Alright so here is the low down on bagging, vs non bagging, prepreg vs wet layup.
Pregreg is the highest strength and most commonly lightest as the carbon to resin ratio is set before the layup is even put in the mold. prepeg requires the piece to cure in a oven so its not for the hobbyist. prepeg also is commonly done with vacuum bagging but doesn't necessarily require it.
The thing with vacuum bagging is a through ply or peel ply is used with a combination of breather material. This allows the excess resin to pass through the peel or through ply layer and get sucked up into the breather material. Thus getting rid of all excess resin and ending up with a product that is not only light but also strong.
You can make a piece with only a mold and no vacuum bagging however you will not end up with a optimum part cause it will have more resin then it actually needs. Ive done parts both ways and I have to say bagging a part overall is so much easier as far as getting a part that is light and has no lifted air pockets.
Ive seen many vendors parts and have made a few of my own.
Shift tech knows their shit. I was really impressed with the overall weight of their items and how well they were constructed.
I say this because many vendors such as MDI and even Magical racing use fiber glass layers not only as backing layers (non finished side) but also sandwiched layers. They do this mainly to save $$. I have personally seen and held in my hands a full set of MotoGP body work. Actually i had to clean it, and there is nothing like this going on in those parts, they were carbon and only carbon. I don't know about you but if your buying a carbon part you want just that and that alone. Im sure if you per say bough a nice piece of jewelry for your significant other you wouldn't go out and buy some plated POS would you?
Magical's however saving grace is that they have beautiful finishes in their molds and use 2X2 twill which is memorizing in my opinion. I freaking LOVE their swingarm cover. It looks permanently wet and the weave in the carbon looks flawlessly out of place. not a stand in a wrong direction.
OPP has some pretty good stuff too. all carbon, looks to be prepreg and bagged. I just got something from them the other day , one of those saw it and had to have it types of movements. never really heard of them and just thought I'd give it a try. I am in the process of remaking their part though as i want it in 2X2 twill. More on there stuff at a later time.
I say if you like 1x1 twill go shift tech, and if you like 2x2 go magical. Avoid DP carbon, its overpriced and isn't all that great.
