Re: Working with carbon fiber.. I know someone has done it.
 

I don't need the cover to be crazy strong.... I'd like it to not feel like its going to break but it doesn't need to be amazing..

Re: Working with carbon fiber.. I know someone has done it.
 

only thing id be afraid of is i think the adhesive or whatever it is would be the only structural support it would have. but like i said, ive never tried it. do it and let us know. especially if its just that one part. if it holds up im sure itll be fine for some select other parts

Re: Working with carbon fiber.. I know someone has done it.
 

structural carbon fiber needs to be vacuum packed in a mold


http://web.me.unr.edu/HPV/Web%20Pages/htpart.htm

Re: Working with carbon fiber.. I know someone has done it.
 

Check out www.fiberglast.com theres some forums here that should be able to help you with what you're doing. You can normaly buy C/F on there, but its pretty much backordered cince theres a shortage right now. I think theres some fake C/F thats actually just dyed F/G, but go check it out, they have a whole catalog online.

F/G would probably be fine and just use one layer of C/F over the top...... you dont HAVE to vaccum bag it if you dont want, it does make it stronger/lighter but is not nessesary. For the size of the peice you're making I dont hink weight is going to be a real issue.

Re: Working with carbon fiber.. I know someone has done it.
 

yeah, using it for looks and a top layer doesn't matter. f/g plus a top layer of carbon fiber would probably be the best bet.

Re: Working with carbon fiber.. I know someone has done it.
 

Hit up PhilStubbs he is the man when it comes to this stuff. He made a few things for his car a while back.

Re: Working with carbon fiber.. I know someone has done it.
 

I'll pm him.

.. one more question. what should I use to create the original shape of the cowl?

I'll have a base, but the fiberglass won't be directly on the base because the shape won't be right. What material should I use to fill in the gap?

Re: Working with carbon fiber.. I know someone has done it.
 

I would just find a used cowl on ebay or something and cover it with carbon fiber cloth then resin. It's gonna be a pain the ass unless you have a base to start with. Couple guys on the e46 board did this with their wood interior trim and one guy did it to his roof i believe. Strictly asthetic but looked great.

Re: Working with carbon fiber.. I know someone has done it.
 

i used a sheet of carbon fiber when i made my homemade sunroof plug and didn't bake it. i've actually never heard anyhting about baking it, just vacuum bagging it. in my opinion i think it would be better to use fiberglass and then just sand it smooth and paint it black to match, the price of CF is so damn high. or you could always use a carbon kevlar mix.

Re: Working with carbon fiber.. I know someone has done it.
 

you can use that hard foam and shape it with an electric cutting knife and file/rough sand paper.