Carbon Fiber Batman Cowl

[mxer911]

Look forward to seeing this finished!! Are you going to clear finish or go the black finish??
It would be a shame to go to all that effort and not show the CF off!!

Very cool look to it! Has a real armored feel.

Love the texture, so I hope you go clear when you finish it.

Chris

Thanks everyone, and absolutely going with a clear finish. Gotta let the carbon fiber do its thing

This is such an awesome idea. I'd love to own one if you ever take on another!

I'll definitely keep you in mind should I tackle another one.

 

[acesh007]

I thought it was expensive still. I had looked into carbon fiber and carbon-kevlar to make some parts for a car a few years back and it was going to cost way too much. Looks pretty neat.

 

[Jamesbengel]

Props my friend, that looks very nice!

 

[bookface]

Updaaaaate!

 

[mxer911]

Thanks everyone. Not much of an update, but I did get the carbon fiber laid on the other side today. That means some night this week when I have some free time I'll wet it out with resin and trim the excess.

After that I start the process of building up the layers of resin, followed but a ton of wet sanding, and buff or clear coat.

 

[bookface]

I'm curious, will you just be using wetsanding to try and disguise the joins where the different sheets of CF meet? Is there any kind of a system to it? I'm interested to try this out myself.

 

[mxer911]

I'm curious, will you just be using wetsanding to try and disguise the joins where the different sheets of CF meet? Is there any kind of a system to it? I'm interested to try this out myself.

With just wet sanding it is possible to make a clean joint, however it is quite difficult to do this without effecting other areas. Now that I've gotten several projects under my belt, I've managed to come up with a technique that allows me to create clean joints and seams, but its just one of those things that you learn as you go.

And while I do not have any updates on the Batman Cowl (Just laid the resin tonight) I thought I'd share one of my other projects.

 

[Batnismo]

Loving this project!!!


Sent from my iPhone

 

[canadapost]

This is awesome! Would have never thought to do a cowl in Carbon Fiber but I see why your client wanted one.

Will this be a display cowl? Or is it going to be added to something else?

 

[mxer911]

This is awesome! Would have never thought to do a cowl in Carbon Fiber but I see why your client wanted one.

Will this be a display cowl? Or is it going to be added to something else?

I too never would have thought about it but certainly glad that he did. This will end up being a display cowl, for which I still need to build some type of good looking stand.

Also here's a quick video after having just laid the second coat of resin.

 

[cld213]

Very cool. Great work with the carbon fiber!

 

[mxer911]

Very cool. Great work with the carbon fiber!

Thanks alot!

 

[Allfate]

Fantastic work, is there any chance you might share your production techniques? I've been working in a project that I plan to use carbon fiber for, but I'm yet to start the carbon work. You have really done a great job on this and I would love to know how you did it.

 

[Allfate]

Sorry, corrected repost

 

[MxRacer476]

That is awesome.... I MUST HAVE this... Can you do another!? LOL

 

[mxer911]

Fantastic work, is there any chance you might share your production techniques? I've been working in a project that I plan to use carbon fiber for, but I'm yet to start the carbon work. You have really done a great job on this and I would love to know how you did it.

Thanks! It's basically just getting comfortable with the carbon fiber and the stages that the resin goes thru when curing. Feel free to shoot me a PM and I'll do my best to answer any questions you might have.

That is awesome.... I MUST HAVE this... Can you do another!? LOL

Thanks alot! I sent you a message on Facebook regarding doing another one.

 

[mydigitalvoid]

I really like how the clear coat brings out the details. I'm curious, do you use a fiberglass resin and just hand paint it on, layer at a time? I really haven't been able to find a good "how-to" using this technique. Awesome work and thank you!

 

[n0regret5]

wonder if this could be used to make a wearable DKR cowl..

 

[MxRacer476]

I'm sure he will answer, but generally most Fiberglass Resin is yellow tinted, but a Surfboard type resin that is optically clear is used....

 

[mxer911]

I really like how the clear coat brings out the details. I'm curious, do you use a fiberglass resin and just hand paint it on, layer at a time? I really haven't been able to find a good "how-to" using this technique. Awesome work and thank you!

I only use clear epoxy resin. It gives a very clear and high gloss finish, gives a better quality part, and most importantly does not have the nasty fumes associated with other types of resins. Once I have the carbon fiber in place I then wet it out with epoxy resin. After I have left this to cure for atleast 24 hours and give it a quick rough sand all over just to knock down the high spots. After this I give it a wipe down and then apply another layer of clear epoxy resin. After allowing the epoxy to partially cure (around 6 hours) I apply another layer of epoxy resin.

After all of this I begin the sanding process working my way thru the grits, and finishing with polishing compound and wax.

wonder if this could be used to make a wearable DKR cowl..

Man I wish! Would be very cool if you could, but sadly do not think its possible. Would be way to rigid.

I'm sure he will answer, but generally most Fiberglass Resin is yellow tinted, but a Surfboard type resin that is optically clear is used....

I think MxRacer476 knows a thing or two about carbon fiber :thumbsup. Clear epoxy resin all the way. Oh and make sure its a blush free resin as that will greatly reduce the amount of work needed between layers.