Information and a Question...

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02-21-2008, 08:20 AM
xtreme 2

Information and a Question...

http://www.oppracing.com/opp_pages.php? ... _fiber_101

A very good read about the differences in carbon fiber products, both in quality and weight savings...

Which leads me to a question...

When I begin the process of making carbon fiber products (many are in the works now), how would you like me to proceed?

Obviously, the polyester resin and fiberglass would be MUCH cheaper, as I have been pricing and polyester resin is $8/qt where Epoxy Resin is $34/quart...

With supplies costing more, the overall product would cost more. Since most people seem to be more worried with looks than the performance weight-loss, I figured that it would be fine in most applications to just use a few layers of fiberglass and then finish it off with carbon fiber for the appearance but without a real difference in weight...

Would anyone here pay for the true carbon fiber products, or do they want synthetic/"knock off" carbon fiber for cheaper?
02-21-2008, 12:36 PM
Ron-E-Babe

For fear of getting blasted for saying I want to save money I refuse to comment..LOL

Seriously...when I met MikeDudley, I saw his interior door panels had carbon fiber around the power window controls and on the handle you grab to close the door from the inside. I think it looked awesome. He says it was stock...dude I got screwed..LOL

I have silver instead of the carbon fiber look...I would love to have the carbon fiber there, it just looks better in my mind.

I think you have to consider the part you are making when looking into construction and price. If it's a hood or other body panel of course you want it to be sound and weigh less so we'd be willing to pay the extra...but interior trim pieces, I think structural integrity isn't as important as long as they are not cheap cheap and fall apart by looking at them funny.
02-21-2008, 05:56 PM
xtreme 2

Yea the door handles came factory "carbon fiber"esque plastic in 04-05... got a set sitting here...
02-21-2008, 07:11 PM
Ron-E-Babe

as in a set, you mean brand new off an Aveo for a hatch?
02-21-2008, 09:34 PM
AveoSSSupercharged

Go for the CF look. Our cars are light enough if you wanna get lighter gut the car.
02-21-2008, 11:14 PM
Kinkyllama

Re: Information and a Question...

Quote:

Originally Posted by xtreme 2

http://www.oppracing.com/opp_pages.php?page=carbon_fiber_101

A very good read about the differences in carbon fiber products, both in quality and weight savings...

Good read!
02-22-2008, 05:29 AM
B1rdbrain

As Long as it is not some cheap ass paint job that is a wanabe CF look
02-22-2008, 08:08 AM
xtreme 2

paint job? We are using real carbon fiber, it's just do you want the weight reduction (all CF) or Just the appearance aspect (2 layers of Fiberglass, only top layer is carbon)...

Will still be using epoxy resin for the final layer so you won't have to worry about it cracking as easily and turning yellow in the sunlight, just wondering if you care about the weight reduction purposes...

So is the general consensus fake for appearance (door handles, interior pieces) and real for body parts (fenders, hoods, etc.)
02-22-2008, 09:03 AM
xtreme 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron-E-Babe

as in a set, you mean brand new off an Aveo for a hatch?

nevermind, guess I just have the armrest and window control covers...
02-22-2008, 03:05 PM
whiteraven

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron-E-Babe

as in a set, you mean brand new off an Aveo for a hatch?

yes Ron, he has a set off a hatch in the faux carbon...I had a spare set after I switched out my door panels, so I sent them to him. :D

I seriously think that cosmetic Carbon overlay (fake sounds like the APC silver checker plastic) versus full carbon is alot more feasible to most Aveo owners. It gives all the visual appeal and less cost then full carbon, and the weight saving benefits in our cars are extremely minimal, if any, on haing full carbon.
02-22-2008, 08:01 PM
Ron-E-Babe

Quote:

Originally Posted by whiteraven

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron-E-Babe

as in a set, you mean brand new off an Aveo for a hatch?

yes Ron, he has a set off a hatch in the faux carbon...I had a spare set after I switched out my door panels, so I sent them to him. :D

I seriously think that cosmetic Carbon overlay (fake sounds like the APC silver checker plastic) versus full carbon is alot more feasible to most Aveo owners. It gives all the visual appeal and less cost then full carbon, and the weight saving benefits in our cars are extremely minimal, if any, on haing full carbon.

Did you get my PM???