What is your solution for storing the molds in your garage to retain proper symmetry and strength without distorting the original mold shape?
Since most of our early molds were small they would be stored on shelves or in storage lockers. Our latest molds have gotten bigger and bigger. Any mold that is practically a simple big shape (hood face, roof panel, etc) has a back brace that we mold into the final layers of the mold which keeps the mold from warping while curing. Once the mold is cured its cured for good and if its kept flat it wont change shapes. We also do not remove any molds until we are sure its fully cured. We don’t quick dry our molds with heat or UV lighting, we just let them sit for at least 48 hrs in room temp. We also use the highest quality resin we can find which has a super low warp or shrinkage rate. Even more so if the mold does not over heat so we do not put on multiple layers at once to prevent that.
Similarly, if you don't have the original parts you are creating... assuming you are making a fiberglass mold, what is your plan if one of the molds break or crack in the future?
We would either buy the part or preferably have a local come down to remold the product. We always would rather create molds of live parts since they are already fitted to the car and have kept shape for some time.
How do you control the humidity and temperature level in your workspace to achieve proper curing as per recommended specs consistent with the resin you use and to prevent the carbon fiber fabric to absorb ambient moisture?
Since most shops do not control humidity only temperature its never a real issue. But we can not control either or so the way we counterattack the "might be problem" is by mixing chemicals to alter the structure of the material yet alter it in a way so it does not change the properties of strength and or shape. We do this by either adding in acetone or other high evaporative substances such as that or other products which if the temperature is over 80 degrees. Those added materials evaporate before anything else gets a chance to. And by that time the parts are already curing. We also change the amount of activator / hardener we put in. If its hotter we put less hardener so it wont affect the shape. If its colder we put more so that the materials don’t separate.
What accommodations have you planned to incorporate the hood mounting hardware, for the hinges and hood latches?
We are still trying to work that out but the best idea so far is to have an outside company create steel plates that will go behind the hardware so that nothing cracks or separates.
I could ask so many more questions.... but I will just continue to watch. My questions are in no form derogatory or demeaning. I am trying to present constructive criticism to address areas where this extreme hobby experiment can go wrong. I hope to buy a few enhancements if all turns out well... I just think a simple dash kit would have been a good place to start and then add one additional product at a time.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me as I live very close to you and have created a few carbon pieces for hobby value.
There is a reason why F-1 teams have multi-million dollar budgets, because they work with and use carbon fiber...
And to throw it out and make this my longest post yet, OCC owned a steel manufacturing enterprise before dabbling with motorcycles. And coincidentally those motorcycles were made of 80% steel parts. Never did Paul Sr. design and build a motorcycle in his basement or garage...
And yes I do know that. I also know that its the TV show that got them to where they are today. But I try to personally look past those facts just to boost our confidence. We have never had doubt in ourselves but this just helps.
Thank you for your time - that is all for now,
Nick
And we only know you are trying to help. In no way I thought of this as an ill post. Yes right now we don’t have the best environment but it is a place where we can do our work with great concentration, all the surrounding businesses and neighbors are real happy with our presence as well as the local law enforcement as we are doing some jobs for local police officers, and right now it’s the best place for our position. Like I did say in a few weeks to late summer we will be renting out a 5000 sq ft warehouse in Chicago that a friend of mine / fiberglass supplier is offering us at a very great price. So right now its not the are around us or the are that we are in, it’s the techniques we use to counter all of the “what could be problems” which so far has worked well and we have yet to come across a problem.
Also all our carbon fiber is vacuumed to remove excess materials, thin and lighten them down, and remove any air bubbles / moisture that can ruin the part. That is the one technique that really does effect the overall outcome of every product fiberglass and carbon fiber.
I might be contacting you in the future
