Carbon Fiber DIY kit

[madmax]

Has anyone used a "Carbon Fiber DIY kit" to make your own items? Is there such a thing?
madmax

[audiobliss]

www.google.com

[Thom]

We use carbon fiber sometimes. We get it by the yard from US Composites, and mostly use it to wrap panels. It's the same as using fiberglass mat, except that you'll spend more time because you want it to look pretty.

[madmax]

www.google.com

Nice one AB... I took the link thinking you found something. I couldn't find anything.
madmax

[madmax]

We use carbon fiber sometimes. We get it by the yard from US Composites, and mostly use it to wrap panels. It's the same as using fiberglass mat, except that you'll spend more time because you want it to look pretty.

So do you use a hardener and a resin just like you do on fiberglass? I've done fiberglass before.
madmax

[dorokusai]

www.oemdash.com

They are OEM parts, silkscreened and shot with automotive clear and it looks real nice to me. If I owned a show car, hand laid might mean something but I'm not. Here's a couple pics of the pieces in my truck.

[madmax]

Hand laid means nothing to me other than a lot of work because the pieces I want are not available. Nice truck!
madmax

[dorokusai]

If it fits in a box, he can do it. Good luck :)

[audiobliss]

Nice one AB... I took the link thinking you found something. I couldn't find anything.
madmax

Hahaha. I just couldn't resist. I have nothing to offer on this subject, and you know me...I had to post something! :p


doro - What truck you got? I can't tell. I wanna say the dash looks like the new Chevy's, though.

[Thom]

So do you use a hardener and a resin just like you do on fiberglass? I've done fiberglass before.
madmax

Yes, mix MEKP into your resin and wet out the dry carbon mat. It'll soak it up eventually (the heavier stuff is thirsty, we use the 19.7oz.), and add some more after that. If you were going for light weight, functional panels I guess you'd want just enough resin to wet it properly. We dump it on and then clear it so it's pretty. :D

[zingo]

Carbon fiber is great because it's stronger than steel, yet as light as fiber glass. The hard part with real carbon fiber is that it is very involved and you need some facilities. After the resin has been applied, you need to vaccum form the carbon fiber, then finish it off by baking it. Not the easiest thing to do in your garage, but I wish I could...

[ShinAce]

Just to confirm that you can use it the same way as fiberglass'in. It comes in sheets and is easy to cut. Very expensive just for a certain look(I gather this is your goal).

[BaggedLancer]

I had a few pieces of real carbon fiber in my old car. Nice looking stuff. I'm not a fan of the stick on stuff that is offered for vehicles and rather have it hand made.

That being said it is expensive to have professionally done and it is very difficult to get correct on your first try. What exactly are you trying to cover?

[madmax]

This was from awhile ago but since I got too busy until it got cold outside I didn't pursue it. I want to make interior door panels and a floor column. Both to replace the existing heavy parts. Since then I have put on a purchased CF hood and ordered front fenders. Still want to do the panels and column though. Strictly a weight thing but they have to look ok too.
madmax

[audiobliss]

[polkaudiofreak]

Yes Virginia there is a carbon fiber DIY kit. I haven't bought one but I have seen the site www.eastbaycomposites.com. They sell molding kits and fabrication kits. Like I said I have never used one so I can't speak to the quality.

[mole']

if your looking for real Carbon Fiber car parts, i know the owner of CBD and they are local to me. link is below. i get all my CF parts for my cars from them. and they will do custom stuff

http://www.carbonbydesign.com/

[dorokusai]

I prefer www.oemdash.com but just preference.

[madmax]

Does anyone know where to get black paint?

[Trunkmonkee]

Lowes, Home Depot... etc. If you want higher quality, I recommend shopping at an auto-parts store, Kragen, NAPPA, etc. They will have some very nice black paints, and can probably recommend one to you. If you have a PPG paint shop near you, try that too.

I realize the carbon fiber part of this post is old, but fyi it's very hard to lay CF in a light-weight fashion. You have to put on very little epoxy, lay it up slowly, vacuum it, etc, and you will still be hard-pressed to approach factory-level performance, since it is pretty much physically impossible to lay epoxy that thinly by hand. Don't let that discourage you though, when it comes to that amount of weight difference it should only matter in racing.

[inspiredsports]

reported spam posts 21 & 22 thalgetycle

[audioguy13]

Found this thread while looking for guides to create my own carbon pieces, this blog is a great reference fyi, carbonfiberdiy.com

[tater6061]

I have located small kits on e-bay. The resins are good and clear, you don't need a vac pump or autoclave to make it set. However if you are making large pieces, it gets pretty intense and if you are mathmaticly challenged you will lay up parts and they will set, but delaminate due to too much or too little resin to mat ratio. I have been glassing stuff for a long time and I am still gun shy around Carbonfiber. Try small stuff first and work your way up...