Carbon fibre type stuff...
Carbon fibre type stuff...
Author
Discussion

GForce

Original Poster:

3 posts

226 months

Thursday 14th June 2007
quotequote all
Hi,

Would anyone happen to know where I may be able to find carbon fibre sheeting for a good price? also what would be the best tool to cut it with to stop it from fraying?

sidevinders

996 posts

235 months

Friday 15th June 2007
quotequote all
MCMC in bristol are good. V helpful for advice as well. www.matrixmouldings.co.uk
Otherwise carbonology.com seem ok. I've used both without any problems.

For cutting, either use masking tape and cut along the tape, though you cant remove it so depending on how you lay-up it may be visible on the end product, which isnt very desirable, or a very sharp pizza cutter type thing on a soft(ish) smooth surface which works well.

Davi

17,153 posts

244 months

Sunday 17th June 2007
quotequote all
Do you mean cutting carbon matting, or carbon sheet?

Carbon matting is easiest if you very lightly spray with 3M adhesive first - stops it fraying - and then cut with "modified" scissors - run the flat edge of the scissors (the surfaces that slide past each other) lightly on a belt sander for a couple of seconds, with the cutting edge at 90 deg to the belt travel - forms loads of little grooves which help grip the carbon as you are cutting and stop it pulling, sliding or fraying.

You can buy proper carbon scissors for a small fortune apparently, but the above turns a £2.99 pair of scissors into the same thing!

If it's cured sheet you are cutting, I use carborundum discs, either in a dremel for fine work, or angle grinder for large rough cuts. Be warned though, you need some protective equipment on - if the dust gets on your skin it itches like mad for weeks, and you really don't want to be breathing it...