First Project- Say Hello

General Composites Discussions Composites Talk
#1

Hello guys,

Introduction:
This is my first time on this forum but after a couple of hours reading I am sure I will be spending alot of time with you guys here. This seems a great place to learn and share the ideas. I came across this forum while looking for tips to start building carbon fiber stuff as a hobby.
It turned out that is is quite difficult to find my answers without being able to dirrectlly ask the questions so I hope that this is the right place to start.
I hope you’ll understand that this is really “first time” so stupid questions may occur.

The ideea:
I plan to build some carbon fiber parts for my bike but I have never worked with CF and I need to start practicing before getting into the real work.

Questions:

  1. Where do I start? I plan first to use a piece of glass as a mold.
  2. Should I use something on the mold so that the pieces will not be glued together?
  3. How do I apply the resin? On the mold first, than I apply the CF tissue and then another layout of resin?
  4. Which is the procedure to separate the final piece from the mold?

I’ve read a couple of posts but I couldn’t really figure out this details.
Thanks in advance!

#2

Start with Ployester resin and Fiberglass material to keep the costs factors down.

Watch the Stages that the PER resin goes thru and the time after adding the correct % of cataylst.

Make many flat test panels with different weights of FG mats, cloths and core materials to see what the end strength are.

Use PE (polyethyene) sheeting first as the resin doesn’t crosslink to it. Then try using glass sheeting but you will need to start using mold release wax to prevent crosslinking and not being able to remove it from the glass…

Get a copy of Forbes Aird Fiberglass & Composites materials book…

#3

Thanks

So, from what I understand, the basic procedure with CF is the same like working fiber glass yes?

#4

Yes, except when you get into vacuum bagging as fiberglass cures too fast for you to vacuum bag. Except you can use PER with VIP or Vacuum Infusion process.

But much cheaper than CF and using epoxy resins…

#5

I do not intend to use the vacum procedure for the CF. I am not familiar with this procedure but I may try it in a later stage maybe.

Concernig the CF parts that I wish to make, personally I will go only for the look. Which is the best method to use in this case?
Thanks.

#6

The only caveat I would add to Mr Werksberg’s comment is that there is less room for error when working with carbon fiber. By this, I mean that you are typically working with clear gel coats or clear finishes as opposed to a tinted finish and any air bubbles or character flaws in the weave will be immediately apparent.