anyone have experience working with carbon fiber or fiberglass?

Dave · 10-18-2009, 03:23 AM

im considering designing some parts and it seems to me that the most cost efficient method of producing them would be diy. anyway i was wondering if anyone on here had done any of that before and could offer up any pointers or good (cheap) sources of material? thanks in advance

OneSickPsycho · 10-18-2009, 09:10 AM

Fiberglass will be wayyyyyy cheaper and easier to use. Unless you're making structural parts CF is a waste anyway.

goof2 · 10-18-2009, 10:44 AM

A guy on another forum (boats) who really seems to know his shit recommends uscomposites.com as a supplier. I have never used them so I can't comment from personal experience. They have both fiberglass and carbon fiber cloth as well as the resin and tools you will need. Keep in mind carbon is around 5-10 times the cost of fiberglass. It is also a bitch to work with, especially if you want the weave to be visible on the finished part. To get uniform resin distribution and no bubbles the parts should really be vacuum bagged in the mold which can be a pain in the ass for a diy'er.

nhgunnut · 10-18-2009, 11:34 AM

I am no expert but when building Kit Cars in the past. I have used a two part foam that could be sprayed allowed to harden then shaped with a rasp and used as a plug to lay glass over. I think (though have no direct experience) that might be the way to go if if you are are trying to make small mold or plug. I am not sure how it would work for modifying an existing part

derf · 10-18-2009, 12:26 PM

What are you trying to build? A small 1 off piece where you can just make the part? Pr a complicated big thing where you need a buck, mold, and then the part? Does it need to be structural or just pretty?

I can pretty much help you with anything you need, although my firberglassing book smarts far outweigh my actual abilities, I can spout off useless info with the bast of them, and simple fiberglass work for me is no problem.

As for cheap materials, ebay, you can get a 50 x 1 yard roll of weave for $50. The resin that you can get from uscomposites or fiberglast are much higher quality and easier to work with, but more expensive thet what you can get at Home depot or walmart. If you need more advanced stuff, waxes and mold release agents then the only real place to get them is from a fibergalss specialty shop or from the internet, and whatever you do stay away from teh chopped strand mat, it is stronger and lighter, but its a bitch to work with and you will waste more and be more frustrated than if you just work with weave.

Dave · 10-18-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derf

What are you trying to build? A small 1 off piece where you can just make the part? Pr a complicated big thing where you need a buck, mold, and then the part? Does it need to be structural or just pretty?

I can pretty much help you with anything you need, although my firberglassing book smarts far outweigh my actual abilities, I can spout off useless info with the bast of them, and simple fiberglass work for me is no problem.

As for cheap materials, ebay, you can get a 50 x 1 yard roll of weave for $50. The resin that you can get from uscomposites or fiberglast are much higher quality and easier to work with, but more expensive thet what you can get at Home depot or walmart. If you need more advanced stuff, waxes and mold release agents then the only real place to get them is from a fibergalss specialty shop or from the internet, and whatever you do stay away from teh chopped strand mat, it is stronger and lighter, but its a bitch to work with and you will waste more and be more frustrated than if you just work with weave.

basically an f3 style airbox that seals to the bottom of my gastank. i think we can get up to a gallon or more of volume. could be interesting. gonna pull the tank today and see how feasable things are and throw together some sketches. probably rig up a pitot tube/airspeed indicator as well so i can best place the ram scoop. im open to fiberglass as long as we can seal it well enough that there is zero chance of material breaking off and entering the motor

derf · 10-18-2009, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhgunnut

I am no expert but when building Kit Cars in the past. I have used a two part foam that could be sprayed allowed to harden then shaped with a rasp and used as a plug to lay glass over. I think (though have no direct experience) that might be the way to go if if you are are trying to make small mold or plug. I am not sure how it would work for modifying an existing part

2 part expanding foam is some of the best stuff, for working with glass, you can do almost anything with it if you are creative in its application.

Krypt Keeper · 10-18-2009, 04:08 PM

Worked at a fiberglass shop for 3 yrs. If you need anything just ask.

Dave · 10-18-2009, 05:02 PM

well, got the tank up and the box off and #1 adding a kawi or f3 style scoop would be impossible with how tightly the engine is wedged in the frame. and i doubt it would be worth building a smoother airbox bottom for what little volume i could gain. we'll come back to this in the spring when i grab a new daily hack.

Hydrant · 10-18-2009, 09:55 PM

I know some guys on the TL boards have taken their lid off, and just put thick foam weather stripping on the underside of their tank, to line up with the edges of the airbox.

10-18-2009, 11:34 AM	#4
nhgunnut gun totin redneck Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South West New Hampshire Moto: turbo busa 999 Duc Goldwing & Victory Posts: 1,130	I am no expert but when building Kit Cars in the past. I have used a two part foam that could be sprayed allowed to harden then shaped with a rasp and used as a plug to lay glass over. I think (though have no direct experience) that might be the way to go if if you are are trying to make small mold or plug. I am not sure how it would work for modifying an existing part __________________ Evolution requires a body count, Count or be Counted!

10-18-2009, 12:26 PM	#5
derf token jewboy Join Date: Nov 2008 Moto: CBR 900, KLR ugly ass duckling, Gas Man Posts: 10,799	What are you trying to build? A small 1 off piece where you can just make the part? Pr a complicated big thing where you need a buck, mold, and then the part? Does it need to be structural or just pretty? I can pretty much help you with anything you need, although my firberglassing book smarts far outweigh my actual abilities, I can spout off useless info with the bast of them, and simple fiberglass work for me is no problem. As for cheap materials, ebay, you can get a 50 x 1 yard roll of weave for $50. The resin that you can get from uscomposites or fiberglast are much higher quality and easier to work with, but more expensive thet what you can get at Home depot or walmart. If you need more advanced stuff, waxes and mold release agents then the only real place to get them is from a fibergalss specialty shop or from the internet, and whatever you do stay away from teh chopped strand mat, it is stronger and lighter, but its a bitch to work with and you will waste more and be more frustrated than if you just work with weave. __________________ Last edited by derf; 10-18-2009 at 12:34 PM..

10-18-2009, 05:02 PM	#9
Dave Chaotic Neutral Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cherry Hill NJ Moto: GV1200 Madura, Hawk gt Posts: 13,992	well, got the tank up and the box off and #1 adding a kawi or f3 style scoop would be impossible with how tightly the engine is wedged in the frame. and i doubt it would be worth building a smoother airbox bottom for what little volume i could gain. we'll come back to this in the spring when i grab a new daily hack. __________________ TWF Post whore #6

10-18-2009, 03:23 AM	#1
Dave Chaotic Neutral Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cherry Hill NJ Moto: GV1200 Madura, Hawk gt Posts: 13,992	anyone have experience working with carbon fiber or fiberglass? im considering designing some parts and it seems to me that the most cost efficient method of producing them would be diy. anyway i was wondering if anyone on here had done any of that before and could offer up any pointers or good (cheap) sources of material? thanks in advance __________________ TWF Post whore #6

10-18-2009, 09:10 AM	#2
OneSickPsycho Ride Like an Asshole Join Date: Feb 2008 Moto: nothing... Posts: 11,254	Fiberglass will be wayyyyyy cheaper and easier to use. Unless you're making structural parts CF is a waste anyway.

10-18-2009, 10:44 AM	#3
goof2 AMA Supersport Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 4,756	A guy on another forum (boats) who really seems to know his shit recommends uscomposites.com as a supplier. I have never used them so I can't comment from personal experience. They have both fiberglass and carbon fiber cloth as well as the resin and tools you will need. Keep in mind carbon is around 5-10 times the cost of fiberglass. It is also a bitch to work with, especially if you want the weave to be visible on the finished part. To get uniform resin distribution and no bubbles the parts should really be vacuum bagged in the mold which can be a pain in the ass for a diy'er.

10-18-2009, 04:08 PM	#8
Krypt Keeper Kneedragger Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: VA Moto: CBR1100XX, Daytona 600 Posts: 174	Worked at a fiberglass shop for 3 yrs. If you need anything just ask.

10-18-2009, 09:55 PM	#10
Hydrant WERA Yellow Plate Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Moto: 2003 Suzuki TL1000R, 2002 Honda CBR 600 F4i Posts: 660	I know some guys on the TL boards have taken their lid off, and just put thick foam weather stripping on the underside of their tank, to line up with the edges of the airbox.