Hi,
I don’t want to use infusion mesh because it seems like it wastes epoxy and it’s also pretty expensive. Can I just not use anything and let the epoxy run through just the carbon fibers?
Depends on resin viscosity, fiber compaction and permeability, and whether or not a (permeable) core is present. And of course on how far the resin needs to travel.
Open question, open answer…
I can see some fun having a few beers with Herman. I hope that occurs some day.
Herman is right on with the open ended question. That is why we are always making test cards with the materials we want to choose.
I believe it may have been Einstein who stated, " If we knew what we were doing ,we wouldn’t call it research and development"!
As always, make a small test run. Make notes of your set up for resin feed and vacuum draw. But note, the smaller test card may not give you the same result as a larger test card, so move up to the bigger test as you find success and then eventually to your final size.
You should have a pretty good handle on things by then.
Can he get away with that plastic bird stopping mesh sold in rolls at any garden/home center?
I think the gage of that stuff might use up even more resin ? I think without testing, one is guessing outcomes.
Sounds like a VERY low viscosity resin could only do a no-mesh infusion and only on a small size.
I’ve just not tried it to see.
Never used it. No problems with plastic birds in my garden, although my neighbour seems to have a problem.
No beer for me, guys. Even small amounts of alcohol has a bad effect on me. Imagine cars, a fence, and the owners of the cars involved watching… Half a glass of expensive champagne. Very expensive…
No is the simple answer unless you use Lantor soric in the stack and even then you will need to use a strip of mesh on the infusion and vacuum side. How do i know ? I tried it and wasted my time and materials in the process 
Chris
The products to aid infusion were developed for a reason . Experience will show why it’s needed and how it’s best used . I say try it with and without , then report your findings .
I do my carbon wings infusions with no mesh, I start in the middle and the resin travels about 8 inches in each direction
What is in the stack? I had 3 layers of 200g and peel ply with the pump pulling full vacuum. I had a small strip of infusion mesh on the vac and infusion side and the resin moved around 4" then stopped and i wont be trying it again
Chris
I just tried it. Resin did not go very far haha
I think he was able to do his wings without mesh because he had a foam core of some sort with channels for the epoxy to flow through
I think the cost of infusion mesh will be much cheaper in the end than a scrap carbon part because the resin didn’t reach the ends. I wouldn’t make any part without mesh…unless we’re talking about a 10cm x 10cm part.
Told you so 
Chris
Again I want to mention……it depends on the cps-(centipoise) or viscosity of your resin that you are using. Not all resins are capable of such unaided travel. Only a very water-like thin resin would succeed.
Do some critical thinking with your resin choice.
~How far did the resin travel?
~What was the mold temp?
~Ambient temp?
~Resin temp?
~ How far does it NEED to go ?