Got the Carbon fiber bug!!

[Spector5]

Well A friend and I have had some success working with fiberglass. He works on expensive race boats and I've done some misc. work with it.

So Today we ordered all the stuff to start making some carbon fiber parts. Obviously nothing on a big scale, but just to test the waters and see what comes of it.

We may start with some interior pieces. However, I would really like to make more advance things such as valve covers, then tackle a hood. Seeing how the 1GA guys including myself are limited on CB hoods.

 

[91-GS]

Good luck!
CF is nice to work with, just watch out for particles while sanding/grinding the hardened piece. Itches and hurts more than fiberglass.

 

[StarFawkes]

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Make one of these hoods.

Edit: Picture broken, give me a minute!
Edit 2: Fixed?

 

[WES_393]

^ Does that hood have the pop-ups eliminated? That's be pretty cool for those who have fixed headlights on their 1ga.

I've never been too excited about the idea of a CF valve cover though. If cast aluminum can barely handle it, I can't imagine bonded layers of fiberglass and CF lasting long either.

 

[StarFawkes]

Yes, pop-ups eliminated. I first saw that hood here:
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/ven...286-1g-carbon-fiber-poll-2.html#post153293532
I was told there isn't enough interest for him to even make a mold for it though.

 

[Spector5]

The center console looks like a great idea.

I may try making some if the interior trim (a-pillar)just for the pure practice and I don't feel like digging through junk yards for it all.

 

[Bud92gsx]

The carbon fiber bug is like herpes..You never get rid of it

 

[pearl4gtsi]

I think the center console is a great idea, maybe even a step further do all three of those pieces that go from center console up to gauges.... I've always wanted to do that!

 

[Miasma]

I agree that a carbon fiber valve cover may not be a very good piece, instead maybe make a spark plug cover. I don't think a cf valve cover would last as long.

Doing different variations of interior pieces would be cool. I have done different pieces as well, from pillars-center console pieces. Just take your time when making the molds and it will turn out.

 

[jdodds]

I had the carbon bug a while back. Fixed the pitting in the resin of the plug cover since that was taken. Fun project though. Did a cup holder cover as well.

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[Archer Fabrications]

Where are you getting the supplies???

 

[jdodds]

I honestly dont remember. I did that stuff years ago.

 

[Spector5]

We got it all pretty dirt cheap through my friends custom boat racing shop.

We priced it out through other company's and it was just gets outrageous.

We got everything for about $900, but it was like a 1500 value. If I remember after breaking it down we payed about 20-22 a yard just for the carbon fiber itself and got about 200, plus other materials for the bonding process and the whole shibang.

 

[scotthidley]

I'm going to try making some pieces using aluminum as the mold. Is caranuba based wax and PVA good enough to make it easy to release afterwards?

 

[spyderdrifter]

You still may need a release agent for some things. I did a lot of carbon, fiberglass, and Kevlar work when I was in the army.

 

[turbotalon1g]

I'd be down for one of those pop-up elim hoods.

I want to buy in the next 40 days, so please let me know if it can happen.

 

[scotthidley]

For what it's worth, I did a test piece using only a single coat of caranuba based car wax, and that was enough to easily release the part from the mold.

 

[KyDSM]

Make the 1ga head light pop up covers. And a 1ga hood.