Hello everyone,

 

I am picking up the gear this weekend to start learning carbon fibre resin infusion. I am have a bunch of cheap fabric to learn with; and plenty of nicer material including carbon Kevlar etc for when I start building final parts.

 

My aim is to create some gorgeous looking and strong aftermarket but oem shape parts for both the interior and exterior. I have searched some previous threads and sites and would like to compile a list of what is currently available and what people would like to see made. Seeing as some of this will require moulds to be build I would intend to be able to build the parts to order eventually (at which point a trader account would be in order).

 

Currently I would like to try:

 

Interior

- door handles

- double din centre facia

- possibly steering console pods

- speedo surround/backplate

- door sill covers

- front windscreen/bonnet plastic thing where the windscreen wipers are.

 

Exterior

- Wing mirrors

- Front/rear splitters/lip

- 99spec wing

- plenum cover

- fan shroud

- Cam belt cover

 

So, if people are currently offering these for sale please feel free to post pics here as I don't need to build things that are readily for sale.

 

Also if there are items you would like to see built then comment and I will add to the list! Nothing bigger than already stated though due to space in my current place.

 

Also it is likely I will be giving away some of my initial experiment parts if they are of any use to people.

 

Best regards, William

Edited May 20, 20169 yr by wchestnutt

I believe you can get the engine bay parts from the states here https://interior-innovations.com/index.php/welcome/product_detail/56

Have you considered simply carbon skinning parts, rather than outright moulding and manufacture?

 

It'd certainly be "easier" to skin them, I think. :)

 

If you need any advice on fabricating moulds, maybe drop Car.Mad a PM as that's something he knows plenty about. :thumbup1:

I believe you can get the engine bay parts from the states here https://interior-innovations.com/index.php/welcome/product_detail/56

 

Yea that's fine then get them here cost of shipping tax kick you up the nuts

Yea that's fine then get them here cost of shipping tax kick you up the nuts

 

Yeah, he just said It would save him the bother if you think you could get them elsewhere.

 

Have you considered simply carbon skinning parts, rather than outright moulding and manufacture?

 

It'd certainly be "easier" to skin them, I think. :)

 

I think skinning would be better to use with hydro dipping as it would be cheaper if it's just the looks people care about

Edited May 19, 20169 yr by Alic

I think skinning would be better to use with hydro dipping as it would be cheaper if it's just the looks people care about

 

Er, what?

 

Why on earth would anyone carbon skin a part, then hydrodip it...?

 

If people are thinking of having things like interior door handles or pods made from carbon, you can be reasonably sure that they're not going to be doing it to save weight; they're doing it for the looks. So, as good as hydrodipping can look, nothing tops the appearance of real CF if you're into that sort of thing.

Er, what?

 

Why on earth would anyone carbon skin a part, then hydrodip it...?

 

If people are thinking of having things like interior door handles or pods made from carbon, you can be reasonably sure that they're not going to be doing it to save weight; they're doing it for the looks. So, as good as hydrodipping can look, nothing tops the appearance of real CF if you're into that sort of thing.

 

You said about carbon skinning parts, I suggested rather than skinning them with carbon, it would be easier to get normal parts, and put a carbon dip on it so they look like carbon. But fair enough if you want the real deal, it's all compromise of cost.

Hi guys,

 

Those engine parts are cool, but I reckon could be built for less here, as tax and exchange rates arent in our favour now.

 

I have had a few dipped parts in the past and always felt let down, you cant beat a bit of real 2x2 carbon fibre twill! :)

 

I agree Si that skining might be an option for some bits. If it makes sense for a mould, specially if other wanted the same part then I could be better that route. Thanks for heads up re carmad.

 

Best regards, W

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

Hi guys,

 

Those engine parts are cool, but I reckon could be built for less here, as tax and exchange rates arent in our favour now.

 

I have had a few dipped parts in the past and always felt let down, you cant beat a bit of real 2x2 carbon fibre twill! :)

 

I agree Si that skining might be an option for some bits. If it makes sense for a mould, specially if other wanted the same part then I could be better that route. Thanks for heads up re carmad.

 

Best regards, W

I'm looking into buying a setup for resin infusion myself and getting some pro training to make my own parts. Watch this space. Like Bill I fancy having a go and the bits I want to do are not readily available

Ian, happy to share stories as we progress... I have also been offered a specialist oven for curing prepreg etc, but don't have the space unfortunately. Is that something you would be interested in?

Ian, happy to share stories as we progress... I have also been offered a specialist oven for curing prepreg etc, but don't have the space unfortunately. Is that something you would be interested in?

 

How big Bill maybe!

How big Bill maybe!

 

I will find out and let you know this weekend!

I know I'd prefer a real carbon part over a skimmed part!

 

Matching cam belt covers and throttle cover would be nice, as would a fan shroud. Carbon pods either side of the clocks would be cool aswell

I know I'd prefer a real carbon part over a skimmed part!

 

Matching cam belt covers and throttle cover would be nice, as would a fan shroud. Carbon pods either side of the clocks would be cool aswell

 

Noted :yes:

After 12 hrs on the road I now have the carbon fibre setup at home. SOOOOO many rolls of various carbon and kevlar weaves. A couple of air pumps, decompression chambers and spray guns

 

 

Bit overwhelming really.. Where to start!!

Sucker for a project ain't you. Good stuff though, look forward to the outcome.

Good luck with it. Now here is a person who has gone out and purchased the gear to get something done. Talk is cheap I hope it goes really well and you make a good go of it.

Hi guys,

 

Haha yep definitely one for a project. So, today I took a full inventory of the fabric and equipment I have picked up and labelled everything so i have an idea of what I can do, and took some swatches....

 

 

My first project will be Carbon Fibre door sill covers, similar to these: http://www.zthirtytwo.com/products/zthirtytwo-door-sills-carbon-fiber

Imported these come to £215 a set to the UK.

 

So, first thing to do is to make a rubber mould from my current one, and then use a resin infusion with a 2x2 200gsm carbon fibre twill for the top layer, and a coupel of 650G Twill carbon layers to add thickness.

 

Would anyone be interested in these if I were to build a few sets? (Obviously subject to forum trader account) I think I could do them for £95 a set including shipping potentially.

Edited May 30, 20169 yr by wchestnutt

Hell yeah in the future

A bit poor atm lol

Edited May 30, 20169 yr by Alic

Yep, I'd be interested in a set of those

Hi guys,

 

Haha yep definitely one for a project. So, today I took a full inventory of the fabric and equipment I have picked up and labelled everything so i have an idea of what I can do, and took some swatches....

 

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My first project will be Carbon Fibre door sill covers, similar to these: http://www.zthirtytwo.com/products/zthirtytwo-door-sills-carbon-fiber

Imported these come to £215 a set to the UK.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]97610[/ATTACH]

 

So, first thing to do is to make a rubber mould from my current one, and then use a resin infusion with a 2x2 200gsm carbon fibre twill for the top layer, and a coupel of 650G Twill carbon layers to add thickness.

 

Would anyone be interested in these if I were to build a few sets? (Obviously subject to forum trader account) I think I could do them for £95 a set including shipping potentially.

 

 

get a set made if there good i will have a set

I would be interested in a set of door sills as well.

 

Scuttle panels as well would be nice. I think that a lot of people out there would like the scuttle panels as most are faded now, or have been painted with rattle cans. Take a look on CZP or Z1 site and see how much they are new, and work out if you could make and sell them anywhere near these costs. I reckon you would easily get 10 people in a GB.

 

Good luck with the new venture

Good to know there is a bit of interest out there guys! Scuttle panels look like they would be very tricky but I do need a new one as well so that was potentially the next build! :)

Hi guys,

 

Haha yep definitely one for a project. So, today I took a full inventory of the fabric and equipment I have picked up and labelled everything so i have an idea of what I can do, and took some swatches....

 

My first project will be Carbon Fibre door sill covers, similar to these: http://www.zthirtytwo.com/products/zthirtytwo-door-sills-carbon-fiber

Imported these come to £215 a set to the UK.

 

So, first thing to do is to make a rubber mould from my current one, and then use a resin infusion with a 2x2 200gsm carbon fibre twill for the top layer, and a coupel of 650G Twill carbon layers to add thickness.

 

Would anyone be interested in these if I were to build a few sets? (Obviously subject to forum trader account) I think I could do them for £95 a set including shipping potentially.

 

Speaking as a Trader, my advice to you straight away would be to ensure that you can successfully create these carbon fibre parts before you start lining up potential customers!!

 

Make a set for yourself and, if you're happy with them, sign up as a Trader and then start the marketing offensive.

 

I appreciate your willingness to learn these new skills, William, and I truly respect you for it. But I think you need to do it all in the correct order :thumbup1:

Hi Si,

 

That's fair, it was just a quick scoping question to see if it is the kind of thing that I would make more of in the future, and would impact the type of mould I made so it wasn't just blind touting. Sorry if it came across like that. Also it gives me a bit of drive to actually start practicing this as it is rather time consuming :)

 

But without that one question I wouldnt have known whether to sign up as a trader or not, so market research > Learning the skill > Trader account > customers. otherwise I would be going in blind. I am by no means taking orders at the moment.

 

Best regards, William.

If the price were right I'd be interested in carbon sill covers. Was thinking just the other day how under whelming the stock plastic is.