Evilchicken0 wrote:Why not wrap the bin in loft insulation - it's cheap and effective

The bin has insulation round it.... bubble wrap and dusty breather material... So it is quite good at keeping heat in... But sealing it with a heater inside seems to trip it out too easily... I have tried.. So it has to be outside the bin to blow warm air in and let it blow through and back out... So it pulls in cold air even though it is only JUST outside the bin.. It is not a problem most of the time it was just the cold snap we had. Also I need to let the styrene out so a through flow of ventalation helps... I have no idea how the styrene gets out of the sealed bag but if it is left in there it means the parts come out still soft and almost wet.. I have checked parts before and the felt cured then the next day the same parts felt like I had just put them in..... You can feel how cured the parts are through the bag.... It is an odd thing.. The pattern maker showed me how he puts resin into a large open box shape and he actually tips it up to let the styrene flow to the lowest point and has a vaccum pipe pulling it out of the lowest point...


ALMOST forgot.... I have put a set in the oven right now to test the mould and test the fit... They are made in carbon but again used some odds so there may be a few bits of distorted weave on these but it will let me see how good the mould is and how good the fit will be...

I will get them out of the oven in about 4 hours or so and may post up some pics later...

I am waiting....................................

levo wrote:I am waiting....................................

Dont hold your breath...... 2 more hours yet...... unless I take a sneaky look and see if it has gone off enough.... it is only a test.......lol.. Just hope they have not stuck.... if they come out OK I will also know if I have polished up the surface enough... If it works then get me some Carbon Kevlar ordered Levo and get yourself over here....

OK... Still not fully cured but curiosity got the best of me....

I also want to know what you guys think about the surface finish.... It is a satin almost dry pre-preg finish.. I did want to try that as I can lacquer the parts for a gloss afterwards if people want, OR I can just polish the mould to a glassy finish and not have the dry pre-preg look...


Only roughly trimmed as I need to remove the bit that looks like a hanger next to the caliper bracket but it still only weighs in at 54grams with 3 layers of carbon.



Sorry the photo below is a bit blurred.... camera phone and not the best light in the workshop at nightime..



SO dry pre-preg look or not????

I don't mind the satin - it's probably going to get scratched down there anyway and they can be laquered if needs be.
The only thing is my carbon frame protectors won't match.

Evilchicken0 wrote:I don't mind the satin - it's probably going to get scratched down there anyway and they can be laquered if needs be.
The only thing is my carbon frame protectors won't match.

Well have some of my frame protectors when they are done.. I am sure if you get the Bimota exhaust heat shield done I can sort something out.....

I prefer the dry look, when you get round to doing the NC frame and swingarm covers in Kevlar a dry look would be my preference, its more factory looking and so much bling bling!

morepower wrote:

Evilchicken0 wrote:I don't mind the satin - it's probably going to get scratched down there anyway and they can be laquered if needs be.
The only thing is my carbon frame protectors won't match.

Well have some of my frame protectors when they are done.. I am sure if you get the Bimota exhaust heat shield done I can sort something out.....

Cool - sorry I got a little distracted from the bimota heat shield

Drunkn Munky wrote:I prefer the dry look, when you get round to doing the NC frame and swingarm covers in Kevlar a dry look would be my preference, its more factory looking and so much bling bling!

Haha... seems opinion is divided.... Here you like the satin pre-preg look.... On farcebook they seem to like glossy.... I think Carbon Kevlar will have to be satin then sprayed if the customer wants glossy... I love the satin look with Carbon Kevlar..

OK... VERY rough lacquer job here.... just wafted the can at it without prepping..... But it gives an idea...

That was meant to say "not so much bling bling"

Im sure ive seen some kevlar engine covers before that almost had the weave showing giving a very rough finish, it looked dead cool. Id love the finish to be like that but i bet it wont be to everyones taste.