Anybody here do it? I know about overlays but what are some other methods of doing CF without an autoclave?

Also, is vacum bagging hard to do?

 

What exactly are you trying to do, I know a few people who work with on a daily basis, covering motorcycle cowls and so forth, but what specific application are you tryin to do....

never heard of vaccuum bagging tho, cant help ya there....

 

I am trying to learn about it. I don't want to do an overlay though.

I am trying to make a mold. I am trying to figure out basically how to do a hood to start with. I don't want to overlay it but make a plug and a mold.

I seen that some people CNC machine a large piece of foam but I think that is if they are building a part from the ground up. I am not to sure on that.

 

Yea most of the people I know do like a fiberglass resin mold then overlay the carbon fiber.... i dunno if thats guna help ya any.....

 

wet lay up is simple easy and requires very little equipment required to do it...

vacuum bagging it is even easier, costs more as you have more wasted by-products and you need to make sure that's everything setup correctly before sealing that bag and that you don't pull too much vacuum. I've done a good bit of it doing Formula SAE.

 

I know how to do wet lay-up "overlay" that isn't what I am interested in though.

I want to make a part that is 100% CF..

 

and did I say anything about it not being CF or an overlay...I've only played with fiberglass twice...carbon and kevlar a shit-ton....if you are asking about pre-preg CF and not just fabric, then yes it has to be autoclaved...or baked and vacuum bagged with a homemade solution.

I also said nothing about overlays because that's for the ricers...make a mold and "overlay" that for a part that is cf only.

what are you specifically trying to make?

 

a hood.

I misunderstood you. I am sorry.. Then an overlay is what I want to do. I need to produce a mold.

 

no, you want to make a fiberglass mold of the hod first...then make your carbon fiber hood from that mold....that way you have proper fitment.

 

id say start with somthing smaller for your 1st piece and work you way up to hood size.. that way if u f -it up it wont cost that much