Carbon Fibre: How is it applied? (Not what you think)

[Lord-Data]

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....e=STRK:MEWA:IT

^^^ I don't mind the look on an engine cover .. hate it on dash pieces, but looks ok there .. I was under the impression it came on a roll, like a contact type of material? If so, how is it applied to such an irregular shape as an engine cover?

Mine is a S/C VT, so different shape to that one, but still irregular ..

Thanks in advance

[RKZ234]

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....e=STRK:MEWA:IT

^^^ I don't mind the look on an engine cover .. hate it on dash pieces, but looks ok there .. I was under the impression it came on a roll, like a contact type of material? If so, how is it applied to such an irregular shape as an engine cover?

Mine is a S/C VT, so different shape to that one, but still irregular ..

Thanks in advance

In most cases it is actually a Carbon Fibre pattern on plastic adhesive sheet. (a bit like contact to protect School books)

Genuine Carbon fibre is A.) VERY expensive and B.) made in a similar fashion to Fibre Glass.

[Lord-Data]

Well ok, thats the stuff i'm talking about .. like i said, something like contact I'm still curious tho, how do you get it evenly and smoothly on such an irregularly shaped object?

[Bax]

With a fair bit of time, not 180 dollars worth of time though.

I'd have to see it close up, but very carefully haha.

And yeah, carbon fibres kind of like fibreglass, except its in sheets which you place hundreds / thousands of sheets on to get the strength up, then i believe they are baked together in a pressure chamber or something.

[RKZ234]

I'd guess a hairdryer might come in handy, or maybe it is put on in a vacuum process.

[Bax]

Yeah I thought that too.. But even still you'd expect slight creases??

[Lord-Data]

Maybe i'll just paint it .. sounds easier .. matt black with a gloss coat should come up nicely .. i've seen some V3800 covers posted on here before (VS's i think, but same stuff) with gold lettering, think the S/C cover will come up nice too

[Camotec]

Carbon Fibre comes native as a weave and is often mixed with other fibres like kevlar and graphite depending on application. it is as said before made into shapes in that way similar to fibreglass. but a few different resins can be used depending on the desired finish and flexability.

My dad uses carbon fibre for aeroplane controls and brackets in planes that he does up.

Cheers
Ben