Carbon Fiber Hood??

[Flash-FX]

Do you mind if I ask you some questions? The next step after the hood is a carbon hull, so you are going to be my best bet to make it happen. Your thread is awesome!

Jay

No problem. Get ready, It's a lot of work! :bigeyes:

 

[pjsrider]

I know its going to be a lot of work, but the end result should be pretty sweet. First off, how thick did you make your molds? I see you used fiberglass. I am planning on using standard glass with polyester resin after polishing my hull and spraying with a mold release agent. You didnt vacuum bag the mold correct? I guess the fiberglass resin made a smooth enough mold just by painting it onto the surface? In your build thread I saw that you used the old motor mounts for your ski. How did you fasten them into the boat? did you use 3m glue, or did you palce them where you wanted them and then glassed them in? Also why no footholds? You did a bunch of work back there and didnt put in foot holds? You used mostly s-glass for your ski, but I am going to use 5.6oz cf so I guess I should still use templates for the cutting the pieces to lay in the ski. Did you lay small peices of cloth down, then overlap the edges, or did you use large pieces overlapping by lots when you built the hull? I dont know if that was a clear question or not, but thanks for takingn the time to answer them if you get a chance.

Jay

 

[Flash-FX]

I know its going to be a lot of work, but the end result should be pretty sweet. First off, how thick did you make your molds? I see you used fiberglass. I am planning on using standard glass with polyester resin after polishing my hull and spraying with a mold release agent. You didnt vacuum bag the mold correct? I guess the fiberglass resin made a smooth enough mold just by painting it onto the surface? In your build thread I saw that you used the old motor mounts for your ski. How did you fasten them into the boat? did you use 3m glue, or did you palce them where you wanted them and then glassed them in? Also why no footholds? You did a bunch of work back there and didnt put in foot holds? You used mostly s-glass for your ski, but I am going to use 5.6oz cf so I guess I should still use templates for the cutting the pieces to lay in the ski. Did you lay small peices of cloth down, then overlap the edges, or did you use large pieces overlapping by lots when you built the hull? I dont know if that was a clear question or not, but thanks for takingn the time to answer them if you get a chance.
Jay

Whoa!! Lots of Q's. Let's see....First start with a game plan. Try to work on something small first(maybe a composite handle pole pad?). If you never handled/worked with these materials before, this could become a expensive nightmare project. Not to say you will not be sucessful,but do some testing and ground work to get it together. It will be worth it in the long run.
The "plug" has to be well refined and prepped as it needs to release the "mold" easily. Use Tooling resin. Regular "boat" resin has wax added in.
http://www.fibreglast.com/contentpages-molding+fibreglass-171.html This document contains some good free info.
I bonded the FX motor mounts back in with a thickened epoxy mixture. Cabosil & West Systems 404.
Footholds? I rode a ski once that had footholds. Are they really necessary? My stance was too far back, and the handle pole was too far forward. I was not able to ride fast on plane because it porpoised so badly. Maybe some day I'll understand that whole foothold thing.
I used 12oz bi-axial fiberglass for my project with CF tape in the corners. That 12oz stuff is only E-glass. You have to remember 5.6oz fiberglass and 5.6oz carbon fiber weigh the same per square yard. The thickness is different. I would consider using a "core" material between the inner and outer skins on your hood project. It also helps in flotation.
I mentioned in my build that the chemicals are hazardous.....take the extra steps to avoid contact with this stuff. You need to live long enough to enjoy your finished project. :biggthumpup:

 

[pjsrider]

Thanks for the reply. I will definantly be doing small stuff first to get everything figured out. I know a single sheet of cf cloth cant be used per layer and it must be cut out so that it will lay flat in the mold, but how much do you overlap the edges of the pieces?

Thanks
Jay

 

[Trinity Composites]

good luck

I know its going to be a lot of work, but the end result should be pretty sweet. First off, how thick did you make your molds? I see you used fiberglass. I am planning on using standard glass with polyester resin after polishing my hull and spraying with a mold release agent. You didnt vacuum bag the mold correct? I guess the fiberglass resin made a smooth enough mold just by painting it onto the surface? In your build thread I saw that you used the old motor mounts for your ski. How did you fasten them into the boat? did you use 3m glue, or did you palce them where you wanted them and then glassed them in? Also why no footholds? You did a bunch of work back there and didnt put in foot holds? You used mostly s-glass for your ski, but I am going to use 5.6oz cf so I guess I should still use templates for the cutting the pieces to lay in the ski. Did you lay small peices of cloth down, then overlap the edges, or did you use large pieces overlapping by lots when you built the hull? I dont know if that was a clear question or not, but thanks for takingn the time to answer them if you get a chance.

Jay

Jay, Bobby @ trinity/Freedom Aviation.Taking a break from painting a plane saw the thread.Make your mold 1/4 inch then brace w/ wood our steel.Mold surface,poly or vinylester tooling gel,then your layup for mold.Do it your way and learn.Don't worry about what others say.Start on some small parts to feel things out.Good luck.

 

[pjsrider]

Thanks for the reply. I guess it doesnt matter what type of fiberglass mat as long as it is light enough to form to the part. How noticable are seems in a cf part? I will might leave the hood just clearcoated, but wont there be lines from where I lay in the pieces of cloth so that they lay flat in the mold? Has anyone found a good place to get cheap epoxy resin? I have no problem paying for the good stuff, but if I screw something up then I dont want to have a gold mine in epoxy going in the trash.

Thanks
Jay

 

[QJS]

If you are going to lay epoxy on a polyester mold you need to be very sure that it is fully cured, if possible leave it in the sun for a while if you don't have an oven, this is because it is possible for the styrene in the polyester to attack the epoxy and prevent it from curing properly. It would be far better (although more costly to make ) in my experience to make the mold from epoxy if you are going to lay epoxy in it.
Chris.

 

[pjsrider]

wow i never would have thought of that. What if I use the tooling gelcoat then fiberglass over that. Will the polyester resin still atack the epoxy resin through the gelcoat? The polyester resin should be good and cured after sitting for a couple days correct? I have always been able to sand it with in a few hours of doing a fiberglass repair. Are you talking on a molecular level or something?

Jay

 

[Trinity Composites]

wow i never would have thought of that. What if I use the tooling gelcoat then fiberglass over that. Will the polyester resin still atack the epoxy resin through the gelcoat? The polyester resin should be good and cured after sitting for a couple days correct? I have always been able to sand it with in a few hours of doing a fiberglass repair. Are you talking on a molecular level or something?

Jay

Jay, just do it. Some of these guys are way off.I don't now what they do for a living so I won't rag on anybody.Too much input from all these guys will have you in the wrong way quick.Keep it simple,later

 

[pjsrider]

Simple=good. Thats the way I like stuff. Where are ya'll getting your cf from? I am sure some of you get it from the supplier, but I hope I wont need that much of it. The stuff on ebay seems to have gone away latley. There was a 50 or 100 yard role for 2500 the other day, but I dont need that mutch. Any one have a rough estimate on about how may yards i would need of say 60" to do a complete boat?

Thanks
Jay

 

[Trinity Composites]

Simple=good. Thats the way I like stuff. Where are ya'll getting your cf from? I am sure some of you get it from the supplier, but I hope I wont need that much of it. The stuff on ebay seems to have gone away latley. There was a 50 or 100 yard role for 2500 the other day, but I dont need that mutch. Any one have a rough estimate on about how may yards i would need of say 60" to do a complete boat?

Thanks
Jay

My materials are imported from some other countries.We have thousands of yards of carbon in various weaves.Its used in are composite airplanes we build at freedom aviation.Its a all carbon plane so we use alot.Then I have the same suppliers sell Trinity materials at a much lower cost, because I buy bulk for Freedom.I can tell you what you need and sell you some material.321-704-9276

 

[pjsrider]

Wow you are in Florida!!! That is awesome! Do you sell epoxy resin as well? You dont mind if I call you sometime and pick your brain do you? I sure appreciate all the help from you guys.

Jay

 

[Trinity Composites]

Wow you are in Florida!!! That is awesome! Do you sell epoxy resin as well? You dont mind if I call you sometime and pick your brain do you? I sure appreciate all the help from you guys.

Jay

I do sell epoxy, its a good, 2 to 1 mix ratio so its easy to use.Its a cheaper epoxy I use on some small parts.Its also mixed or promoted the way I like.I know 2 chemists I work with for are epoxies so they will give us exactly what I want for what i'm working on.I can answer some questions so don't sweat calling, later