Carbon For Reinforcing

[paczowski123]

Hey guys,

Got a quick question. I'm planning on doing a bit of reinforcing on my ski this winter, but I am new to the carbon world. Just going to do a bit of reinforcing on the bottom of my ski, and around the handle pole bracket, but not sure what type/weight carbon to buy. Any recommendations?

I would assume my existing epoxy resin would work for it at well?

 

[Big Kahuna]

Do alot of google searching.

 

[paczowski123]

Each search will probably return a different answer, lol.

 

[Lm12]

Start with a 12k then 6k then a 3k to finish it off for looks. Carbon tape works well if your doing small areas. West systems resin is problem free with the use of the pumps. Id recommend the slow hardener. Carbon kevlar is the strongest of all but requires special scissors to cut it.

 

[paczowski123]

It's not going to be anything big, just a small 8"x8" square under the handle pole and maybe a layer or two down the very center "trough" section on my hull. You think 3 layers is needed? Never seen carbon cloth in person so not sure how thick it is

Also, not necessarily doing it because I feel there are any major structural issues, just as a bit of piece of mind.

 

[shaunsteezy]

if you put your ski in salt water i would stay away from carbon and just use glass. i did glass with a layer of carbon on top and all my fittings are corroded to the hull. just glass and paint or dye

 

[paczowski123]

My ski doesn't really see salt water. And if it does, it's flushed thoroughly,

 

[Vumad]

Are you planning to vacuum bag it? Money woukd be better spent on bagging suplies ghan unbagged carbon fabric.

 

[paczowski123]

No, it would just be hand laid in the bottom on the hull. And I'd flip the hull upside down to do the bracket area.

 

[jo5hi3]

Why do you think it needs to be reinforced?

 

[paczowski123]

Remember my comments about preparing for the worst? Lol but my main concern is the flexing the handle pole bracket does on the bracket area on the ski. When my handle pole is tight, the bracket flexes when I push the pole up/down. The bottom was just going to be since I had everything out, I'd figure of go ahead and just do it.

 

[Yami-Rider]

I would use a quailty fiberglass and get a vacuum bag setup. I just bought everything needed for vac bag plus glass, cost $320. But I bought more supplies then you need.

 

[jo5hi3]

Did you end up with one of the later chans?

 

[paczowski123]

I would use a quailty fiberglass and get a vacuum bag setup. I just bought everything needed for vac bag plus glass, cost $320. But I bought more supplies then you need.

That seems like a good thought, but a bit more than I was looking to do just for piece of mind. If carbon is unable to be just laid by hand I'll prob scrap the idea all together. Or just do s couple layers of glass in the bracket area and be done.

 

[paczowski123]

Did you end up with one of the later chans?

Yeah, mine is a later chan was delivered end of Dec. early Jan. 2013/2014. Was also told it had been laid up heavier too. But the pole bracket area flexing bothers me. I haven't cracked any of the gel coat or anything, but still bothers me.

 

[jo5hi3]

The last few hulls were the scary ones..... Definitely slap some glass in the bracket area. Carbon can be hand laid with out issue, just make sure the area is prepped well and use a good quality epoxy.

 

[Yami-Rider]

If your on a budget, I would just glass it then. What kind of glass where you planning on using?

 

[paczowski123]

I was under the impression his first few glass ones had the problems, then when he realized they were too light he laid em up heavier. I haven't had any problems out of mine and have beat on it pretty good. Many failed rolls off boat wakes and flops. Not a single stress crack. Just didn't like the little bit of flexing from the bracket area.

As far as materials goes I generally get US composites. I have left over epoxy resin from them I'd be using as well.

 

[jo5hi3]

Hard to beat these... http://compositeenvisions.com/clearance-materials-fabrics-147/?zenid=3q1lkahn1phlth69fr9pcok4m3

 

[Vumad]

That seems like a good thought, but a bit more than I was looking to do just for piece of mind. If carbon is unable to be just laid by hand I'll prob scrap the idea all together. Or just do s couple layers of glass in the bracket area and be done.

No one said you cant hand lay carbon. I just said i thouht it was a waste of money to use carbon. There is more weight and weakness in the resin than the fabric. You are also glueing a rigid material to a flexable one, and the carbon is more corosive if you use an aluminum pole backing plate. Wet layup carbon invites all negatives and no positives over glass. Just fyi, some clear resins like table top resin have a degredation point of 120 degrees, so dont use it near your pipe or anything. Regular laminating resins are yellow. Ifyou are going for a carbon finish anywhee, its best to use specility resins.

Vacuum baggimg is simple. Its exactly the same as a wetlayup, except you cover it with peal ply , breather fabric and a bag, and ypu use more fanricbecause the process is so much more efficient and stronger. The most expensive part is the vacuum and fittkngs. Consumables for a pole reinforcement is like $5 (except you will need to buy more than you need for this job due to minimums, its like $40 up front).

If ypu want to wet lay carbpn, by all means. You will not be the first, or last.