Best Way To Hand Lay Carbon Fibre With Resin


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dilligaf76
dilligaf76
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Can anyone tell me the best way to hand lay Carbon Fibre with resin in a mould. I am trying to make a R/C plane, I have already made the mould. I do not have the use of a vacuum pump and wondered if its possible to literally do it by hand with positive results, what are your thoughts?
Steve Broad
Steve Broad
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dilligaf76 - 5/22/2020 8:42:07 PM
Can anyone tell me the best way to hand lay Carbon Fibre with resin in a mould. I am trying to make a R/C plane, I have already made the mould. I do not have the use of a vacuum pump and wondered if its possible to literally do it by hand with positive results, what are your thoughts?

Yes, you can lay by hand only, but you won't get the strength or lighness produced when using vacuum. A pump can cost as little as £60 so well worth getting, especially when making stuff as weight critical as R/C models.

Chris Rogers
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I agree with Steve, a vacuum pump would help - but then you have to get into all the process materials that go with vacuum bagging. 

You can do ok with light cloth (I'm guessing 200g or less material - because airplanes?) by brushing small amounts of resin and rolling with a small wet-out roller.  You can get them very tiny: https://www.bodico.com/collections/fiberglass-laminating-rollers/products/mini-fiberglass-laminating-rollers?variant=1032075803

Foam brushes can be better than bristle brushes for applying light coats of resin.  Just lay the cloth in the mold and start in a middle area and brush/dab resin on, waiting for it to soak through.  You'll have to cut and lap into tight corners if you have them and they aren't really close to an edge.  If you are careful not to pool resin and roll out your laminate very well you should get good results.  It won't be as light as if it were vacuum bagged, but it may be ok. 

Maybe try it with a similar weight fiberglass so you can see any voids or dry spots as you go.  Carbon won't be exactly the same but it's close enough - and so much harder to see through!




dilligaf76
dilligaf76
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Can you tell me where to get one of these pumps from?
GO

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