carbon question

[hyerduc]

I need some help… I bought a carbon fiber front fender off eBay . The fender does not fit. The issue it has is the holes are too small for the up poles. My question is can I cut carbon fiber or will it just come apart? Should I just sending it back?

thanks

[originalebm]

I would just send it back. When you cut into that thing it'l more than likely begin to crack and spider the finish coating then you're SOL because then you cannot send it back.

[reynolds_brad]

Originally Posted by hyerduc

I need some help… I bought a carbon fiber front fender off eBay . The fender does not fit. The issue it has is the holes are too small for the up poles. My question is can I cut carbon fiber or will it just come apart? Should I just sending it back?

thanks

Carbon can be drilled or trimmed pretty easy. It shouldnt come apart unless its some really crappy resin and clear but I doubt it. just drill slow and if you need to trim just use a dremmel with a cut off wheel. Make sure to have a resperator on as the dust is very bad for you.

FYI if its MDI carbon ive trimmed and made adjustments to a friends 1098 MDI carbon part, with no issues.

[jdurward]

Carbon fibre is extremely easy to drill, cut, sand etc. It is highly unlikely you will screw it up - just go slow. Do youself a favour and get a Dremel (you'll use it for all kinds of things). To enlarge small holes, use one of the small tapered grinding stones - VERY simple. And yes, use a dust mask....

This comment applies to carbon fibre, NOT carbon fibre with fibreglas or Kevlar backing. Kevlar is a bitch to get a fine edge on and fibreglas will generate a "fuzz" around the cut/grind point.

[originalebm]

Originally Posted by jdurward

Carbon fibre is extremely easy to drill, cut, sand etc. It is highly unlikely you will screw it up - just go slow. Do youself a favour and get a Dremel (you'll use it for all kinds of things). To enlarge small holes, use one of the small tapered grinding stones - VERY simple. And yes, use a dust mask....

This comment applies to carbon fibre, NOT carbon fibre with fibreglas or Kevlar backing. Kevlar is a bitch to get a fine edge on and fibreglas will generate a "fuzz" around the cut/grind point.

Jeez, I guess I'm the only one here who's screwed up CF when drilling it, haha.

[jdurward]

What did you do and how did you screw it up?

[originalebm]

Originally Posted by jdurward

What did you do and how did you screw it up?

Modifying a hole and she splintered on me. Wasn't using a dremmel though but a air tool trying to bore out a hole. I believe that is what the original poster was speaking of doing to his newly acquired CF piece. I suppose it may have been a crappy piece of CF or perhaps I just lack the "touch"

[st2lemans]

CF will eat your dremel bits, use only hardened bits! (it still eats them but more slowly)

Best is the one for cutting tile, that one lasted a while.

Tom

[jdurward]

I have not found this. Carbon fibre is quite soft and cuts very easily - especially when bound with epoxy. I have made quite a few CF parts and done lots of cutting, sanding, shaping and I have found that I have never run through a dremel bit when cutting CF. I use the thin cutting disc and the sanding drums a lot. What bits are you referring to and how thick was the CF your were cutting?

Originally Posted by st2lemans

CF will eat your dremel bits, use only hardened bits! (it still eats them but more slowly)

Best is the one for cutting tile, that one lasted a while.

Tom

[joelpatrol]

When in doubt.......use a small round file to enlarge the hole........guarantee you can't go wrong.
This is a pro talkin here.