ProjectDarkHorse
Member
This is amazing. How much time did it take to get the hang of it? Debating doing all of my trim.
GEN 1 Real Carbon Fiber Climate Control Trim
- Thread starter BoostinChick
- Start date
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BoostinChick
Member
Had some downtime today to install it:
This was my first time. Laying down the carbon fiber was the most difficult part. The resin is very forgiving just have to be careful how much you sand down.
That came out great!!!
PNWlife
Member
Looks good! I was wondering if the rippling and some of the distortion is due to pics, or if thats just the difficulty of laying down the CF?
B E N
FRF Addict
Its due to the weave, and the prefit. That particular weave does not drape well (which is the reason most people use standard twill), but even if he had been using a standard twill it may have had some wrinkles. The CF cloth needed to be pie cut at intervals along the curved edges, or could have been pre-stretched to allow it to shrink without bunching, and that would be incredibly difficult to mask with this particular cloth. You can see places where the cloth pattern distorted from stretch. The alternative would have been to mud up the stack and soften some of the curvature to get the cloth to better conform.
With a complex part like this and crazy weave it is best to build a paper template and make it conform by cutting and sectioning until it fits well. Then transfer that to the carbon. Cover one side of the carbon in masking tape and transfer the template, then using sharp shears make the cuts (the masking tape will keep the carbon from fraying, and the adhesive will release while your working the resin in). Once you have done enough of it you will be able to skip the template.
Also there is too much resin in the initial layup. It should be using about 35-40% resin 60-65% cloth by weight on your initial layup. That would have helped overall conformity. Further its a real challenge to stack the finishing resin coats on something with curves like this, it takes a lot of thin coats and sanding to build it out to a glassy surface, the smoother the initial layup is the less post finishing is required.
Very well done for a first attempt, especially with a difficult weave and hand layup. Would have been easier with a vac bag for sure!
With a complex part like this and crazy weave it is best to build a paper template and make it conform by cutting and sectioning until it fits well. Then transfer that to the carbon. Cover one side of the carbon in masking tape and transfer the template, then using sharp shears make the cuts (the masking tape will keep the carbon from fraying, and the adhesive will release while your working the resin in). Once you have done enough of it you will be able to skip the template.
Also there is too much resin in the initial layup. It should be using about 35-40% resin 60-65% cloth by weight on your initial layup. That would have helped overall conformity. Further its a real challenge to stack the finishing resin coats on something with curves like this, it takes a lot of thin coats and sanding to build it out to a glassy surface, the smoother the initial layup is the less post finishing is required.
Very well done for a first attempt, especially with a difficult weave and hand layup. Would have been easier with a vac bag for sure!
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