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New to infusion and need alittle help
New to infusion and need alittle help
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dcfoster
dcfoster
posted 10 Years Ago
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So Ive been trying my hand at vacuum infusion for a couple attempts now. I had issues with vacuum but figured what I was doing wrong with the molding process. That being said I have a 3cfm dual stage pump and it will only pull -29.5 to -29.75 psi (thats only connected to the catch pot) as well I dont think thats an issue my other problem is that I cant seem to get the resin to pull through the part before it fully cures. I know the resin is a 'low viscosity' but it will get about halfway through the part and then the resin will just crawl through with me ending up wasting quite a few ounces of resin because it will harden in the container. This part is an interior a-pillar part for an Acura so its a small part but it takes at least an hour to pull the resin through. Am I using too much hardener or should I go with a slow cure time? My concern is that ive pulled what resin I could get into the part through and so its thinner than it should be. To add, what is the resin to Carbon fiber ratio in ounces for vacuum infusion?
Thanks.
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New to infusion and need alittle help
dcfoster
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10 Years Ago
29in/Hg is enough as long as it holds, 29.75 is damn close to as perfect a vacuum as you can get...
Hanaldo
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10 Years Ago
ok lemme see if I can remember. I was using 3 layers of hexcel carbon fiber Infusion Coth:...
dcfoster
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10 Years Ago
Also I've noticed that when I pull the part out of the mold the surface finish is flat and not...
dcfoster
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10 Years Ago
You should always draw the resin the shortest distance. 40" is a metre, that's a massive distance to...
Hanaldo
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10 Years Ago
Hanaldo, thank you very much for the info that helps me out ALOT! Though im confused regarding the...
dcfoster
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10 Years Ago
Your analogy isn't totally correct, but it's sort of the same principal. It also isn't because of...
Hanaldo
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10 Years Ago
Ok that makes more sense. However what did you mean by bridging? The Epoxy im using is Dura-klear...
dcfoster
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10 Years Ago
A quick search suggests this is a standard laminating resin and a fast hardener, it will not have a...
ChrisR
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10 Years Ago
[quote][b]ChrisR (12/05/2015)[/b][hr] A quick search suggests this is a standard laminating resin...
dcfoster
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10 Years Ago
just so you know (picked it up from one of your posts), "vac bagging" and "infusion" are two...
ChrisR
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10 Years Ago
Ok, so Vacuum bagging is where I would basically 'soak' the carbon fiber, place itinto the mold,...
dcfoster
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10 Years Ago
Correct, same surface area. The spiral hose simply extends the flow front, it doesn't slow the resin...
Hanaldo
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10 Years Ago
Ok, thats what I figured you meant by bridging. That seems likely to be happening, its difficult to...
dcfoster
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10 Years Ago
Yeh it isn't necessary to know the science in depth to get good results, but I find once you...
Hanaldo
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10 Years Ago
so yeah...I watched a vacuum bagging video.. forget that noise. Thats more materials I need to buy...
dcfoster
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10 Years Ago
Apologies, should have looked up the resin. You may be able to get away with it. I have infused...
Hanaldo
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10 Years Ago
Flow media? is that the cloth or the mesh? also you mean cling film like the stuff you use in the...
dcfoster
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10 Years Ago
It doesnt have to be absolutely perfect. I just need these blasted bubbles to go away, as well the...
dcfoster
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10 Years Ago
Just go over it quickly, you can see the bubbles pop. You don't want to create any bubbles, that...
Hanaldo
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10 Years Ago
Hanaldo and ChrisR. Thank you very much for the help. I wont have much chance to try out these new...
dcfoster
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10 Years Ago
Here are a few pics of the mold so you can see the dips. Like I said I wet sanded, 320 grit>400...
dcfoster
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10 Years Ago
ChrisR, Hanaldo? My 2nd to last post I asked about clarification on covering the gelcoat after I...
dcfoster
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10 Years Ago
Sorry mate, thought I had replied. You won't need to cover the spots where you have sanded through...
Hanaldo
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10 Years Ago
so again, covering it up means that I am completely sealing it from air? do I smooth the plastic...
dcfoster
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10 Years Ago
Correct. The styrene based gelcoats are air inhibited so that you can lay up onto the side exposed...
Hanaldo
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10 Years Ago
You certainly do need to step the grits, as Hanaldo says 400-1000 is too big a jump. It depends...
ChrisR
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10 Years Ago
Regarding the sanding, yeah I really didnt think about it at the time. The package I purchased had...
dcfoster
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10 Years Ago
I'm pretty new to this so limited knowledge, you getting top information from the guys on here, we...
VVS
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10 Years Ago
Yeah im figuring that out the hard way. but in this case ive kinda backed myself into a corner and...
dcfoster
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10 Years Ago
The mould is certainly key to getting good parts, but it is possible to sort out an imperfect...
Hanaldo
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10 Years Ago
Hanaldo, I only have the peel ply, mesh, bag. I thought you needed peel ply, release film, breather...
dcfoster
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10 Years Ago
That is the ideal setup, yes. But I have vac bagged several successful parts where I just laid them...
Hanaldo
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10 Years Ago
So my understanding is that I would appply mould release, brush resin onto the mould (or not), brush...
dcfoster
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10 Years Ago
with that short pot life you need to infuse or just wet lay without vacuum, by the time you've got...
ChrisR
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10 Years Ago
Just read the last sentence, if you are going to infuse - weigh everything that will get resin on...
ChrisR
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10 Years Ago
Can you post a photo of the infused part that failed? Might give an indicator as to whether there is...
Hanaldo
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10 Years Ago
Here are some pics of the part and the data sheet of the resin...
dcfoster
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10 Years Ago
So I did infusion again, but this time I ran the feed line the length of the part. Holy crap it went...
dcfoster
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10 Years Ago
Also slow down your infusion using the clamps,it helps especially on small parts.
Shaneer22
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10 Years Ago
I have a flow control lever, just was so surprised at the radical difference in flow rate that it...
dcfoster
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10 Years Ago
Well the part needed alittle repair. While I was pulling vacuum a thin wall in the mould broke and...
dcfoster
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10 Years Ago
My previous post had a question about mixing different brand epoxy resins with different epoxy...
dcfoster
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10 Years Ago
While you technically COULD do it, you need to know what you are doing, you need to be able to look...
Hanaldo
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10 Years Ago
Another reason Im glad I found this forum. Thank you again Hanaldo for your help. Thumbs up to you...
dcfoster
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10 Years Ago
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