CF methods


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MrDeeRice
MrDeeRice
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I'm not sure if this is the correct place for this post as it covers several areas but here it goes. . . So a bit of background. . .
I've been working with fibreglass for 5 or 6 years now, mostly on a part time basis, making mainly body kits for drift cars as well as some parts for lorries. Along with the guy I work with, we are self taught by mainly trial and error, having been initially a car body repair shop to now solely fibreglass body kits. I use a hand layup process only and having read a few posts on here I believe I use polyester resin. It may seem odd to you to think I don't know what type of resin I use but until I came here I didn't realize there was any different types! Now I would like to move on my own and so as not to 'step on my friends toes' I've decided to try and work mainly with carbon fibre. So while I believe I have a good grasp of how fibreglassing works, it seems there is so much I don't know. The types of products I will be making will range from small items like wing mirror covers to more complicated items like doors bonnets and boot lids. Also I should mention I will still be working on a part time basis as I have a full time unrelated job. My intention is to put any money I make straight back in and try to make a successful business out of it. So a couple of questions.

1. What products do you think I would need to set myself up.
2. Would £1000 be a realistic starting point (I'm starting completely from scratch)
3. Would it be worth my while to take a course on CF as I have no experience with it or should I wing it as I have been doing all along!

Look forward to hearing from anyone. Thanks, David

This post gets a little messy after this. . . Problems with my cursor on iPad lol





Having watched your tutorial videos I believe resin infusion is the way to go.



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Warren
Warren
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I agree with matt on start up costs.  even doing it as a home hobby its quite expensive if you want to do the full range of parts for your own car.

Id say a course is up to you but you may well save the cost of the course in mistakes from learning.  Even with fibreglass and general laminating experience, there are a few things with infusion that can be difficult to get right without either practice or the right guidance to put you right.

Id suggest watching the videos in the training area first as they show the correct techniques and shows how the good technique will yeild good results almost every time.

From a business perspective, especially as you are a small starter in a field you havent got loads of experience in, having done a course on resin infusion might help you build credibility with your potential customers.  Not sure if the EC courses will have a certificate, but if they do stick it on the wall in your office where you bring customers etc and maybe mention in your "about me" section on your website how youve branched out and had training etc.  EC is a respected company in the field now so having done a course with them should hold some credibility.

The composites industry is a bit strange as theres no formal "accreditation" with most of the skills, you cant go and sign up at technical colleges to do carbon composites courses.  Where you do courses including composites it is generally a wider course such as manufacturing engineering, or materials engineering, or process engineering based courses with a composites module.  So in effect if you want specific training you need to do courses from a respectable company.
GO

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