'75 CB550K1 Gulf - Round...3, the fun stuff
- Thread starter Ringo
- Start date
HerrDeacon
Over 1,000 Posts
Re: '75 CB550K1 Gulf - Females
Very nice. Nothing like the excitement (or disappointment in my case
) of pulling a mold off or a part from a mold, the sound is addicting. Can't wait to see a part popped from it.
Very nice. Nothing like the excitement (or disappointment in my case
) of pulling a mold off or a part from a mold, the sound is addicting. Can't wait to see a part popped from it.
JustinLonghorn
No Purple Hearts, No Blue Ribbons
Re: '75 CB550K1 Gulf - Females
I like my Females in Mold form. All waxed up and ready to go...mmmmmmmmm.
Ha, good work man!
I like my Females in Mold form. All waxed up and ready to go...mmmmmmmmm.
Ha, good work man!
Re: '75 CB550K1 Gulf - carbon
DP9, it's actually all covered in this thread...but since I'm such a nice guy, I'll give you the cliff notes.
I first measured again and again the dimensions for the pan. Then I built the basic shape from foam. I don't think I have any photos of that part, but you get the idea. Then I glassed the foam shape, filled and smoothed it, and painted it. This is the "plug", seen here:
Once I was happy with how smooth it was I sealed it with a coat of primer and sanded that to 600 grit or so. Then applied and buffed 3-4 coats of Partall paste #2 (I think) mold release wax. Then PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) was painted onto that. Once dried, I delicately laid glass, making sure to avoid and/or squeeze out bubbles:
Once cured, I pulled off the glass, which is the female mold. This can take some effort, even with mold release agents. The pink stuff on the sides is just body filler on the outsides to help give rigidity:
Then the female was waxed and PVA'd, and carbon laid inside, carefully. Once cured, it was pulled:
Now, that being said, I would strongly recommend just making your belly pan shape in foam, then glassing over that, and smoothing that part to use as your finished piece. Going through the mold-making process is incredibly labor intensive, and so easy to mess up. Plus, I'm really not saving that much weight compared to doing it the easy way. Now if I were to vacuum bag the pieces it would be another story, but that's out of my reach.
Plus, it's all kind of a waste if you're just making one part, and not a production run, BUT, if I somehow ruin these parts, I can just turn out a new one since I have the mold already.
DP9, it's actually all covered in this thread...but since I'm such a nice guy, I'll give you the cliff notes.
I first measured again and again the dimensions for the pan. Then I built the basic shape from foam. I don't think I have any photos of that part, but you get the idea. Then I glassed the foam shape, filled and smoothed it, and painted it. This is the "plug", seen here:
Once I was happy with how smooth it was I sealed it with a coat of primer and sanded that to 600 grit or so. Then applied and buffed 3-4 coats of Partall paste #2 (I think) mold release wax. Then PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) was painted onto that. Once dried, I delicately laid glass, making sure to avoid and/or squeeze out bubbles:
Once cured, I pulled off the glass, which is the female mold. This can take some effort, even with mold release agents. The pink stuff on the sides is just body filler on the outsides to help give rigidity:
Then the female was waxed and PVA'd, and carbon laid inside, carefully. Once cured, it was pulled:
Now, that being said, I would strongly recommend just making your belly pan shape in foam, then glassing over that, and smoothing that part to use as your finished piece. Going through the mold-making process is incredibly labor intensive, and so easy to mess up. Plus, I'm really not saving that much weight compared to doing it the easy way. Now if I were to vacuum bag the pieces it would be another story, but that's out of my reach.
Plus, it's all kind of a waste if you're just making one part, and not a production run, BUT, if I somehow ruin these parts, I can just turn out a new one since I have the mold already.
HerrDeacon
Over 1,000 Posts
Re: '75 CB550K1 Gulf - carbon
That's the way I made mine...but would love to make a mold of it one day like you've done here. Awesome work!
Ringo said:
That's the way I made mine...but would love to make a mold of it one day like you've done here. Awesome work!
RustyOlive
Been Around the Block
Re: '75 CB550K1 Gulf - carbon
Dam Chris... You're really going to town with this bike! Trying for bike of the month again? Hahaha
Looks great man! CF is looking pretty cool!
Dam Chris... You're really going to town with this bike! Trying for bike of the month again? Hahaha
Looks great man! CF is looking pretty cool!
RustyOlive
Been Around the Block
Re: '75 CB550K1 Gulf - carbon
Lol. Just bugg'n ya dude.
Just curious. CF use the same resin compound as fiber glass?
Did you look into doing that fatter rear tire/rim mod?
Lol. Just bugg'n ya dude.
Just curious. CF use the same resin compound as fiber glass?
Did you look into doing that fatter rear tire/rim mod?
Re: '75 CB550K1 Gulf - carbon
It does, yep. Really, you can use any resin type (epoxy/poly/vinyl) with just about any fabric type (glass/cf/kevlar).
I'm still planning on swapping a wider rim in the rear, it's just a budget issue at this point. Those damn wide alloy rims ain't cheap.
It does, yep. Really, you can use any resin type (epoxy/poly/vinyl) with just about any fabric type (glass/cf/kevlar).
I'm still planning on swapping a wider rim in the rear, it's just a budget issue at this point. Those damn wide alloy rims ain't cheap.
RustyOlive
Been Around the Block
Re: '75 CB550K1 Gulf - carbon
Hahahaha.. Ya. Tell me about it!! My rear cost me more than i paid for the bike! Hahahaha.
Ringo said:
Hahahaha.. Ya. Tell me about it!! My rear cost me more than i paid for the bike! Hahahaha.
