Guess what I started working on today?

Frogman said:
I'm not.



I understand where you're going. But what's the point of just wrapping it? Hell, it would be even easier to just make a cover for it then.

I'm not against wrapping in general, but IMHO that's only if you want the product to look like CF or if the product is damned near impossible (or expensive) to make out of CF.

You're more than welcome to start wrapping some. I bet full CF will sell better in this case.




Eh. I've done my PT time in my younger years. After all that and a broken back, I think I've earned the right to be fat and happy, now.



I have a house in Mesa.
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I respect the work being done. I know some guys that see a mountain and climb it. I myself will just watch it on TV. LOL I will not be wrapping any VC in my future. You have 100% of the market. I will be watching this for sure to learn CF.
 
Right on the Mark said:
I respect the work being done. I know some guys that see a mountain and climb it. I myself will just watch it on TV. LOL I will not be wrapping any VC in my future. You have 100% of the market. I will be watching this for sure to learn CF.
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Oh, believe me, learning about CF is not done by watching a progress thread or a video.

I was playing with the stuff for almost 5 months and still don't know as much as I'd like. Though, I know enough to tackle this and a few other "big" projects.

Once I get the Autoclave I'm building squared away, I'll be golden.
 
Frogman said:
Oh, believe me, learning about CF is not done by watching a progress thread or a video.

I was playing with the stuff for almost 5 months and still don't know as much as I'd like. Though, I know enough to tackle this and a few other "big" projects.

Once I get the Autoclave I'm building squared away, I'll be golden.
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I have 7 years experience with Autoclaves but what I worked with was about 6ft. in diameter and 25ft. long. Required a boiler room, nitrogen and all kinds of crap. I worked for Michelin Retread Technologies, 2nd shift supervisor and was certified on 13 jobs in the plant. I helped where help was needed but other than that, just made sure I got my quota out every night. Just to give you an idea of what I worked with, it's in the link below. It would hold 22 to 23 11R-22.5 trailer tires at once on a monorail that was built into the top. Trailer tires cooked at 325 for 1hr 35min @ 125psi
http://www.michelintruck.com/michelintruck/tires-retreads/retreads-technology.jsp

I don't think you're going for something that big.

BTW, when I first saw you standing there in the pink shirt, it took me a second to realize it was a mirror. I was looking for the "glory hole" lol
 
Cant stop laughing... have to wipe the tears out of my eyes and get to work.

That is too dam funny.

Love the sticker on the mirror.
 
Chucklz95LSC said:
So I live a mile away from a Navy SEAL that owns a Mark?

Awesome:D
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I'm not active duty and I don't have a Mark VIII anymore, just parts and pieces. MaybeI'll buy another one this year if that "perfect" black (or grey) on black falls into my lap. This is why I have to beg, borrow and steal the parts I'm after to turn into CF.

NoLimit95 said:
I have 7 years experience with Autoclaves but what I worked with was about 6ft. in diameter and 25ft. long. Required a boiler room, nitrogen and all kinds of crap. I worked for Michelin Retread Technologies, 2nd shift supervisor and was certified on 13 jobs in the plant. I helped where help was needed but other than that, just made sure I got my quota out every night. Just to give you an idea of what I worked with, it's in the link below. It would hold 22 to 23 11R-22.5 trailer tires at once on a monorail that was built into the top. Trailer tires cooked at 325 for 1hr 35min @ 125psi
http://www.michelintruck.com/michelintruck/tires-retreads/retreads-technology.jsp

I don't think you're going for something that big.

BTW, when I first saw you standing there in the pink shirt, it took me a second to realize it was a mirror. I was looking for the "glory hole" lol
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My autoclave is much smaller, only a 32" ID by 8 feet long.

By the time I'm done with the insulation and electric heating elements, it will be about 27" ID by around 7.5' long. If I put a roller rack in it... even less, obviously. The vessel it's being made out of is good for 1440psi. I'll never need that kind of pressure, but it's nice to know the rating for it is there. Nitrogen, I'm not concerned about. There are two 1.5Mil SCF transports parked in the yard. I can get N2 any time I need.

And since I'm going with electric, I won't need an industrial boiler to heat the vessel.

As far as the "glory hole"... Nope. The shop is an industrial type that I'm (well, one of the companies I own, is) renting. For the price the shop rents per month, I can't justify buying the land and erecting a building unless I kept it for 15+ years. As such, it has an industrial type restroom. Shrug.

ford nut said:
Cant stop laughing... have to wipe the tears out of my eyes and get to work.

That is too dam funny.

Love the sticker on the mirror.
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Only the best in entertainment for you, Stang.
 
I really don't know anything about CF but could you just make the CF real thick on the edges where the gasket goes and then when its hardened use something to grind out the groove for the factory gaskets, that may not make any sense but I figured I'd throw it out there.
 
Well, it will have to have a thick layer there anyways, so your idea is valid. Only problem is, the groove would have to be machined due to the narrow sides. It's certainly possible, but I don't have access to a CNC. Only machine I have is an old Hitachi lathe.
 
Frogman said:
My autoclave is much smaller, only a 32" ID by 8 feet long.

By the time I'm done with the insulation and electric heating elements, it will be about 27" ID by around 7.5' long. If I put a roller rack in it... even less, obviously. The vessel it's being made out of is good for 1440psi. I'll never need that kind of pressure, but it's nice to know the rating for it is there. Nitrogen, I'm not concerned about. There are two 1.5Mil SCF transports parked in the yard. I can get N2 any time I need.

And since I'm going with electric, I won't need an industrial boiler to heat the vessel.
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If the tank is good for 1440psi, you're good to go and going with electric, you wouldn't ever need nitrogen. Our boiler room needed the nitrogen to press water down inside a feed tank for the boiler.

You would really appreciate having a roller rack welded to the top. Attach a 1/4 steel cable all the way to the last rack because with 27" of space, there isn't much crawling room to reach 7ft. back to get something that you may have cooked. Or... you could have tracks on both sides with small table like roller racks could just set inside the tank and be rolled back. Have enough to fill the tank if needed but if cooking two racks worth, then the rest could stay out. No matter how you do it, you definitely want a cable attached to the first rack you roll in (if you fill up all 7ft.) unless you plan on cooking and letting the pressure release and setting there until cooled completely. Crawling up in there to retrieve later.

I have never done CF so I'm thinking in logic with tires lol. We pulled them out while they were hot because of the rubber envelope that was vacuumed in place, around the tire. There is a lot to an Autoclave that people don't know. Not sure what your pressure will be at with CF but if it's above 125psi, you will have a little major bomb on your hands. I don't know if you're going to be using vacuum pumps for moulds or just pressurized only. It's not something to play with and keeping a rubber seal in good condition for the door is hell too. You have to keep it wiped down with a seal lubricant between every few cooks.

When you get done with it, I would like to see pics of it if you don't mind. Just to get an idea of what you're working with. I know you'll keep cooking temps and pressure to yourself. Most do. People don't understand the work involved with doing this but it's not all about laying the CF on and just cooking it. It has to be a certain temp and as pressure rises, so does the temp inside the tank. It requires stages inside the Autoclave. I have to say, I admire what you're doing and I hope it works out for you. What you're attempting isn't easy at all.
 
NoLimit95 said:
If the tank is good for 1440psi, you're good to go and going with electric, you wouldn't ever need nitrogen.
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I shouldn't, but the option is there if I ever need it.

You would really appreciate having a roller rack welded to the top. Attach a 1/4 steel cable all the way to the last rack because with 27" of space, there isn't much crawling room to reach 7ft. back to get something that you may have cooked. Or... you could have tracks on both sides with small table like roller racks could just set inside the tank and be rolled back. Have enough to fill the tank if needed but if cooking two racks worth, then the rest could stay out. No matter how you do it, you definitely want a cable attached to the first rack you roll in (if you fill up all 7ft.) unless you plan on cooking and letting the pressure release and setting there until cooled completely. Crawling up in there to retrieve later.
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I will definitely look into your suggestion, thank you. I was just going to have a simple roller tray set-up. Yank on the open end and pull the whole tray out.

Not sure what your pressure will be at with CF but if it's above 125psi, you will have a little major bomb on your hands.
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Working pressures vary between 800psi to as close as 32 inches as possible. As far as bombs... The vesel already has rupture disks and pop-off valves built in. I'll be replacing them with ~900PSI pop-off valves and 1200psi rupture disks. Again, I have access to those, so that's not a big deal.

I don't know if you're going to be using vacuum pumps for moulds or just pressurized only.
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Both.

You have to keep it wiped down with a seal lubricant between every few cooks.
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Yup. going with submarine door style T locks and 2 (possibly 3) grooves for O rings.


I know you'll keep cooking temps and pressure to yourself. Most do.
People don't understand the work involved with doing this but it's not all about laying the CF on and just cooking it. It has to be a certain temp and as pressure rises, so does the temp inside the tank. It requires stages inside the Autoclave.
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People that keep the temps and pressures to themselves hope other people don't know of such things as resin manufacturer's curing schedules. When you buy resin and hardener, they come with a curing schedule from the manufacturer. This is not really a big secret and can easily be had. Personally, I wouldn't have a problem with telling someone what I cure a part at.


I have to say, I admire what you're doing and I hope it works out for you. What you're attempting isn't easy at all.
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Thanks. It's not easy, this is true. But I've never been the type to go after "easy". Easy is boring and non challenging.
 
Frogman said:
I'm not active duty and I don't have a Mark VIII anymore, just parts and pieces. MaybeI'll buy another one this year if that "perfect" black (or grey) on black falls into my lap. This is why I have to beg, borrow and steal the parts I'm after to turn into CF.


http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/cto/2358308146.html

Can't tell if that's black interior, but he's been dropping the price. Airbags could be shot though.
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Frog, I am speaking out of ignorance on my part when it comes to machining or casting or the like. But, If you are interested in casting the lip for a round gasket, then why not use round stock and fab it to the exact measurements needed for the lip on the VC? I quess what I am saying is buy 5 ft piece of round stock in the diameter you need, shape it off the VC you got now, then weld both ends together to create a make shift gasket out of that round stock and then use that as your form needed while the CF is hot. Then when the CF cools, just pull out the round stock gasket and then you have that gasket tunnel in perfect needed shape.

I honestly do not know if you can picture what I am trying to say, hope you do, and hope it can be done.
 
Chucklz95LSC said:
Can't tell if that's black interior, but he's been dropping the price. Airbags could be shot though.
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Looks like gray interior. But it's a 97 and it's a non LSC. Now, I know how to turn an non into an LSC, but... you know.

Thank you, though. But for the time being, I'm concentrating on other purchases, ones that make money in the long run.
 
Frogman said:
I think I understand what you're saying. Buy a piece of round stock, shape it on the "original" cover's groove, then mold the CF around it.

I will look into this idea as well. Thanks, RA.
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yes exactly what I was trying to say. it would hold firm under heat and will cast the groove as you want it. But I would weld the ends of the rod together where they would meet to make it one solid piece.

On the comments of a flat lip and using cork gasket, would seem to me to be useless. Only because when you cast your first set, I am thinking you are going to experience leakage from the gasket. I say that due to the torque not being able to be spread evenly around the lip to seal all away around. Just my mind wandering here.
 
Raped Ape said:
Frog, I am speaking out of ignorance on my part when it comes to machining or casting or the like. But, If you are interested in casting the lip for a round gasket, then why not use round stock and fab it to the exact measurements needed for the lip on the VC? I quess what I am saying is buy 5 ft piece of round stock in the diameter you need, shape it off the VC you got now, then weld both ends together to create a make shift gasket out of that round stock and then use that as your form needed while the CF is hot. Then when the CF cools, just pull out the round stock gasket and then you have that gasket tunnel in perfect needed shape.

I honestly do not know if you can picture what I am trying to say, hope you do, and hope it can be done.
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That doesn't sound like a bad idea...
 
mespock said:
Hmmm no sarcastic posts in this thread ... so civil ... what's wrong with Frogman ...
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You know damned well I can be civil when I have to be, Grandpa! Now, sod off before I step on your oxygen tank tube! :lol:

But seriously... What in this thread would make any of us turn uncivilized?


But he sure looks good in Pink ... KK is getting horny ....
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Oh, you should see the nervous school girl texts he sent me. haha!
 
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