Panelling/Panelling with carbon
Discussion
I'm trying to get some side panels made in carbon. Looking at the build sequence, these are second on the list to do. Are there any problems doing, say, the floor first? Or would it make rivetting the side panels then a pita?
I vaguely remember a while back stig saying carbon panels were not a good idea. Any particular reason why?
I vaguely remember a while back stig saying carbon panels were not a good idea. Any particular reason why?
deadscoob said:
I thought carbon of an equal thickness was at the least as strong as ally? May be wrong though.
I guess it depends on what type of carbon fibre youre going for? the cooked stuff i would have said is stronger than ali? but the 'fibregalss' type weaker?
if you going for the real (cooked) stuff any idea of cost???!
(edited cos i read wikipedia!: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_f )
Edited by v8owner on Thursday 15th March 14:56
BIGNUMBER2 said:
If you do make them try and make as many as you can as I'm sure demand would be well high for them.
I think stig was making a point about the aluminium panels adding strength to the chassis
and that carbon fibre would not be as structurely strong?.
I think stig was making a point about the aluminium panels adding strength to the chassis
and that carbon fibre would not be as structurely strong?.
Nope that's not it
Carbon would be just as strong. The problem of using carbon panels, is napping them over the top chassis rails. Carbon doesn't bend, so you'd have to form it with the bend in it (or leave a gap between the side panels and the cill panels).
So, you'd basically need to completely fit a set of ally panels and them use them as the formers for a mold for the carbon fibre versions.
To get the carbon fibre looking good, you'd really need to autoclave it and laying it up with even weave over that area is tricky.
Basically, for the cost/hassle/benefit, there's not a lot of point. If you really want carbon fibre, either use CF material with adhesive backing and mount to the pre-fitted ally panelling (before fitting of course), or wet-lay CF onto the ally panels and cover in clearcoat. This will give a more 'mirror' finish - but messy, expensive and decent results will take practice/experience.
BIGNUMBER2 said:
You could always use carbon fibre tube cut in to quarters to fill in the 90 degree gap.
It would be less than a quarter as the vertical panel needs to be rivetted to the top chassis tube. Again, this is the problem. You need enough panel material past the rivetting line so that the material can be napped over the rail. Stiff carbon fibre won't allow you to do this. You would have to have it pre-formed which would be VERY difficult to achieve, let alone cater for the slight inconsistencies between chassis (weld shapes etc.)
v8owner said:
I really fancied carbon side panels.. only thing that worried my was how your gonna get the curve over the chassis tube, up onto the sill?!
i didnt want the gap left where two flat panels would meet the tube tangents? if that makes sense!
- any ideas?
i didnt want the gap left where two flat panels would meet the tube tangents? if that makes sense!
- any ideas?
Yes - do what I did!
I was thinking about this for my car.
I changed my mind as I wanted to fit carpet, more lux and cut's even more noise out.
Making the mold is no big issue, I'd go for a polished stainless steal, you should get quite a few pulls off this, be re polishing and it will give a nice glossy finish.
I made up some pannels for the front of the car.
I used prepreg 2x2 twil. I have a few contacts that have ovens so I just rent time in there's.
In fact I have a spare sheet of carbon (prepreg 2x2mm) should anyone want to pannel the front of there car, let me know.
I also have 2 lenghts of 90 deg angle and tube of bonding agent.
Email me if your intrested - pilot.pete@hotmail.co.uk
I changed my mind as I wanted to fit carpet, more lux and cut's even more noise out.
Making the mold is no big issue, I'd go for a polished stainless steal, you should get quite a few pulls off this, be re polishing and it will give a nice glossy finish.
I made up some pannels for the front of the car.
I used prepreg 2x2 twil. I have a few contacts that have ovens so I just rent time in there's.
In fact I have a spare sheet of carbon (prepreg 2x2mm) should anyone want to pannel the front of there car, let me know.
I also have 2 lenghts of 90 deg angle and tube of bonding agent.
Email me if your intrested - pilot.pete@hotmail.co.uk
Pilot Pete said:
I was thinking about this for my car.
I changed my mind as I wanted to fit carpet, more lux and cut's even more noise out.
Making the mold is no big issue, I'd go for a polished stainless steal, you should get quite a few pulls off this, be re polishing and it will give a nice glossy finish.
I made up some pannels for the front of the car.
I used prepreg 2x2 twil. I have a few contacts that have ovens so I just rent time in there's.
In fact I have a spare sheet of carbon (prepreg 2x2mm) should anyone want to pannel the front of there car, let me know.
I also have 2 lenghts of 90 deg angle and tube of bonding agent.
Email me if your intrested - pilot.pete@hotmail.co.uk
I changed my mind as I wanted to fit carpet, more lux and cut's even more noise out.
Making the mold is no big issue, I'd go for a polished stainless steal, you should get quite a few pulls off this, be re polishing and it will give a nice glossy finish.
I made up some pannels for the front of the car.
I used prepreg 2x2 twil. I have a few contacts that have ovens so I just rent time in there's.
In fact I have a spare sheet of carbon (prepreg 2x2mm) should anyone want to pannel the front of there car, let me know.
I also have 2 lenghts of 90 deg angle and tube of bonding agent.
Email me if your intrested - pilot.pete@hotmail.co.uk
To be fair Pete, it's alot harder to make the cockpit panels (bent in the middle and curved at the top) than it is to lay up those flat, rectangular pieces.
Feel free to try it and prove me wrong though
deadscoob said:
Stig,
What was the cost of the adhesive sheet you used and where did you get it from?
Brad Zeman in the US has carbon panels, I don't think they're curved, but his interior looks fantastic.
What was the cost of the adhesive sheet you used and where did you get it from?
Brad Zeman in the US has carbon panels, I don't think they're curved, but his interior looks fantastic.
I got it from a signwriter (unfortunately no longer in business). I paid about £50GBP per panel for the material. There's plenty of it about on eBay (though make sure you get the pukka carbon fibre twill with 3M backing), but harder to get in large enough sizes.
Be aware though, that the twill layup quality does vary on these sheets. Best to find someone with it on a roll and see what you're buying as I've seen sheets with bad 'pulls' in it which spoil the look.
luckyp said:
steve_d said:
Wondered where it had gotten too.
Steve
Steve
We should have etched something on it so that at any one time the custodian could marvel at what beasties had been brought to life upon it's little neoprene pads!!
My son suggested the very same thing just a while ago.
A nice brass plaque.
Steve
usagrtman (Brad) used carbon panelling on his cockpit and it came out nice. They did not wrap it over the tubes just radiused the panels at the top to blend into the tubes. It looks great both times I saw it at the USA gatherings.
http://bradzeman.com/displayimage.php
http://bradzeman.com/displayimage.php
Edited by Hugger Z on Thursday 15th March 20:21
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