Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

Carbon and carbon Kevlar skinning help

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic21127.aspx

By MattN34 - 4/20/2016 9:07:35 PM

Hi 
This is my first real go a skinning a part.
I did a filler cap a while back which came out much better probably as it's a simple shape
I figured I'd have another go, I want to do a few interior bits on my R34 but I dare not ruin any components before I get the hang of it!
I've started pulling bits out of my other car (mx5 ) as parts are cheap to practice on, I started with the cup holder and all seems good apart from where I've trimmed the two cup holes out, i found it difficult to trim to size and shape back without damaging the fibre or uncovered plastic.

Does anyone have any tips for when its comes to cutting/trimming around cuttouts/features which don't require skinning

Do you have to mask before you put the base resin down and at what stage do you trim the excess back?

Thanks in advance!

I posted this on my phone I will try to reply with a picture later from my PC
By Dravis - 4/21/2016 10:13:20 AM

I find it very difficult to skin with the hybrid fabrics ... I try to avoid it ..

The kevlar absorbs a lot of resin and swells up, creating a very rough ridged surface .. takes ages to recoat and sand flat without sanding into the kevlar (which just gets really messy Crying)

Also the edges can be very irritating to trim neatly .. the Kevlar frays and is almost impossible to cut cleanly ..

I almost always fold the fabric around all edges, and trim after the whole process is done ..