Composites Supplies?
 

I am about to order an EZ-VAC bagging kit from ACP and since I am ordering, I am wondering if there are any other stock supplies I should be ordering at the same time. Things like carbon TOW, tissue, etc. Anything else you like from ACP that I am not mentioning would be great, too.

Thanks,
Mark

RE: Composites Supplies?
 

That's a difficult question w/o knowing what you're working on. If you mean strictly related to your bagging setup, what you need depends on what you're bagging. If you plan on bagging wings and stabs to bond the balsa to the foam, I'd suggest a larger bag for the wings and smaller for the stabs. I actually prefer the bagging tubes for that application because then you'll only need to seal the ends. They have special clips that are easier and more economical to use than the sticky tape for sealing the ends. If you use two separate bags, I'd get an extra air hose attachment nipple so you have one already installed on each bag. Make sure you have an adequate amount of breather cloth because you'll use a different length and width for wings as opposed to stabs. Even though I bag my wings in the shucks, the breather cloth extends over the ends and will stick to the root and tip if you don't put a piece of release material in those areas. The teflon-coated glass release film works great. OTOH, wax paper would probably suffice in that application. Again, it all depends on what you're doing. Make sure to use a little weight, particularly if you're bagging in the shucks. There's a tendency for the ends to pull up a little under vacuum. A few pounds of weight, especially near the root and tip, prevents it.

Good Luck!

Verne Koester

RE: Composites Supplies?
 

Thanks for the tips Verne. I guess I was a little vague, wasn't I? I am expecting to be bagging wings and stabs, as you thought. Probably also a bit of laminating former material, firewalls, etc. But no glider wings or anything like a wet layup.

I will order an extra nipple or two for a second set of bags, I never thought of that but will certainly need it. I am ordering the larger bagging material and breather cloth with it, and I think it will do any wings I anticipate needing. Certainly up to 2M pattern and 35% scale aerobatics stuff and I don't see ever going larger than that. I think I will add a piece of their standard tube for the stab, it will be about the right size for that.

I plan to start with bagging in the shucks and use a flat board on top of the assembly with some weight to keep it all straight, very similar to what you describe. My first project will be a Q500 wing and then probably a T2A-40, after that I will try some bigger stuff.

Thanks,
Mark

RE: Composites Supplies?
 

For what it's worth,

If you need to do smaller item vacuum bagging, I just tried out a really slick thing. It is called handi vac and is made by Reynolds Wrap. http://www.alcoa.com/reynoldskitchen...ac/en/home.asp

It is a handheld vacuum pump that is used with special ziploc baggies. The baggies have a check valve in them. You mate the pump to the check valve on the baggie and suck the air out. The vacuum draw seems sufficient for our needs. It isn't perfect and can't maintain a continuous vacuum. but for smaller items and fab parts it works great.

I made a CF laminated firewall. Came out looking professional. Nice, smooth, shiny, minimal epoxy.

Steve Hannah.