Let's build a carbon fender!

#1Freak said:
i have a few spools of both kevlar and carbon fiber thread, high quality stuff for the production of rocket cases. but it is not woven. is this of use to anybody?

Brian
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Never worked with this stuff. I believe it's mostly for filiment winding - to create tubes, etc.
 
where's the fookin pics of the updates?!
 
#1Freak said:
i have a few spools of both kevlar and carbon fiber thread, high quality stuff for the production of rocket cases. but it is not woven. is this of use to anybody?

Brian
Click to expand...

hummm, i need to think up more projects.....
 
#1Freak said:
i have a few spools of both kevlar and carbon fiber thread, high quality stuff for the production of rocket cases. but it is not woven. is this of use to anybody?

Brian
Click to expand...

I know my company uses the kevlar thread for sewing on belt edging material, on heavyweight PTFE(teflon) coated fiberglass belts. Never seen CF thread though.
 
Also, another question for ya Chris:

I just got some fiberglass from work and brought it home to experiment with......gotta start the learning curve somewhere. The fiberglass stuff I have at home is a basic Bondo made kit that comes with everything included. I am using the kit to repair some damaged race bodywork that I am/will be using on another bike I am building.

The fabric I am usuing, from work, really needs to have a clear resin on it, to show it well. The resin I got with the bondo kit is a polyester resin, and after checking on a part that I molded this afternoon, I can see a slight yellowness to the resin as it cures.

Will Epoxy resin take care of this issue? If not, what resin type will dry the clearest and have the lease amount of coloration?

Thanks again.
 
It is just that a basic kit not meant for anything but repairs. That is actually just what i was talking about when recommending the fiberglass practice. I used the same kit to repair my fiberglass race bodywork. If you want to change that curing effect of yellowing you need to purchase better quality epoxy. Around here that would be bought at a plastics specialist store we have TAP plastics. I am sure online has a great supply for this too. In that case though it is most surely the bonding agent not the weave so you could even reuse the fiberglass weave you have though i think that bondo kit only comes with a little roll of it, and just go buy some better epoxy if you want to get rid of the discoloration not to mention you will end up with a better product anyways in terms of strength and sun damage resistance.
 
RideToLive600RR said:
It is just that a basic kit not meant for anything but repairs. That is actually just what i was talking about when recommending the fiberglass practice. I used the same kit to repair my fiberglass race bodywork. If you want to change that curing effect of yellowing you need to purchase better quality epoxy. Around here that would be bought at a plastics specialist store we have TAP plastics. I am sure online has a great supply for this too. In that case though it is most surely the bonding agent not the weave so you could even reuse the fiberglass weave you have though i think that bondo kit only comes with a little roll of it, and just go buy some better epoxy if you want to get rid of the discoloration not to mention you will end up with a better product anyways in terms of strength and sun damage resistance.
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Yeah, thanks...I figured it was the cheapy resin. I will get some better epoxy resin instead of polyester resin when it comes time to make some better parts. I have found webiste for TAP plastics.
 
Go to West Marine (or wherever, on line, etc.) and get some West Systems expoxy.

105 epoxy resin
205 (fast) hardner or,
207 (slow) hardner

Fast is fine for the little stuff but I use the slow when laying up tanks or other jobs that take a while.

You can get 'starter size' sets. I get the gallon resin and the quart hardner, but unless you're going to do a lot of work, you don't need this much.
Also, get some metering pumps. They take care of dispensing the correct amount of each part of the epoxy. One pump of resin and one pump of harnder and you get the right mix. It's worked like a charm for me and I don't have to weigh out anything.
 
What is the status of the fender? Inquiring minds wanna know. Plus, I wanna see if you vacuum bag it nor not..to learn how to make my own fender. :teeth
 
DougZ said:
What is the status of the fender? Inquiring minds wanna know. Plus, I wanna see if you vacuum bag it nor not..to learn how to make my own fender. :teeth
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No change - busy with SV project final (for now) :teeth assembly and readying the 748 for its 1/16 Sears Point track day.
Plus, I've lost a little of my motivation since the stock GSX-R fender actually looks pretty nice on the SV!
Blame Bobby Keith at Cycle Finish for a killer paint job...

I'll get back to this soon enough as it's a complex part and I'll gain leveragable experience building it.
 
OK, one more question for you Chris:

Do you have any issues with using the kevlar? I was thinking of using it on the under side of the fender I am going to make to add more strength than just extra layers of fiberglass?
 
DougZ said:
OK, one more question for you Chris:

Do you have any issues with using the kevlar? I was thinking of using it on the under side of the fender I am going to make to add more strength than just extra layers of fiberglass?
Click to expand...

Kevlar is more about impact resistance. Use it to reinforce the mounting points. There's no need for it on the underside of a fender. That said, there's no harm in using it in other places, but no real good, either.
 
DougZ said:
Yeah, thanks...I figured it was the cheapy resin. I will get some better epoxy resin instead of polyester resin when it comes time to make some better parts. I have found webiste for TAP plastics.
Click to expand...

OK, silly question, since I saw one last night near where I live. Is the West Marine Store where you buy West Systems products, like the ones you mentioned?

http://www.westsystem.com/
 
DougZ said:
Yeah, thanks...I figured it was the cheapy resin. I will get some better epoxy resin instead of polyester resin when it comes time to make some better parts. I have found webiste for TAP plastics.
Click to expand...

Meant to quote this.

OK, silly question, since I saw one last night near where I live. Is the West Marine Store where you buy West Systems products, like the ones you mentioned?

http://www.westsystem.com/
 
DougZ said:
OK, silly question, since I saw one last night near where I live. Is the West Marine Store where you buy West Systems products, like the ones you mentioned?

http://www.westsystem.com/
Click to expand...

OK, thanks. Looks like I'll be hitting the local store soon then. Can I get the all the PVA, and Partall,and the vacuum bag stuff there too?
 
DougZ said:
OK, thanks. Looks like I'll be hitting the local store soon then. Can I get the all the PVA, and Partall,and the vacuum bag stuff there too?
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I don't know. You can get PVA and Partal (or other mold release wax) at TAP Plastics. But the vacuum bagging stuff is a bit specialized. Just save gas/time and buy it all online at:

http://www.fibreglast.com/

You can also get books and video/DVDs. Lots of good stuff.
 
DougZ said:
OK, thanks. Looks like I'll be hitting the local store soon then. Can I get the all the PVA, and Partall,and the vacuum bag stuff there too?
Click to expand...

Ok, thanks for the further help. When I to make my parts and get forced to go into business making them since there will be high demand, I'll have to make sure and send you a consultation fee cut.LOL :teeth
 
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