Carbon Fiber Chassis Prep - Necessary Step ?

[backtomyroots]

Question:

I will be building a TB EVO IV MS.  Does the graphite chassi/parts need to be sealed with anything on the edges ? Also, I have read that the battery slots are sometimes filed down.  This car is going to be a shelf queen only.  So, is it necessary to seal it, if so, what do I use ?  Does anybody have tips, or recommendations - I don't want to make a mess of the chassis [:|].  Or should I just build it from the box & not worry about it ?  Cheers.

 

[tupers]

You can seal the chassis edges with normal super glue, it is done to stop the carbon from fraying when in use. The battery holes are fieled down to give the battery a better fit. If its just going to be a self queen theres no need to do either realy. Hope this helps.

Tupers 

[HunterZero]

Filing down the battery slots stops the carbon fibre from chewing into the battery casings too.

- James

[backtomyroots]

You can seal the chassis edges with normal super glue

What is the best method for applying it ? Just run it along the edges from the bottle - anyone got some "tips" for application. I am a "neat freak" though - so maybe I'll just leave it stock since it is for the shelf.

[tupers]

last time I did it, I masked up the flat area around the around the edge of the chassis so it wuldn't go on the shiny bit of the carbon. The I ran the bottle along the edge of the chassis. But keep the bottle at a low angle so that not much comes out. You can also use a small paint brush but but you will have to get a couple cos they go hard after a while. Hope Ive not confused you more. []

Tupers

[Rat Fink]

use a twin pack resin to neaten the edges.

most carbon used by tamiya is not carbon bur two layers of carbon sandwiching a couple of layers of glass fibre. this means that there will be a colour difference between the layers.

go over the edges with a permenant marker pen and then paint on a layer of twin pack resin.

super glue is messy and requires the application of "flash off" to make it go off and this sometimes leaves a crazed effect.

If you file the edges use a diamond file or a dremel with a fine stone in it. A file rips the edges to pieces and also ruins the file. once the edges are dressed apply a coat of twin pack resin.

Gee

[sosidge]

Personally speaking I have never prepped the edges of a carbon part and I have never had any issues because of that. If a carbon part delaminates it is probably a reflection of the quality of the carbon/resin mix and not the result of not glueing the edges.

[jozza]

I use superglue, and apply it with a cocktail stick. I found that using the bottle tip invariably ended up in dribbles on the chassis which look unsightly. But if it's a shelf queen, I'd do it with a permanent marker just to blacken off the edges to make them look nice.

I partially agree with sosidge, but when you are racing, however good the carbon fibre is, if it takes a scrape/hit from the side it will be weaker and can delaminate, the glue soaks and bonds the layers together at the vulnerable edge to stop this happening (it will chip rather than splitting). It's also worth sealing countersunk screw holes at high stress areas like bumper mounts, as the screws rubbing on the carbon can wear it down.

[backtomyroots]

Thanks for the responses & info fellas [Y].