383

I got real frustrated and took a week off from carbon to cool down but I'm going to pull some resin this weekend.

SuperchargedStroker

If you guys need help with this, my buddy does CF and owns the Co.
Ill Street Composites
James Island SC
If u need supplies..

383

Thanks thats actually where I got my last batch of resin.

383

I re-bagged my mold and reinforced the back with more cardboard to prevent leaks.
Those damn folds are still impossible to get rid of!! Ill see how it looks tomorrow and try to come up with a way to use the actual bezel as a mold rather than the negative.

383

More pics here
http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic5...dex=5&Update=1

383

Different approach this time and still getting better
http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic5...dex=5&Update=1

AORoads

perseverance!

383

This SUCKS! 5 failed attempts and I'm no closer. I just want to buy some pre-made ones from APsis or someone of the like. I just cant bring myself to do it. I need to make my own, I just cant figure it out.
I wish I could pay to see someone make one in front of me. Everything on the Internet is so simple, flat panels or mildly contoured parts. These headlights are insanely hard!

0Andrew6@TheDoubleAA

From all the carbon I've seen done you need to do the entire piece and then come back and dremill out the holes.

383

I cant get the fabric to lay flat on either side of the center light opening. It wants to fold and lift because of the uneven radii.

0Andrew6@TheDoubleAA

have you tried different thread types?

383

Not yet. Any suggestions?

0Andrew6@TheDoubleAA

honestly I've never messed with it, if you get ahold of rlsebring he should be able to give you pointers or I can have my carbon guy contact you.

383

Yea we have been PMing a bit. I'm thinking of having a professional do something for me. That just wouldn't feel right after trying so hard. I don't like giving up but Ill go broke if I don't cut my losses soon.

RLSebring

Thought I'd tease you a little... These carbon fiber bezels made it back to me for some mods. I blacked out the trim rings and trying to decide what kind of lighting change we're going to do. I'm thinking Halo's of some color 0r maybe a light bar on the outer edges.

The bezels were laid up on the mold. About 8 mil of clear gelcoat then a brushed clear vinylester resin for tackiness to lay the carbon on. It's a PITA as you know. This is about as straight as we could keep the twill and it was a 7.5 ounce material.

It can be did and there is really a couple of reasons I'm not doing them anymore. Cost and labor was one thing but not being to get what was needed out of them was the biggest set back. You have a vendor on here now trying to sell them at 1400.00 and that includes the light being brand new.

383

The first thing I notice is that you went widebody. NICE!
Second thing is that the weave turns in on the big light which means you started on the small side. to keep it straight you need to start on the blinker side. The weave needs too much material on the "hill" to stay straight. Look at me with all the experience but still no bezel. Ill be back to carbon after my supercharger is done.

RLSebring

Thanks for noticing the car. Just finished the conversion Monday for the most part. Still tweeking a little. I wanted to have my lights finished during the conversion but had to go Skiing instead so I haven't had time to touch them yet. The car sure gets noticed now... I'm waiting to get some wax on the car to get her shiny then take some pics to post.

I think we tried just about everyway imaginable to lay the pattern. I want to say the last ones we actually started dead center of the bezel so we could go either way with the slack or be able to push and pull the material the way it needed to go.

If I were to do it again I'd probably put together a two part mold and see how that did. The clamping power of vaccum is something else as you know... But I don't want to go there. It makes my wallet hurt.

383

That and you cant position the weave when the stack of materials is on top.
ps. Who is the "we" did you Have someone helping you lay up? It did seam like an extra pair of hands would help.