Doing some custom carbon fiber work

[oneslowcamino]

I've always wanted to fab up some custom carbon pieces so I bought 3 yards of carbon fiber a gallon of epoxy resin and went to town. I started with a G body heater delete panel and I want to try to do some single piece molds and carbon overlay next.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/balez308/IMG_0721.jpg

Two layers of carbon and one layer of fiberglass after coming out of the mold and being trimmed.


http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/balez308/IMG_0722.jpg

Final product after a lot of time wet sanding and buffing. Not perfect some low spots but I give it a 7/10. I'm happy with it for being my first piece and I plan to make a few more panels so I know where I need to improve on now.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/balez308/IMG_0754.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/balez308/IMG_0780.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/balez308/IMG_0782.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/balez308/IMG_0783.jpg

Any input from you guys would be awesome. Thanks for looking!

[Ricky Bobby]

awesome looks good

[WhatsADSM]

Looks good for your first piece!

[michelle]

Nice work!

[spooln30]

Looks good.

[Russ Jerome]

Yours came out way better than my first attempt:
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/386387_10150470847720698_748950697_8879974_3028022 72_n.jpg
While putting resin on outdoors I looked away just long enough for some big blobs to congeal, doesnt look great but
its functional for first attempt. Works fine so I didnt make another, yours looks way better!

[Wagonbacker9]

Yours came out way better than my first attempt:
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/386387_10150470847720698_748950697_8879974_3028022 72_n.jpg
While putting resin on outdoors I looked away just long enough for some big blobs to congeal, doesnt look great but
its functional for first attempt. Works fine so I didnt make another, yours looks way better!

Theres CF in that pic? all I see is a monstrous turbo.

But to OP: definitely nice work.

[BR3W CITY]

Hey what was your cut/buff process to get the shine? Its the only part I really can't figure out. We made a few sets of CF gun grips but the have a "haze" in the top coat.

[BadAzzGTA89]

Now that's what i like to see people making there own stuff!
Good job

[GHOSST]

Awesome bro!

[srt4eh]

very nicely done :)

[oneslowcamino]

Thanks for all of the positive feed back guys! I put up the last two pics to show the imperfections. What I did for getting the finish was after removing from the mold I wet sanded it down with some 150 grit then applied two more light coats of epoxy. Next wet sanded from 120,150,220,400,600, then 1000. After that I put down a coat of clear, wet sanded with 1000, one more coat of clear, wet sanded with 1000, and used a two step buffing process with a 7” power buffer. Like Russ said the resin is very touchy so you have to watch out for air pockets and what not when putting it down. I live on the east side so I did it all in my condo lol. Sadly I sold all of my “toy” cars including my El Camino so anything I make I'm just going to try to sell. Really I just got bored one day and just thought it would be something cool to make. I should have more pieces coming when I get more ideas for parts.

[Boostaddct]

That looks REALLY good! Nice job!

[BigSnailBuick]

I'll buy it off you. That should tell you it came out nicely :)