working with carbon fiber

T

theizzardking

Joined
Dec 29, 2012
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just wondering how you guys use carbon fiber in your applications, is it a layering process or a milling process? i got a bunch of chunks laying around and was wondering if they'd be useful for this.
 
The stuff I have I do with my belt grinder. It's an expensive material, and its one of those materials that buyers want. Some people are extremely alergic to working with it. Frank
 
Typically grind and sand to shape, I like to use files and coarse paper to get rough shape so I can control the dust, I wear nitrile gloves and respirator. I do all my sanding over a bucket of water and keep it wet, helps get a good finish and controls the dust.
 
Like Patrick and Frank above, I rough grind to shape and usually finish with hand-sanding. It's hard to cut, but grinds very easily. Work it wet, like Patrick said, to keep dust down. Wear a respirator/eye pro/rubber gloves. I prefer to finish CF at a low grit (220, 320, 400) because I think it preserves the contrast between the carbon and the resin.
 
nice thanks guys, i was wondering how to bring the color out after it had been cut, i noticed on the sides the color had gotten dull from the ban saw cuts, good to know it can be brought back to life with some light sanding and water. got any idea where they sale this stuff so i can compare what i have vs what's commonly used, i literately just cut a 4 1/2 foot tall chunk from a aircraft wing skin, want to make sure it's the same stuff you guys are using before i get to excited.
 
Well, I don't know about that, but the guy that will is Chuck Bybee. He and his daughter Jessica operate AKS Alpha Knife Supply. Give them a call and ask for Chuck. He's a real neat guy who loves to help people, Jessica does too. No you don't have to buy anything. Tell him it was me that sent you to him. He knows huge amounts about planes and recovery work of materials from planes. Frank
 
The carbon you have will depend on what plane you got it from if its a Boeing plane it will probably be 3k-70-pw pre preg autoclave cured make sure you where gloves and a mask and have a shop vac close buy
If you sand the paint off to reveal the weave and post a pic we may be able to identify it
 
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