Carbon Fibre Repairs

[shapeshifter]

Does anyone know how you work carbon fibre including:

1) Can you cut it, if so what with?
2) Can you sand it?
3) Can you fill it, if so what with?
4) Can you spray it, if so what with?

Thanks in advance.

[smrc426]

Really depends where it is and if its structural. If its bodyworks etc you can do the usual stuff to it but it its a chassis member etc its better to get a completely new part. It also depends how many layer it has and also if it has been autoclaved.

[shapeshifter]

smrc426 said:

Really depends where it is and if its structural. If its bodyworks etc you can do the usual stuff to it but it its a chassis member etc its better to get a completely new part. It also depends how many layer it has and also if it has been autoclaved.

Thanks for the reply, its not structural, you can buy sheets of it from Demon Tweeks for making sundry surrounds for switches ect, you mentioned you can do the usual stuff to body work carbon fibre, how do you work carbon fibre from flat sheets?

[smrc426]

Metal or wood bandsaw! Use gloves, goggles and a mask, the resin will get in your eyes and it'll be painful. Those sheets from Demon Tweeks are a bit of a con, they're 1 layer of carbon and about 3 or 4 of chop strand matting, ie Glassfibre. They can be worked like GRP or wood, files, glass paper etc but dont sand the finished surface!

[anonymous-user]

The SAE publishes a book called "Care and repair of advanced composites" which goes into it in endless detail.

[Composite Guru]

shapeshifter said:

Does anyone know how you work carbon fibre including:

1) Can you cut it, if so what with?
2) Can you sand it?
3) Can you fill it, if so what with?
4) Can you spray it, if so what with?

Thanks in advance.

I work with the stuff everyday so i can give you some tips.

1) You can cut it, you need either carbide tipped or diamond dusted tools. If you attempt to file or drill it with HSS tools then don't expect them to last five minutes.

2) You can sand it, a standard wet and dry paper can be used. Coated Coarse abrasive sheets can be used also. They do need to be of a high quality ie 3M though.

3) We use a black filler like P38 but if you are painting it then P38 or Glasurit filler can be used.

4) You can spray it with normal car paints. You need to mix a plastisiser into it due to the CF being flexible.

Hope this helps.

Matt

Edited by Composite Guru on Thursday 28th June 11:00

[shapeshifter]

Composite Guru said:

shapeshifter said:

Does anyone know how you work carbon fibre including:

1) Can you cut it, if so what with?
2) Can you sand it?
3) Can you fill it, if so what with?
4) Can you spray it, if so what with?

Thanks in advance.

I work with the stuff everyday so i can give you some tips.

1) You can cut it, you need either carbide tipped or diamond dusted tools. If you attempt to file or drill it with HSS tools then don't expect them to last five minutes.

2) You can sand it, a standard wet and dry paper can be used. Coated Coarse abrasive sheets can be used also. They do need to be of a high quality ie 3M though.

3) We use a black filler like P38 but if you are painting it then P38 or Glasurit filler can be used.

4) You can spray it with normal car paints. You need to mix a plastisiser into it due to the CF being flexible.

Hope this helps.

Matt

Edited by Composite Guru on Thursday 28th June 11:00

Thats great, thanks Matt.