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Old 08-15-2014, 03:04 PM   #49
flaps10
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Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Tacoma
Posts: 429
Wow, I actually love this thing.

I do have experience in composite tooling and fabrication, and there has been some good discussion. I actually liked the poster who put up the low numbers because it brought forth some more correct assumptions.

The tooling at that low dollar amount would be crude and not very durable. If you're going full boat you want to make a tool heavy and with excellent surface finish. Also, $300 worth of fiberglass would be just this side of chopper gun work - polyester resin, cheap gelcoat, heavy layup. Would look fine from 15' and may work okay for racing car fit and finish. But then you'd have to deal with whiny P car aficionados that expected mirror finish and no gaps.

The concept of loaning out tools reminds me of back "in the day" when that was how fiberglass kayaks were made. The problem is the owner of the tool depends on people using proper release methods, not hammering the crap out of the edges trying to pop their part loose, etc.

If you're really going to be able to produce a carbon fiber prepreg part with even half way reasonable finish, no headliner, etc for under $2k then my hat is off. It looks sexy! I'm going to be watching for these to be available to mere mortals. I'd drive to CA just to pick it up.
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