, that is shared knowledge at work.

And for the record I do make a small living doing composite work.

Extreme, my point is that you shouldn’t expect people to share what they can’t or don’t want to share. I only post about my hobby stuff. The professional stuff is off limits to discussion and contractually proprietary.

Thankfulness for what you can get your hands on will get you a lot further than complaining about what is not shared. I personally cannot conceive how anyone can complain. There are no advertisements on this site. It exists because of the the goodness of others.

Thanks Canyon for all your efforts!!!

Your right.
I have learned lots from this forum and most the users here are helpful however there are some with a not so helpful attitude.
I think that cheekybrad reflected this is his post “figure it out for yourself robot” is a pretty clear message.

I have visited another composite forum where users specifically complained about the arrogance and lack of help on this forum… That is what made me decide to post about the issue.

In all honesty I do not feel that people are not helped on this forum. Unless their question is too cryptic.

Topic title: “HELP !!!”
Topic: “HOW DO I MAKE DASH PANELS. I NEED TO KNOW QUICKLY !!!”

Topics like the above are not likely to spark off a lot of fire.

I have never had a question ignored in this forum. At the very least someone has tried to assist.

Ironically, now you’ve pissed some people off and will more than likely get less of your questions answered.

This wasn’t about me not getting my questions answered it was an observation of what goes one here.

Sad that by speaking the truth or at least the truth as I observe it pisses people off. That wasn’t my intention.

I’m done with this thread unless anyone cares to continue on with it.