How to "fix" delaminated graphite front ends?

[Lonestar]

Hi All

what is the best-in-class remedy to bring delaminated graphite chassis front edges back to acceptable conditions? Do you fill the whole thing with CA and then sand it? Other compounds? Any tricks? All my graphite cars and my tq10 have battlefield scars that look pretty bad

thanks!

Paul

[RETRO R/C]

Hey Paul, there are a couple of methods I have used in the past - I am sure there are others as well.

If it is badly chunked and de-laminated, I mix up some slow set epoxy and mix in some graphite powder. I then "spead" the de-laminations as much as I dare and work the epoxy/graphite combo in. I then "clamp" the section as tight as I dare and leave it to set for a day or two. TIP: once you clamp the chassis with the epoxy/graphite combo in it - you will get excess running out - use your finger (or some other tool) to clean up and make the area as smooth as possible - as this will give you less work to do later when sanding and shaping the repair.

After the area is cleaned and prepped - I usually go over the area again with superglue, sand and use a permenant marker to make it look tidy.

If it isnt to badly de-laminated - just use a thin super glue to penetrate the layers and simply sand off.

Again - they arent the only ways to repair carbon - but they are pretty effective.

Cheers

Darryn

[craigc8791]

Mail the chassis to scr8p and let him work his magic on it

[craigc8791]

http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=3827

sr8ps magic with graphite

[Lonestar]

Darryn

thanks for the detailed help - sound like sthing I can do myself, for once Not sure about where to get graphite powder though, would the "graphite powder lube" that is sold in tube (to fix squeaky doors, for instance) do the trick you think? Thanks

wow that chassis from scr8p is absolutely gorgeous!!!

Thanks all
Paul

[jwscab]

yeah probably fine to use the graphite in a tube. I think it's more for color that anything else. You could always file the front edge down and use the filings.

one other thing you can do is to trim the front edge back with a dremel or saw until you get to solid composite, if you put a front bumper on, most of the time you can't tell if it was trimmed. I've seen that done.

I've used straight CA, no epoxy, on a nose I had, soaked the edge, then clamped firmly in a smooth jaw vise, and used polyethylene baggie as a protective film, the benefit is that nothing sticks to polyethylene. The real challenge was digging the broken fibers and rocks and dirt out of the delamination, and the fact that I already attempted to glue it years ago. soaked it in a closed baggie with acetone for a few nights and dissolved all the old CA.

[scr8p]

one of the tq10 chassis' i had, the outer layers (top and bottom) were peeling back something awful. almost back to steering bellcrank. i took a new razor blade and completely shaved them off.