| This is a beginners guide to carbon fiber. More | | | | here is to use as little resin as you can while wetting |
| advanced guides supporting our how-to section on | | | | out all of the mat. Excess resin will only make your |
| vacuum molding, positive/negative molds, and weight | | | | parts needlessly heavy and weak. Keep applying resin |
| reduction will follow. | | | | as needed while working out any air pockets that |
| Start by setting out your tools, including a sheet of | | | | appear. Any excess resin should be worked to the |
| clean glass at least 4" larger than your largest piece of | | | | sides, and the pattern should be adjusted once more. |
| graphite mat. Apply some form of mold release to the | | | | The second layer goes on in the same way as the |
| glass to aid in removal of the laminate later. At this | | | | first. For the second course use a little less force so |
| point mix your resin. What resin you use depends on | | | | not to disturb the underlying layer. For cosmetic only |
| on the end application for the part you are making. In | | | | pieces, two layers of mat is enough. For trim pieces I |
| this eaxmple of a flat sheet, that would most likely | | | | usually use three layers, and for body panels 4-5 with |
| become a gauge trim piece or a blanking plate, almost | | | | a special veil layer that will be discussed in a later |
| any resin will work fine. Resin systems can cost from | | | | review. |
| 30 dollars a gallon up to 200 dollars a gallon, so choose | | | | Flip the glass over and assure that the pattern is still |
| one that suits your needs. No matter what resin you | | | | intact, and there are no air pockets. If there are small |
| use consistency is very important. The resin and the | | | | pockets of trapped air you can push them gently to |
| catalyst must be throughly mixed. | | | | the sides. Once the air is removed, lay a large block of |
| Ensure the face of the mat is clean from any debris | | | | wood or another sheet of glass across the top. This |
| that would blemish the finish. Now, using a push pull | | | | will promote a uniform thickness and aid n the removal |
| motion stretch the fabric until it has a uniform | | | | of any smaller un-noticed air pockets. Now allow the |
| appearance. This is one of the most important steps. | | | | resin to partially cure. Depending on the system you |
| Once you are ok with the pattern start applying resin. | | | | used and the conditions it is curing under, this can take |
| Start in the middle in work your way around. The goal | | | | anywhere from 10 minutes to 12 hours. |