Carbon fiber mods - how?

[Old Bear]

I've seen a couple of mods on here with what appears to be carbon fiber. Care to share? Are you using real carbon fiber, or purchased th part made from carbon fiber (where from, pray tell?), or are you using carbon fiber-looking vinyl?

For instance, I thought that the plastic tank cover on the Vaquero would look good in carbon fiber, maybe even one of the dark colors (red, purple) other than the natural black (my ride is black). Never worked with real carbon fiber, so I don't know how one would match the front of the plastic and the curves. Same question if done in vinyl. I know you can heat it and it will mold, but how much? Just looking to get educated here! :???:

[Top Cat]

This is what I used on my lower windshield.
It is stretchable if you heat it with a hairdryer.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/24-x60-BLACK-CARBON-FIBER-VINYL-AUTO-CAR-WRAP-sheet-roll-film-sticker-BIG-PIECE-/140832377792?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item20ca438bc0&vxp=mtr

[dewey405]

I think the popular thing is to get them done with hydrographics. Jestephens has done alot, he is the one to ask

[trip]

When the day comes that I buy my Voyager (planning to get a 2014).... I'll be touching base with Google right away.

[jestephens]

Hydrographics is how I did mine.

Jason at Midwest Hydro Designs did all my work. http://www.midwesthydrodesigns.com/

My bike: http://www.vulcanbagger.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29600
I would sure love it to be REAL carbon, and some carbon-snobs may not like mine, but I'm happy with the way it all turned out. It's definitely the cheapest way to get the look.

That said, I have a customer that makes DOD Drones out of carbon fiber and I'm trying to convince them to make some motorcycle parts, starting with Kawasaki. . . I would donate patterns of course :tup:

[mobandy78]

Hydrographics seem to be the best way to go. That way you know it's on there and it'll hold up to the elements. The vinyl stuff is very finicky and you never know what you'll end up with... material and/or looks.

I think the tank cover would look really good in the black carbon... especially with a black bike.

[jestephens]

THose vinyl films look great, but the ones I've seen are 3D (textured), so I was apprehensive to use it as a wrap. I bought a roll from Autozone, and kept it around for other projects.

[recumbentbob]

Hydrographics will give the best results IMHO.

http://duckvilleimaging.com/

http://duckvilleimaging.com/film-gallery/17-carbon-fiber-film-gallery

[sho_greg]

/imghttp://www.carbonfiberfilm.com/wp-content/gallery/2009-victory-vision-motorcycle/p1020422.jpg/img

Thats a photo of some vinyl...

http://www.carbonfiberfilm.com/wp-content/gallery/2009-victory-vision-motorcycle/p1020422.jpg

http://www.carbonfiberfilm.com/wp-content/gallery/random-submissions/helmet.jpg

[Monkeyman]

Thats a photo of some vinyl...

http://www.carbonfiberfilm.com/wp-content/gallery/2009-victory-vision-motorcycle/p1020422.jpg



GREAT pic (even for a non-CF person like me)! :) Nothing like a Vision to brighten my day! lol

[Monkeyman]

Real CF is molded the same way as fiberglass.

[jestephens]

Agreed, the Vinyl is the most "real" looking carbon fiber-look without the smooth, glossy surface carbon fiber is known for because of the textured 3D look.

The vinyl has a "4 year outdoor lifespan/12 year indoor lifespan" yours will depend on your outdoor exposure and weather extremes

[helimd]

The "real" carbon fiber is cured in a vacuum, with heat. The epoxies that are used are quite a bit different than fiberglass resin. I spent several years on the Boeing (Apache) production line and saw carbon fiber and kevlar in their infancy.

[jestephens]

The "real" carbon fiber is cured in a vacuum, with heat. The epoxies that are used are quite a bit different than fiberglass resin. I spent several years on the Boeing (Apache) production line and saw carbon fiber and kevlar in their infancy.


but it doesn't require a vacuum. Of course materials are different, but process is/can be similar. - I have a customer making drones from carbon fiber for DOD; all hand layed and epoxied :tup:

[cnc]

When you vacuum bag any lay up, carbon fiber, glass cloth etc, using epoxy or polyester resin, you get a stronger lay up because of the extra pressure compressing it and also more consistent resin / cloth ratio.
Is vacum bagging needed for a cosmetic part?, not really IMO.
Most epoxies does not fair as well as polyester resin when subject to UV rays and should be coated with a UV resistant finish.

[mobandy78]

/imghttp://www.carbonfiberfilm.com/wp-content/gallery/2009-victory-vision-motorcycle/p1020422.jpg/img


That's some pretty cool vinyl. I saved that to use for reference in the future.