Hey ebrabaek,

I was wondering if you would post some of the techniques you use to make all your cool carbon fiber pieces. Do you use pre-preg cf or do you just purchase plain fiber. Would you mind posting a simple tutorial for doing fork guards or something similar? As long as it doesn't cut into any of your business that is...whatever you could share I would definitely listen intently. Thanks and keep up the awesome work!

Matt, You should check out ebrabaek's subscribed threads in his public profile and you will find lots of threads that show how he does his majic and what he uses. Tail light one is the most descriptive.:thumbsup:

mattbesquare said:

Thanks for those great words Matt......:thumbsup: :thumbsup: Absolutely....
This link is one of the first ones...
http://www.thumperta...5008&highlight=

Then the gas tank....
http://www.thumperta...5061&highlight=

Then the CF tail light...
http://www.thumperta...5497&highlight=

Like Rockmonster said....look at my threads......there are several on the how to in CF/Kevlar..... If you start a thread with pics as you proceed through your project....I will help out the best I can..... If I for some strange reason don`t ....just pm me...to knock me of the twig. It is really not that hard. The case savers I just finnished would be a great way to start. They are sooooooo easy to make....:busted: :busted: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

I was just about to post how fantastic the write up was on the taillight but you beat me to it. a few quick questions:

What kind of wax do you use for the molds?
What speed epoxy?
Any secret online shops you can share where you get your materials? There arent too many boat supplies shops around where I live...

Thanks, this is bringing me back to my RC boat days...cant wait to try something.

stupid me..answers in your first post.. well anyway....

reading your posts.. my jaw is dropping. You just jump in and start making stuff. At the risk of sounding like a carp, your work is pretty fricken inspiring.

mattbesquare said:

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: ... Just wanted to answer the last question that might not be answered in the threads. I use Polyester resin. In these aplications I dont need the extra strength of pox. Pox are a lot more temperamental....whereas polys are easy`er to work with....and about 2-3 times as expensive. I have seen a few spidercracks on my pieces from impact on the radiator scoops though......but they were quite a whack....and I think pox would relieve it self as well. The trick with polys though....is to find a resin that dries to a clear....not yellow like most resins do. Thats one of my main issues with pox.....you cant layer the resin to get that 3d effect...It`s simply not clear enough. So with pox you`d have to spray an automotive laquer with uv propperties over it.....Yet still you don`t get that 3d effect.
Post up as you go along...:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Erling

mattbesquare said:

Thank you sir...:thumbsup: :thumbsup: It really is more " Do not panic....be calm" Then a little knowledge. Dangerous thing is....Once you succeed....Watch out....then it gets funny.. You can really make anuthing you wan`t. Like tomorrow when I get home. I`m using CF to change a 26 inch mountain bike front fork to fit on my 29" frame/wheel..... So anything is possible...:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Erling

Hi Erling,
Saw you were online and not wanting to hyjack this thread and all, but....
Could you flat the gloss surface of some bought CF bits that I've got and re-lacquer them with 2 pack lacquer or do you think it would react with the epoxy?

colhogg said:

That is fine....In fact most people do add a finnishing layer....or five of automotive laquer. You mean 2 part laquer????? Thats the only way you can get a uv protection and high shine on it. The epoxy will not react with any laquers that I`m aware of. Pre treat it like you`d treat a piece of metal...or other object before laquer`ing it....as far as sanding goes.:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Erling

shifting through the 100 pages worth of posts did you say you used the 105 epoxy? I am pretty sure that is what wooden boat builders use also because of its uv resistance, expensive though.

I use a clear/amber laminating epoxy resin for all of the carbon fiber parts I make. Real carbon fiber composite parts use epoxy resin, it is much stronger and more flexable than polyester resin. It is more expensive, but you get a lighter, stronger part. Epoxy resin won't spiderweb when impacted like polyester resin will. When epoxy resin reaches it's yeild point will form one crack, not a series of cracks. For cosmetic only parts, polyester resin works ok, as it is cheaper, but you are really just making glorified fiberglass parts. Parts made from epoxy resin hold up a million times better. I find that thelaminating epoxy resin made by aeromarine inc. works the best for me.

This is one of the things you need to look out for when purchasing carbon fiber parts. There are companies out there that use polyester resin, and some that use fiberglass with one layer of carbon on top for appearance. They will still charge high prices, but their products fail most of the time. It is companies like this that have given people the misconception that carbon fiber parts shatter when they take a load.

To Erling, The King of Carbon Fiber!:banana: :banana: :banana: :worthy:

From Rock Monster, The King of Diamond Plate!:lol: :lol: :lol:

mattbesquare said:

Yeppers.....105 it is....Dont use it much though....unless im building something that requires extreeme pressures. .......

Erling

KJ790 said:

No it`s not
There is no "real" CF with either pox or poly. Cf is refered to the cloth....not the resin of choosing.Your biased....That`s ok but don`t state your biased oppinion as a common reference when in fact it is not. There are several factors that are in play when choosing the resin for a project some weighs in the pox`s favor....and some weighs in the poly`s favor. Either choice will be called Carbon Fiber...or perhaps a little kevlar is in order.:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Erling

Rock Monster said:

Right back at you....:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Erling

ebrabaek said:

I know carbon fiber is the cloth. I said carbon fiber composite parts are made with epoxy resin. Polyester resin is only used for cosmetic pieces, or by companies trying to cut corners and sell the customers low quality parts. I acknowledge that people will still call it "carbon fiber" when it is made using polyester resin, but no parts used in the aircraft industry or performance racing industry uses polyester resin. Removing a large amount of strength and adding weight defeats the true purpose of carbon fiber composites.

It's threads like these that make TT so awesome. Do you guys realize the amount of awesome Carbon Fiber technics we have just learned from this thread. I mean we are literally talking about hours if not days of trial and error by some of these guys. This is knowledge is priceless in my eyes. Thank you all!:worthy: :worthy: :worthy:

KJ790 said:

No... You said " Real carbon fiber composite parts use epoxy resin" Which is an indication of your oppinion. It is good to have one obviously....but just inject " imho" thereafter....rarther than stating your opinion as a industry wide acceptance....that`s all....:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Erling

ebrabaek said:

Sorry about that, it is all in the wording, it came across wrong. I just don't want people to make the mistake of using polyester resin to build something that takes a lot of abuse or that requires strength and having it fail. I've never seen a part made with polyester resin hold up to the abuse of an MX track, but parts made with epoxy resin hold up great. All of the parts I have made still look brand new after two and three years of MX abuse. I've yet to have a purchased part last over one year.