Does anyone know if we can do pieces of fiberglass that look like carbon fiber? I was thinking about fiberglass fabric that have the same color and/or the same weaving patern with transparent black tinted gelcoat?

Does fiberglass fabric can be other color than white?
Or is possible to tint fiberglass fabric (in black) before using it?
Does black tinted transparent gelcoat exist?

Anyone have ever saw this or have tried to do this?

Just guessing here, but I'd think if it could be done and look halfway decent, the Ricers would have figured it out by now. As far as I know fiberglass (as in strands of glass) is only white. May be able to make it from black glass, but somehow I think that would cost more than CF. Of course, with the worldwide shortage of carbon fiber prices could get interesting on CF stuff. (seriously! Didn't believe it myself..) I found a place that sells flat sheets of pre-made CF if you need to make flat parts fairly cheap, ( http://www.macqc.com/raceplates/plates.htm ) but so far I haven't seen an alternative to CF that would make curved / shaped parts look the same. If anyone has any other info, I'd love to check it out! I want to make some interior parts in CF, but not sure I want to spend the $$ right now...

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Bob Williams
Working on the next 3800 swap.. Missing the working one already!

Why not just use CF in the first place so you have a stronger, lighter part?

Sadly my part are rouded in shape....and my goal its just for the look. And since I dont want to use "sticker" that look like CF (3M make some) because you cant feel the "depth" feel...and I want to keep the cost low.

Ive done some research on the net, and I found one fiberglass manufacturer in Taiwan that make colored fiberglass woven fabric but their site looks down and another place they have only 4 color (blue/red/gold/silver) one side of the clothe is dyed with the color.

Maybe by using some black dye, like you use with ordinary fabric it will work? with a layer of clear gelcoat or just with the resin....

I think I will do some experimentation...I will have to return home with some woven fiberglass fabric sample from the work and try with fabric dye....

[This message has been edited by perry rhodan (edited 05-07-2006).]

Definately test it out on a small piece first. And don't get your hopes up.

Carbon Fibre is really not that expensive. You would be better off using it. It only gets expensive when making huge parts out of it like a car chassis.

From what I read on the 'net, it looks like some of the manufacturers (like the dash panel / small parts guys) are having trouble even buying 1 full roll of the cloth.. Has that shot the prices up yet? Or was I looking at outdated info... That's always a possibility. Part of the shortage would be the military of course, they have no trouble getting supplies. Anyone see the miltary's new ship? HUGE bastard, supposed to be as fast as a speedboat (over 50 knots - 60+mph) , only needs 3 feet of water, and made of carbon fibre. That thing must use 1000's of yards of the stuff per ship. ( http://www.gizmag.co.uk/go/5151/ ) Now if only we can get some surplus from the factory.... LOL

Here what I've found so far for colored fiberglass:

http://oliverchou.trustpass.alibaba.com/product/11026436/Colored_Fiberglass_Fabric.html
The website of Jinsor seem dead : http://www.jinsor.com.tw

And also here, but they only have 4 colors:

http://rchelisplus.com/cart/cart.php?target=category&category_id=84

But nowhere to find black colored fiberglass......

Edit: I've tested fiberglass woven cloths with fabric dye. On the box they said "not suitable with 100% polyester, acrylics,glass (FIBERGLASS) and other mineral fiber.

Since I was determined to test it, I purchase one small box of black fabric dye (1.50$) and test it anyway..................well it did work. The fiberglass look gray but its far from black. I think it's because this kind of materail did not absorb the ink diluted in the water very well and have not enough retention of it.

I will try several pass of it with drying between dip to see if it can be done after all. If not I will seach for another solution or another king of dye (if its cheap).

To be continued

[This message has been edited by perry rhodan (edited 05-07-2006).]

I am not sure it will look like the real thing...its the CF fibers itself that give the look and that is hard to match. If you want to make it look really convincing, use the real stuff ! A little trick I did on some of my parts is to lay up just 1 layer of CF with clear resin and then some fiberglass backing layers with black tinted resin. Looks (and partially is) like real CF but you pay less for what you dont see

I was thinking about this kind of trick..maybe I will this way.

a couple of ideas...if you want to make very curved parts you use thick plastic bags and shop vacs...the vacuum provides the pressure to keep it perfectly in the mold. Also different weaves will weaves will bend easier to a curve(for example satin or twill). A while ago I bought a bunch of carbon fiber from carb.com..they do all kinds of mixes of kevlar/carbon and fiberglass/carbon (the kevlar is dyed blue or red or yellow) and there was one that i thought was very nice looking--fiberglass in one direction and red kevlar in the other. When the its wet out, the fiberglass becomes transparent and you are left with this almost metallic wavy red material, although I'm looking at the site now and I dont see that particular mix. I remember getting some samples that were fun to play with from carb.com I dont remember if i had to pay anything, but that would be perfect if you are making small parts...you might call and ask if they still have samples..