Hi guys/gals.

Ive been interested in CF for quite a while now, I purchased a mould making kit and CF kit. Enjoyed creating some small items but i had air bubbles at the time.

Im looking at making some carbon fibre headlight covers for my vehicle. The size is ~ 26cm x 34cm.

I just want to ask what are the best options for me with both mould making (am i best to buy the mould kit again)? or try my hand at fibreglass moulds?

I really want a decent finish on the cover, But after the bubbles disaster last time im worried ill blow £30 on CF and it be ruined cosmetically.  Unfortunately i dont have £300 spare to spend on a vacuum bagging kit. so im kind of stuck doing it manually. Is it actually possible to get a decent finish this way? or am i best to save and buy the vacuum kit,

I plan on purchasing a heat gun, and also ill need high temp resin due to potential engine bay temps.

The last kit i ordered were:

Carbon Fibre Mould Making Kit
Carbon Fibre Laminating Starter Kit

Any help/suggestions are welcome

Thanks
Ross.

For a cosmetic part, it's certainly possible to get a decent result using simple wet lay techniques, it may just take a bit of practice. 

Good to know it is possible. Do you think heat gun + one of these ROLLER is worth using together?Ok, i suppose that lowers my spend a little. Best to buy the same kits i used before? or try a different method?ThanksRoss.

Get an EC bristle roller ..  it will help get the trapped air-bubbles out of the CF .. then wet sand and clearcoat it, that will fill a lot of the visible surface bubbles.

"Sapere Aude"... Dare to KNOW!

The written word is the only truly efficient vehicle for transmitting a complex concept from mind to mind...

103% of all people do not understand statistics...

Do not adjust our mind, theres a fault in reality :-)

Great, to be honest, i hadnt thought of sanding and adding clearcoat over the top. i always thought it was gelcoat and thats the final finish.

Up to you which mould making kit you buy, I've used both and I prefer the Unimould system, but I have experience with fibreglass. The epoxy mould making kit is very straightforward and easy to use, so if you don't want to mess around with learning to fibreglass, go with that. 

Interesting that, with "snagging" the CF fibres .... Never seems to be a problem for me...

Cleaning the bristle roller is a b**ch though --- 

That said, its been a while since my last wet lay--- I mostly infuse now ...

But! I do have a project coming up,  a seat shell for a custom BMW "tracker" I may end up having to wet-lay that and Vac-bag ----

there will be a thread on that ... maybe with some pics ...

"Sapere Aude"... Dare to KNOW!

The written word is the only truly efficient vehicle for transmitting a complex concept from mind to mind...

103% of all people do not understand statistics...

Do not adjust our mind, theres a fault in reality :-)

Dravis, please post that you if and when.