About carbon fibre fabric

[tweetdriver63]

I know that carbon fibre, like fibreglass, is a cloth woven fabric, impregnated with epoxy resin, but I have a question about the fabric itself.

I wonder if gaiters for the shifter and handbrake could be made from the fabric (without the epoxy obviously). I've never worked with the stuff, but I'm thinking about getting some from ebay (about $20 for the remnant) which would be easily big enough for the job. Would it be a waste of money? I was just thinking it could look good along with the other carbon fibre bits in my interior.

[Specky]

Yep... Waist of money...

each strand is unidirectional in strength... hence they are weaved... and then layed at 90 degrees to the previous sheet...

IMHO they would not last to long before looking tired and frayed...


Hope that helps

TTFN

[tweetdriver63]

thank you specky. That's exactly what I needed to know.

[Doug]

agree

Brian MDB works with the stuff daily and if needed I'm sure he can answer more questions about it.

[F1 LOTUS]

agree

Brian MDB works with the stuff daily and if needed I'm sure he can answer more questions about it.

TA-DAAA!
Yup! Dry carbon fiber cloth is totally unsuited to anything like you're suggesting. If you must use real carbon, it is available in a soft laminated form and is used for wallets etc. Also, there's a carbon-effect leather available that is totally suitable for interior trim and is used for motorcycle boots, even Lotus used it themselves on the Elise-based track car (the open-wheeled thing), AND I used it to re-trim my Elan's seats and interior.

[tweetdriver63]

agree

Brian MDB works with the stuff daily and if needed I'm sure he can answer more questions about it.

TA-DAAA!
Yup! Dry carbon fiber cloth is totally unsuited to anything like you're suggesting. If you must use real carbon, it is available in a soft laminated form and is used for wallets etc. Also, there's a carbon-effect leather available that is totally suitable for interior trim and is used for motorcycle boots, even Lotus used it themselves on the Elise-based track car (the open-wheeled thing), AND I used it to re-trim my Elan's seats and interior.

I did see carbon-fibre vinyl for motorcycle, boat, car upholstery on ebay. From the pictures it looks pretty good and I was thinking about it when it occurred to me to ask about real CF fabric first. The vinyl seems like it could be good for the lower door trim (instead of carpet), using a thin foam backing, or a solid backing, and maybe for gaiters. I have new seat covers coming via kmckmc (black napa leather/alcantara inserts). I just really like the CF look.

[nchase]

There are UK Suppliers who can provde whole leather hides with the carbon fibre effect - I know I bought one to cover my roll bar.

[nitroman]

Here's some CF appliqué. Notice the Lotus roundel picture.
http://www.slymachines.com/catalog/products.asp?catid=8

Check out the interior retrim on this Alfa. Must have cost a small fortune! Compare it to any other 1991 Alfa Spyder with all the black plastic to really appreciate. These are standard Maserati trim colors, and not to everyone's liking... I am just appreciating all the needlework involved. It would be great to do this to the M100, using different colors.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Alfa-Rom ... dZViewItem