i interested in trying to make some stuff in carbon fiber parts. so i guess i need some carbon fiber...expoxy/resin..tools. also it has to be able to handle heat. not like under fire heat but lets say next to some metal that is friggin hot. so does anybody have a link or sugestion on where to buy this or read more about the process.



thanks,



john

 

i think it is www.UScomposites.com

 

start with fiberglass. its basically the same and a hell of a lot cheaper when you screw up.



that said, to start off youll need the following



fabric

general purpose epoxy (for cf you want clear but it costs more. aim for 30 min setup time too so you have plenty of time to work)

gel coat and catalyst

graduated mixing containers

mixing sticks

gloves

squeegees

respirator for working with gelcoat (epoxy doesnt really smell but gelcoat is catalyzed with MEK)

mold release (wax and or pva)

lots of sandpaper

clay and foam for molding plugs



thats not including a bagging setup.



hope i didnt forget anything.

 

damn rockshox you are full of lots of info. i am assuming this is for a fiberglass setup but that it is relativly the same thing for carbonfiber. lol i am expecting to mess up a couple times so i want to try it with tecarbonfiber first. that way if by chance i happen to get it right i can just use that. i didnt understand "PVA" whats that stuff? and the baggin setup. could some one please explain those.



75 repu i will check that link tonight when i get home. thanks man

 

you are welcome.. you might also wanna ask Rob x-7 for some onfo. he works on boats and is extremely knowledgeable on fiberglass and perhaps even CF..

 

the process would be very lenghty for me to type here, different process for different parts and what not. Do some searches here and there and see what you come up with, I tend to overbuild things because Im used to glassing things for added strength and what not, not cosmetic automotive pieces. Mold making, while not being a hard thing to do, must be done following proper procedures so that the parts come out right and the mold can be used again.



I would add that if you are making CF that you need to spend the extra money to get clear epoxy resin with a UV shield in it so it doesnt yellow. And also add that you can put epoxy on top of polyester resins, but you cannot put polyesters on top of epoxies.



Hopefully you also heed all safety precautions, protecting skin,eyes, and of course a well ventilated work space that isnt attatched to your house and no naked flames in the work space such as a space/kerosene heater.

 

for glass and for practicing you can use a cheaper epoxy. for cf you want stuff that is clear (most is amber). that is about the only difference between doing glass and doing cf.

if you expect to mess up a couple times start with glass. cf is about $30 a linear yard and glass is $3-$8.



pva - polyvinyl alcohol - a water soluble mold release.



bagging setup - equipment for making parts using the vacuum bagging method where you put the laid up part into a bag and suck all the air out to apply pressure during curing.

 

mkoch does a hell of a good job.



check out www.carbonfiberparts.net

 

thanks for the links thus far guys. what i think i will do is just buy some cheapy CF and play with that and then get the better stuff later on.

 

Aircraft Spruce



Carbcom



US Composites As previously mentioned.