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| Peter Pine PO Box 1050 Kingscliff NSW 2487
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Recently, when I had to repair my F3J glider, I had great trouble obtaining carbon fibre tow, so I have imported some top quality carbon tow from Germany. It is called NF-12, which means something like 12,000 fibres, and it is rolled into 100g spools. Each spool contains 125m of carbon tow, 6mm wide and nominally 0.2mm thick.
You can use this tow to strengthen selected areas of your model, to make carbon spars, and to make your own carbon joiner rods.
It costs $59.00 per 100g spool - new stock arrived 2-12-08
How to Use Carbon Fibre Tow
I cut the tow to length first using scissors - if I need to strengthen an area 150mm long, I cut several lengths at 150mm, and then keep cutting lengths gradually shorter and shorter so that the strength will be tapered.
I then tape a garbag or large sheet of plastic to my work bench. I mix epoxy laminating resin (West Systems from boat chandlers is good). I then dribble some resin onto the plastic (it is much thinner than 5 minute epoxy). I spread the resin up and down the plastic with a notched spreader (I cut one out of thin ply using scissors). Then I pick up the carbon tows one at a time with gloved hands, and lay them onto the wet plastic. I rub the tows until they take up the resin - they should just show a slight wetness - it is best if you do not use too much resin. Then I pick up the wetted tows one at a time and lay them into place, rubbing them with a gloved finger. It may be best to give the area that is receiving the carbon a light coat of resin with a brush first. Cover the area with tape, if possible, to hold it it in place while setting. If it is a flat surface I put plastic sheet over the carbon and put a flat weight on top to apply pressure while it is setting. If it is a hollow area, I overfill it with carbon before adding weight. Your repaired area, or strengthened area, will be super strong! And not much heavier. This tow is also very good for strengthening around canopy openings and wing seats!