I am using a cutting wheel on a dremel to trim parts after pulling from a mold. I then sand the edges.
What are the preferred tools for trimming? Is a dremel and sand paper best?
What are people using to seal the edges of the part?
Diamond wheel 3" with a 1/4" die grinder, also use a mini composite die grinder (1/8") with various diamond wheels & bits.
We trim the parts and just wet sand the edge smooth. Clear coat kinda seals it in, if it reaches the edge surround.
If the part shape is conducive, I trim the part with a wet table saw used for cutting tile. This keep the carbon dust out of the air. Otherwise I use diamond wheels on a dremel or angle grinder.
I prefer the Fein Multimaster. It works well on thin and thick laminates and makes less dust than a Dremel. For very things or very thin laminates I use a micro grinder with a diamant tool.
For small parts Fein Multimaster and small air cengar saw Dremal all work well. Diamond wheel on a 4inch angle grinder or air cutter for thicker parts.
For a nice quick finish to exposed cut edges you can use Cyanoacrylate (super glue) I was surprised how good a finish it gave. Just put a few drops on a piece of cardboard and rub it over the edge. If you are looking for a real depth of shine I have been putting 20 coats on some small tube parts it takes only minutes if you spray inbetween coats with an accelerator. They use it alot for pen making I use a pillar drill to spin my small tubes as I dont have a lathe. This video clip is for wood but it works well on carbon to.
[ame=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lO_Q-n2-LcY&feature=related”]CA Wood Finishing System in 5 minutes.m4v - YouTube[/ame]
The fein multimaster indeed!
For thick laminates (5-**mm) A anglegrinder with diamond cutter. a jigsaw with ceramic saw is great to, for the tight corners.
Dremel all the way here. The amount of dremel crap we go through is insane. They should pay us for advertising lol!
very interesting article … I hope this will continue
Hey there, thank you for this information resume writing!
After the recommendations within this thread, I bought a Fein Multimaster too.
What’s the preferred Fein cutting adapter for CF ?
I just picked up a recip saw attachment for the Ridgid JobMax cordless multi-tool. It really has a lot of power for the small size and weight.
New JobMax Recip’ attachment
I also use an electric body saw and Fein Multimaster. It’s nice to have different options depending on the material and speed/precision you want to cut.
Anyone use a band saw? What type of blade? TPI?
Yes. I use a diamond blade. They are expensive but way worth it.
Yup, bandsaws are great, provided you use decent extraction.
The blade should be changed for a diamond coated one, and they come in segmented or continuos types.
To keep all your diamond blades in tip top condition, they can be cleaned using a piece of concrete block.
It keeps the diamond free from resin deposits which clog up the blade with time.
Amazing something actually needs scrubbed with a concrete block eh?
Thanks, I have an 80 inch and all sites I have found do not list lengths, would this be custom?
Anyone use a table saw? If so, which type of blade?
I just pulled out my circa 1990 scroll saw and dusted it off, found some metal blades for it so I’ll see what it can do.
Just to add,I have found that inexperienced/trainee workers trying to cut “green” or un-postcured wet Lam’s are the main culprit for the worst diamond blade clogging.
Cured Pre-pregs cut like a dream.
Another must have for small to medium sized trimming and prepping type grinding jobs ( i.e.for bonding & taping etc) is the Festool RAS 115.
This tool is a 115mm grinder, with built in extraction and a special brushed head. When using it with a good vacuum cleaner, and the speed turned down, you can happlily grind without having to get into a paper suit.
The reduction in mess and airbourne dust is astounding, and it may be more expensive than other grinders, but it pays for itself over and over.
I never go to any job without this bit of kit, and anyone who has used it, knows what a difference it makes.
I use a wet saw for cutting ceramic tile for many composite cuts that need to be straight
I’ve used many ways to trim carbon parts, airsaw, bandsaw, bosh cutter, feinmaster but I always end up using my dremmel with a diamond cutter, big disadvantage the fumes/dust produced but having a vacuum cleaner near solves the problem.
That tool is awesome.
[ame=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz5W0IuFFu8&feature=player_embedded”]Festool Sanders: RAS 115 4-1/2" Rotary Sander Demonstration - YouTube[/ame]
Festools are great, but very expensive. In my wood work experience, they do tend to make jobs easier and cleaner(with the associated vacuum). So far I’ve been able to use ones that are company owned. That may be changing soon.