Good evening

I was wondering if it is possible to make a part that needs a split mould without the use of a curing oven. The latter is pretty much keeping me from trying prepregs as I can't use my domestic oven because I can't get a vacuum line in there and buying one isn't in the budget. Getting an old domestic oven just for this purpose where I can make a hole would be possible but I also don't really have the space for setting up a second oven...

My idea was to use a very slow curing hardener, i.e 210 or 300 minutes, and then hand lay up the carbon and epoxy inside the two parts before closing them and then add the vacuum bag and just wait until it's cured. I think the curing time would be plenty long enough but the big question is will the hand layup stick well enough to the mould so that it doesn't come loose in the process or how can it be made to stick well enough? Has anyone done this and can share some experiences?

Kind regards
Martin

Ok, that sounds pretty promising. Will spray tack show on the finished part? I guess so as it can't just vanish in the process, but its use would certainly help. The part I think about making is not actually very similar to the airbox made in the split-mould and prepreg tutorials but it has some of the same challenges, the fabric and resin on the upper part of the mould will be hanging like off the ceiling until the vacuum bag is in place and holding it together. Spreading the vacuum bag around the inside will be even more difficult than with the airbox; I'm pretty sure I'd have to lay the separation and breather layers in already before closing the mould, like I've seen it done by other people, so that only the bag remains.