Hi,

I am exploring ways of creating patterns which I can use to directly layup carbon fabric with epoxy resin to given me the carbon component. The pattern relates to a small part the length and breadth of an A5 piece of paper.

I have created one pattern with balsa wood and pine then adding some P38 filler to achieve a smooth surface.

My next step is to prepare the surface of the pattern ready for laying up. I am very interested to hear what product would be best suited to achieve this. I do not need a perfect surface finish but would like a surface that allows for easy mould release from the cured epoxy resin/carbon fabric that I will be using.

Would the Epoxy Coating Resins be suitable here? Then once set to the pattern would the only other step be to coat in wax?

Similarly I may make the same pattern in machined acrylic. However, I would still need to use P38 filler to fill in gaps and so I wandered if I still need a sealing coat on top or if just a wax would do? In the case that I still need a surface coat do you think that the same Epoxy Coating Resin would work well here?

I should add that I have polyester resin as another option of achieving a surface finish in both the wood and plastic pattern - would this be advisable considering I am laying up with epoxy resin with carbon fabric?

Thanks,
Kristoff