DIYbanter - View Single Post - Seeking recommendations: Composite material

On 1 Feb 2006 18:07:52 -0800, wrote:

Hi all,

I'm looking for material which is wafer thin, very strong, and most
importantly - light weight. I have looked at carbon fibre, but It's
either too expensive or doesn't come in the shapes sizes I'm looking
for. I will use it to make a custom 1/10 scale RC chassis. I've heard
of using balsa coated (doped) with some kind of compound made from some
kind of epoxy and talc. I'm considering fibreglas cloth and epoxy or
polyester resin. I may make a mould out of a block of wood to make a
square tube shape for starters. Does anybody have any experience
working with fibreglas and perhaps have any suggestions on how I can
get started? If moulding it, should I use wood or metal? for a release
agent, what should I use. Should the block have a slight taper for
easier release? Etc. You get the idea
I hope someone can lead me from start to finish. Is there a website or
book you can recommend?

Thank you all.
Ed had lotsa good points . If you want the car to be strongest, and
that guides your design more than being an exact scale copy of a real
vehicle, then the loads from all the suspension and drive train must
be considered. Careful design here can make a remarkably light and
strong car.
ERS