carbon fiber!

[steveboy09]

Hello iam new to fiber glassing and what not so here me out. I seen some really cool carbon motorbike parts ebay. Don't fance paying £40-80 just for abit off carbon can use that money to make my own. So my question is how do I make a good mold and is it easier to use a vacuum bag to get a better finish. I have read some things on carbon fiber this is what I want to achieve here is a cupple images off what won't to do myself thanks in adva

[Thephranc]

Carbon fiber for home hobby use isn't very practical. Initial start up costs are very high to do it properly. Trying to do it with out a vacuum system is just a waste of time and money because you will get a comparatively heavy piece with out the structural integrity because you will also get bubbles. Bagging systems aren't too expensive but you can't reuse them so price adds up. There are companies like smooth on that make reusable silicone rubber vacuum systems but they cost a lot. You will also need peel ply and the matting used to absorb excess resin along with resin, tubing, valves, vacuum pump, and other bits of kit. You can not make carbon fiber parts for what you would pay for them.

To make a part you first have to make a fiberglass negative mold of the part. From there you make the positive carbon fiber part. Labour involved to get it right is a lot.

Don't let that discourage you though. If you have the time and money to get it going you can recoup some cost by making parts for sale.

[steveboy09]

Cheers for that I oready have a vacuum system I used it agers ago with plastic molding. I can get hold off the carbon no probs it's just the extra bits iam unsure off like how do I make a good mold off the let's say clutch cover do I fiberglass the origanel so i have a mold and use the mold for the carbon and how do I use the vacuum for carbon fiber

[pro67coupe]

i buy most of my stuff from jamestowndistributors.com

[Thephranc]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgKvDw1E60E&list=PLF81A915982B9AEAC

I'd start with those videos. Granted its a giant ad for their products but the step by step is very informative.

This site is good too in breaking down technique. There is a decent section for mold making.

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Default.aspx

[Schwartz Performance]

Fibreglast I think is the name of a company that sells a lot of materials for what you're looking to do.

-Dale