Working With Carbon Fibre

[Guest Steve.G]

Hi there

 

My S7 was built with a number of carbon fibre panels/bits on the interior (dash, switch panel, handbrake, gear knob etc).

 

The interior is nicely trimmed with carpet and all edges either stitched or covered with rubber piping. The problem I have is along the edge of the cockpit sill where my fat a** catches the rubber edging as I lower/squeeze myself into the seat - the nicely glued rubber trim has now come away.

 

What I want to do is remove the rubber trim and replace it with carbon fibre sheet in keeping with the rest of the cockpit - trim the length of the upper sill and round through 90 degrees to cover the edge of the carpet.

 

The only bits of carbon fibre that came with the "spares" for the car are flat sheets.

 

Where would I get lengths with a 90 degree bend in it - similar to a piece of angle iron but with a more rounded edge ? Needs to be about 2" x 2" and supplied in lengths long enough to trim from the dash to the rear of the cockpit along the upper sill ?

 

Also what hints/tips would you give for working with it - drilling/fastening wise ?

 

Cheers

 

 

Steve G.

[IanS]

When cutting carbon fiber always use a good breathing mask and a vacume used only for CF.

I am working with airbus who use CF and they treat the dust as carcinogenic.

 

In the end you could mould your own to suit, if you are not realy bothered by weight you can lay it up similar to fiberglass. The resin used is epoxy as its thermal expansion coeficient is similar to the carbon fibers.

 

I beieve that small quantiies are available from a firm in Southport that advertises in most kitcar mags.

 

The finish will be as good as the mold that you use.

 

Have fun

 

ian

[Guest Andybarbet]

Hi Steve,

 

Coincidently, i was looking through the Demon Tweeks catalogue today and they sell carbon fibre angle, It's 1"x1" in old money and comes in lengths of 500mm or 1220mm on page 202 of their motorsport catalogue.

 

Bit pricey at £64 or £85 but if you need it and it looks sexy then why not.

 

Got any pics of your interior ? as i want to go for carbon bits when i build mine.

[Guest Battery Bill]

Ians

I am working with airbus who use CF and they treat the dust as carcinogenic.

 

In the aircraft industry most things seem to be classed as a "Cancer" risk nowadays gone are the days of Juggling with Beryllium oscillating plates (Tornado) or washing your dirty hand in Trichloro (Can't remember how to spell the rest ).

I think most laminate's dust could be classed as carcinogenic really, Obviously some are worse than others but I think you have to inhale an awful lot to do the damage, Paxylin (spelling ) is another type that is supposed to be really bad for you but we have used it to pack out our upper side panels.

Just be sensible and wear a dust mask and you will be OK.

[st3v3nw]

Bill,

did you used to be in the RAF?

im in the raf now and its a pain when you are a kit car builder as ive got to go the gulf for a couple of months as of a week on monday. aswel as only getting home at weekends to work on the car.

steven

[Guest Battery Bill]

Steven

Yes I was till 3 years 1 month ago, I don't miss it at all.

Bloody Gulf seems like most of the RAF have been there since 1990

Are you involved with Tonka's as that seems to be their home from home lately.

Its quite funny I have moved from the Raf into a civillian aircraft envioronment and its so different, in the Raf you tidy up your tools at the end of the day, or go the extra bit just to get the job finished not where I work now 5pm and we are out of the bloody door "*bleep*s" to what is needing doing that can wait till tomorrow

[Guest captn Pugwash]

Steve,

 

The place in southport is called glassplies, they are on Butts Lane, they sell carbon fibre matting, the woven cloth on a roll, seen it loads of times when in there warehouse, they sell everything to do with glass fibre and the likes, if you need some info, drop me a email and I will get a catalouge for you and post it on.

 

Dave

[st3v3nw]

bill

 

ive never worked on tonkas. im on the nimrod r1 at the min but spent 2 years on harriers. they are made of nearly all carbon fibre and at cottesmore there is a carbon fibre bay where they make the new panels. one of the lads in there has a yamaha r1 and has removed all the panels including fuel tank and pegs and made them of carbon. looked really good and he said he would do me a dash but as he has now moved on and so have i, i will have to get a new contact in there. i do know a civvie that works with carbon and in the future will be making me a crabon nose and arches in exchange for using my car for a mould so he can sell them on.

i might sell them on here for him(when my membership has been processed)

 

steven

[Guest Battery Bill]

Steve

I did a year on Harriers (Not AV8 types but bog standard GR3s) Horrible dirty things. Where are you now then Scotland?

I do miss that about the Raf the fact that you could just nip over to workshops or some other specialist bay and get a favour done.

Getting on the "Carbon" courses was pretty difficult though, Wonder why?

[st3v3nw]

bill

 

no, im at waddington in lincs, im on the 'rod R1 not the MR2 up in kinloss

 

steven

[Guest Battery Bill]

Ah near to me then.

I finished in the Hyd/Tyre bay at Waddo.

Now live in Cherry Willingham.

Must meet up sometime.

Bill

[st3v3nw]

bill

that would be good, im always on the lookout for visiting other hoodies and seeing their creations. just found out the det has been shortened so hopefully, should be back about the end of june. cant make newark this year as im doing a 2 day rally over that weekend but meet up another time.

steven