Table Top Carbon/Kevlar Panels: Question?

General Composites Discussions Composites Talk
#1

I have always been very intrigued about composites and plan to take a summer course at the local community college of Composites 101 if all goes well with my first project. I want to do something basic, something most of you will think of as boring, but it will be fun for me to de-virginize my composite making skill. :stuck_out_tongue:

I want to make a flat panel of carbon/kevlar, or possible multiple 1x1 panels (whichever suits my needs for the project I am working on for myself or friends). I have been a newsletter subscriber to Fiberglast for years now and was wondering if there was any more affordable solutions to the 1 to 1 Table Top resin, nylon peel ply, and carbon/kevlar weaves in 1 yard increments.

I will be using the glass on bottom and on top method, but my main question is what resin/epoxy should I be using?

(I saw the process a while ago and the fabricator was using a 1 to 1 mixture of resin, and it had a decent set time so you had a while to play with it and get everything perfect since this method is all done by hand)

Thank you in advance!!!

#2

there are a ton of suppliers listed in a sticky, check em out.

#3

I’ve always wanted to do a table top as well. there are choices.
Obviously, there are 1002 types of resin and 4219 more types of epoxies. While you do not have to worry about strength, depending on compatability, you can use a standard VER/PER resin for sorting out the cloth, and then a nice clear casting resin to level everything out, and give it that depth that some clear casted table/bar tops have. You will not really have to worry about peel ply most likely, and you don’t have to vac. bag it.
IF it were me, I would lay a layer of resin down, lay down the fabric layer, and then brush another resin layer on top. This would make sure that if you get any bubbles, it will not get trapped in the thick table top layer. After it B-stages, or cures, depending on what resin it is, you might have to do some sanding to get rid of the sealing wax, or at least make sure there is a good bond for the casting resin.

then, layers of table top resin as per the label.

ok, that was a long reply.

#4

I am looking to make things like this:

Its possible I used the term tabletop too freely. I just want to make flat plates to hold guages, or make block off plates for radios etc. I know what to use for materials as far as the carbonfiber/kevlar/fiberglass/peelply and filler material to make the plate thicker, but need a resin that is water clear when cured and would be used in making such products such as this. Can someone give me a link to the resin they suggest, thank you for the resources, but going through 20 e-tailer websites did not answer my question as to which one I should be using.

So what resin do you suggest using as the medium to bring all these fabrics together into one to make plates.

#5

take a big piece of glass (depending on what u wanna build) clean it up. mark the area you want with some wide tape and wax it with release wax, and polish it. since glass has no pores, 1-2 times is enough. use epoxy resin , for room temp curing, preferably a thick one. brush it on the area to make a nice layer. lay the cloth on, and brush another layer of resin on top. add more layers if you like. use a teflon roller to take away excess resin, and check on the underside of the glass for any bubbles. 2-3 days later, lift the edge of the fabric with a razor, and it should unstick without hassle. clean up any remains of resin with a spatula and you re ready for another go. you wont need to clear coat the “good” side of the carbon, it should have a mirror like finish (taken from the glass)

#6

You guys have great information, but now that I have gathered all of the intel that I need to build this, I need a link of which resin you guys would suggest for me to use. Link me to an online retailers site or ebay auction so I can buy a quart or so and start working :smiley:

So anyone have a link for a decent epoxy resin?

#7

oh. A panel.

#8

Yes, sorry for the mixup, but all I will be creating is panels for my first projects.

I just need a suggestion as to which resin I should buy so I can order everything this week that is all. :stuck_out_tongue: I will move into more advanced projects if all goes well with my first setup.

#9

any epoxy resin will do, as long as its room-temp curing…