Carbon fiber advice

[T Bolen]

I want to make a new instrument panel for a boat I just bought. Carbon fiber would look great. The surface is flat, so all I need is a piece about 1/8" thick and around 8'' by 24". Three questions:
1)Can anyone recommend a source for this?
2) It it difficult to cut? Would a saber saw with a fine (metal) blade work?


Thanks in advance!

 

[Jeff@Carbon6]

You can ,dare I say it, Get fake carbon fiber from a vinyl graphic shop. Much easier to cut and stick. If you cut real carbon fiber it will show the graphite thread on the sides. You can try to cut it a bit oversize and sand it down.

Try contacting Peter at Downforce (Prime member NSXPOWERED). He might be able to whip something out for you.

Good luck.

 

[JoeSchmoe]

A sheet with those dimensions will probably run you a couple hundred bucks. I'd recommend against the saber saw because of the edge feathering problem Vroom brought up earlier. The material does sand and grind really well though.

Could you just get the part wrapped instead?

-- Joe

 

[nsx2tall]

Forgive me for my ignorance, but don't you typically cut the carbon fiber sheet seperately and then use a mold to embed it in resin? Can you purchase sheets already in resin and then trim them up for use?

-RJ

 

[Jeff@Carbon6]

that is whet we have been referring to. I lay out flat sheets all the time for building flat sides on parts etc. There appears to be a shortage on 2x2 twill carbon took me two weeks to find a vendor that had stock.

I tell you what Tom, If you can get an exact pattern of what you want (cardboard cutout) I can do it for you. I have casting resin (perfectly clear). It would give it a more optical look. Probubly cost about $50 (covering all materials etc.

Let me know.

 

[T Bolen]

Thanks for the replies - I have never worked with this stuff at all.
I don't want to cover it with vinyl as it is cracked in several places where the mounting holes are.
VRoooM - thanks for the offer - I just may take you up on this. This is the main instrument cluster from a '94 Mastercraft. I can take it apart this weekend and make a template.
I'll PM you after I get it made.
Thanks again.

 

[Patdeisa]

Forgive me for my ignorance, but don't you typically cut the carbon fiber sheet seperately and then use a mold to embed it in resin? Can you purchase sheets already in resin and then trim them up for use?

-RJ

Just to answer your question, yes, you can buy sheets with resin already in them. They're called "prepreg," but the only ones I've seen are about 8"x8" square. If you can find larger sheets, then it should be easy to make with the hardest part being the cutting.