Hello all,

I’ve recently become interested in the idea of experimenting with fabricating my own carbon fiber cycling components. I’ve heard that there are a couple of methods that can be done with a small budget in one’s own home; can anyone tell me of any resources that would be useful for me. I’m not expecting to become a leading manufacturer of custom parts, it’s more of just a need to fulfill my curiosity. Any suggestions, thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated. I’m eager to learn all aspects of the trade, and have already begun to do some serious research into the fabrication of composites. Thanks for your help.

Cliff M.

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BILL NIKO, YOU WILL NOT EVER BE FORGOTTEN.

look at this...

http://www.mtb-news.de/forum/showthread.php?t=92742

it is the "carbon bar ends self made thread" in a german mtb forum.


-> to my mind the most of the self made carbon parts are ugly... (like the bar ends), but test it and make a beautiful carbon rim for my mtb....

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Pedä

SP have some great info on their site, especially HERE. Also the High Preformance Composites magizine site has lots of information.

Most home made jobs look poor because their moulds are not well finished.

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Success is how far you you bounce back up after being knocked down

anyone interested in a home-made carbon show/seminar/how-to at the much lauded ww gathering in 06?

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"Organization is for the simple-minded, the Genius controls the chaos." - Jens

Did you find anything interesting yet?
What I would like to know is if you use a cf 'sock' to make a tube instead of sheats could you make a bent tube that would be just as light as a straight piece?

i made my own carbon bike out of premade tubes which i glued together (using SP's ampreg 20 and woven carbon tape). granted its not as light as any of the bikes on here, but when i made it (aged 16) it was great, still is.

http://tinypic.com/dw8boz.jpg
http://tinypic.com/dw8cno.jpg
http://tinypic.com/dw8cxj.jpg

making your own bike's great fun, i was going to make some wheels for TTs but i'm chickening out of that at the moment.

Carbon fibre is not THAT hard to work with. It is harder than working with fibreglass though, because the fibre mat/strips tend to easily slide/move, but this can be solved too. Finishing it of to a shine is no problem really.

Here's some photos of a project a good friend of mine completed recently...

Real nice! And using the slingshot design for this is really cool!

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'Tape was made to wrap your GF's gifts, NOT hold a freakin tire on.'

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