Source for Carbon Fiber and materials

moon303

moon303

Active Member
Hey All,


So I've been reading and seeing some of you are using carbon fiber for your projects. I'm starting a project and would like to skin/overlay some parts in Carbon Fiber. I've been looking and the more I look the more confused I feel. Does anyone know if a good source for materials?


I see sites and get confused with all the different epoxies, hardeners, weave types, weights and lenghts.


My goal is to cover my tank and seat. I want to drape the fiber and seal. What is your experience with carbon fiber? Do you know where I can get reasonable pricing and is there a list of items needed? I would like an epoxy that is resistant to gas and heat as I will be covering the tank.
At minimum I think I need, fabric, epoxy (but which one?) and a hardener and some basic application tools like bruch, bucket, etc.


So basically need some advise on suppliers and what is best to use.
Thanks!!
 
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My cousin builds tanks and seats in fiberglass and carbon fiber. The carbons are twice as much as fiberglass. With that in mine a little suggestion. Carbon fiber looking wrap vinyl and upholstery vinyl for covering the seat. I have 2 bikes that I had the seats recovered with vinyl that looks and feels like carbon fiber. It was the same cost as standard vinyl for recovering. As for the tank the carbon fiber looking vinyl wraps around the tank nicely just like the graphics you see on cars. It does look and feel like carbon fiber but it does cost more than standard wrap vinyl. I wish I had pics to show you. If done right most people wouldn't know the difference.
 
For a skin/cover, get your C/f cloth of ebay and use WEST systems epoxy.

To make a complete tank is a whole other matter. You would need to make a mold, and use the same C/F and epoxy any then you would line it with a Caswell tank lining resin. There's a post on another forum about the guy who made a C/F tank for a Z1 Kawasaki.

For either you need cheap brushes, containers (Clean plastic fast food containers are fine). A roller is good and available on line. I use Aircraft Spruce for most of my supplies but others are out there.
 
Hey guys thanks.
@ FNG & Sallgoodguy - I think the pricing on the vinyl will be as much as the real thing.
@moshpete - I'm gonna check this a little closer when I get home, I like the blends with different colors.
@ Teaszer - I've been doing just that, looking at ebay and they appear (seller: cjcompositestechnology) to have the best prices for cloth. Do you know of a reputable dealer? I've been researching west systems, does their epoxy hold up well with heat/gas?
 
moon303 said:
I've been researching west systems, does their epoxy hold up well with heat/gas?
Click to expand...

West Systems is good stuff. Did my tank with it and it's holding up fine for over two years now.

Google US Composites, they have good prices and selection of fabrics.

If you do a carbon overlay on aluminum, put a layer of light weight glass between the alum and carbon or you'll get dissimilar material corrosion between the two.

CC
 
Re: Re: Source for Carbon Fiber and materials

Perdition said:
lurk.gif
Click to expand...

Looks like the post didn't go the way you thought, huh...

Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk
 
OpTiCz said:
Looks like the post didn't go the way you thought, huh...

Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk
Click to expand...


Not sure what you're getting at? I used the "popcorn" emoticon to show that I have interest in this topic but have nothing to offer in reply. Plus now that I posted in the thread it's easier to track down later by clicking "Show new replies to your posts."
 
CCRider said:
West Systems is good stuff. Did my tank with it and it's holding up fine for over two years now.

Google US Composites, they have good prices and selection of fabrics.

If you do a carbon overlay on aluminum, put a layer of light weight glass between the alum and carbon or you'll get dissimilar material corrosion between the two.

CC
Click to expand...


dissimilar material corrosion? Would I need to worry about the tank? I think it is steel, its the stock tank.
 
Perdition said:
Not sure what you're getting at? I used the "popcorn" emoticon to show that I have interest in this topic but have nothing to offer in reply. Plus now that I posted in the thread it's easier to track down later by clicking "Show new replies to your posts."
Click to expand...


I understood you. I thought that by creating this thread I would get notified, I'm a noob on the site so I guess I'll learn.
 
Re: Re: Source for Carbon Fiber and materials

Perdition said:
Not sure what you're getting at? I used the "popcorn" emoticon to show that I have interest in this topic but have nothing to offer in reply. Plus now that I posted in the thread it's easier to track down later by clicking "Show new replies to your posts."
Click to expand...

Well, I thought you were thinking what I was thinking, apparently not.

With the way posts have been going down hill with douchey responses to noobs, I thought the popcorn was for "enjoying the show".

Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk
 
moon303 said:
I understood you. I thought that by creating this thread I would get notified, I'm a noob on the site so I guess I'll learn.
Click to expand...

Moon, you're fine. Welcome to DTT. I bookmarked a couple build threads on this topic a year ago but I'm glad we have a new topic on it with some useful info. 8)


OpTiCz said:
Well, I thought you were thinking what I was thinking, apparently not.

With the way posts have been going down hill with douchey responses to noobs, I thought the popcorn was for "enjoying the show".

Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

haha I haven't been on the forum in a while. Either way I guess I'm "enjoying the show". :) And I learned a few things from this thread as well.

Cheers,
Trevor
 
sallgoodguy said:
Is that like "Past the duchy pon dee lef and side"? Or douchey?
Click to expand...


lol. it's "Pass the dutchie on to the left hand side." Reggae by Musical Youth, if not mistaken. They are talking about a joint. ;)
 
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