Making a Carbon Fiber Hood

[@aaronbuildsa]

I smiled when I realised what that little room at the back of your workshop is.. a sort of poor-mans autoclave (oven, really, no above atmospheric pressure).. After installing the giant autoclaves at Premium Aerotek in Germany, my Dad went on to work with the teams doing exactly what you're doing - but on a giant scale - building carbon fibre Airbus airframes (A350 XWB).. laying out, bagging etc. The only difference is their layouts went on 70ft long, 22ft wide skids to be dragged into the giant 25m x 8m autoclave, making it expensive and annoying if the bagging failed! So thanks for surfacing some fond memories :)

[@killarny12]

Hey just a head up from another DIY Carbon Guy, since you infuse upwards with the resin below the part look at the MTI Valves for the resin intake line. They will keep the part under vacuum pressure and you wont have to bother regulating resin flow to avoid pooling, and the parts wont lose as much vacuum when the resin inlet line is opened to ambient air.

[@masondegaulle5731]

Holy sh!t there are some serious "tricks of the trade" being given away here, this is amazing! Thanks for sharing! 👍

[@robertzeeland]

Truely impressive, AJ! Thanks for taking the time to upload.

[@HellgrunEngineering]

Fantastic instructional content! Do you think you could do a video of the process of making the mold for this hood or any other large bodywork?

[@ajhartmanaero]

I will eventually.

[@pedrorodriguez6709]

@@ajhartmanaero I need a crowl hood carbon fiber for a 1993 GMC Sierra how much do you charge or how do you 21:34 suggest so I can make it

[@weeman6539]

@@ajhartmanaerodo you do work for others? If so I have some items for a drag car I would love to see if you could help. Thanks either way

[@Laidup77]

What kind of clear coat are you using in the mold prior to Layup? Duratek? By the way your videos are THE BEST composite videos on KZbin please don’t ever stop making them

[@El.compa.chuy.21]

Love the content! Quick technical question… I’m not sure if this has been answered somewhere already but figured I’d ask. When it comes to the rigidity portion of carbon fiber panels, I recall years ago that some manufacturers would use aluminum/titanium rods as support and to add rigidity. Would doing something like that be beneficial or would it be best to just sticking with all carbon fiber with just carbon fiber reinforcement in those high stress areas? Thank you in advance!

[@Birch19547]

Don't know if you still need an answer to this question, but it entirely dpeends on why you'd need reinforcement. If you're looking for rigidity as you said, you will need some sort of brace that would span your contact points which you want to remain rigid. More layers of carbon will not offer this rigidity. Watch any video of someone lifting a fully carbon hood, it bends, carbon is incredibly flexible along it's flat axis, even with thick layers of epoxy.

[@leedhb]

Lovely finish, thought the seem line between the two halves would be more obvious, but that is great looking bonnett

[@dannyipwn1203]

awesome video, i would of liked to see the hood latch stuff added and maybe some more of the "side" structure. but this was awesome. any final product footage ?

[@patrickbell3446]

Is the clear coat you spray in the outer mould a urethane clear coat? Maybe a gel coat clear? And it becomes part of the final part? I couldn’t tell if it was still tacky when laying the first layer. Great video though!

[@leandrosoaresdacosta1006]

Amazing job! Just a question: Why don’t put in vacuum bagging for a perfect bond of the two parts in the end? Thanks, you are great!

[@vikassm]

No hard rule against it. But generally vaccum bagging is needed for lamination with minimal epoxy (weight savings). Clamps do a good job for glueing parts together. Using vacuum bags for glueing parts requires more effort, creates extra mess and a ton of wastage for no additional strength or weight savings! Then again, what do I know 🤣

[@heraarryyr]

For intact result

[@killroy000]

Have you ever made carbon fiber, inner fender wells for like an old Chevelle?

[@aaragan3]

Makes me want to try my hand at it! Also love to watch time lapses, but i have a question for the ballooning of epoxy, what if you were to lay the part flat? Would that not eliminate the gravity issue?

[@EddieNanakase]

In his videos, he says that he prefers doing it this way because it keeps air on top of the resin when infusing. His method minimizes air getting trapped below the resin because air is lighter than a liquid and tends to move to the surface

[@Proj3ctLife]

If I had this level of skill and access to all of these tools and materials, I'd probably be driving a full carbon fibre Acura TL 😂

[@aaronthemartialmechanic893]

Facts

[@JonathanTurboPapi]

You and I both lol cf TL with cf wheels too 😂😂

[@JOEGGGJOE]

Wow, that was great. Was that 2k automotive clear you sprayed? I have a autobody background, so I’m big on prep. The clear coat doesn’t have to be prep or scuffed for the epoxy/cf to stick, after it was cured? Have you ever used clear gel coat or is that what it is. Great video man.

[@rohanpuri1989]

I believe in mold clear by duratec

[@Bytrl]

@@rohanpuri1989 what? I have the same question about what was used for that coat

[@danielh4759]

I have the same question. If it is gelcoat I dought it is UV resistant. Would be curious what clear was used.

[@Loudfire__]

@@danielh4759 pretty sure its gonna be sunshield by duratec

[@watchingvideosyup]

Curious to know the answer to this as well. Just started my Composites class at DATC

[@manitgoel3630]

superb. Can u please tell exactly what type of carbon fiber you used

[@jeroen-surf]

Again a great video! What spray tack do you use? Thanks! 🤙🤙🤙

[@no1pek460]

Awesome! What Carbon thickness do you use for hoods?

[@isaacwheeler2431]

7

[@alex.toader]

Awesome stuff! What was the final weight of the hood pls? And how much heavier would have been if the bottom part - the reinforcement was of fiberglass?

[@infernii]

Brilliant video! Thanks for taking the time to make it! Would you mind if I asked what knife you are using the cut your carbon as it seems almost effortless in comparison to scissors?

[@isaacwheeler2431]

yep

[@jeanfrancoispoivre4438]

Super ton travail !!! J'adore pour le vernis brillant en première couche... Bravo.

[@turbomaxicopa]

Cómo consigues que no se note las uniones de la fibra de carbono,gracias y buen trabajo ,yo haré unos paneles cuando tenga tiempo,que están muy mal

[@stevemantoan7227]

Hi, really nice job! A question, what kind of glue do you use to weld the both parts together?

[@robertfontaine3650]

Amazing that so little fiber and resin can create a strong piece

[@alien_drift]

Thanks for all these videos you published. I have noted that in making the hood in some cases you apply a clear coat on a mould before putting the first carbon layer for infusion and in some cases you dont. Is it really neccessery to apply clear coat? Does the applying a clear coat makes the outside surface more shine or? Thank you in advance for your answer!

[@aliozanerbektas]

What's the weight difference between carbon fiber and the oem (metal) one?

[@docbuildsit2038]

Great series. What glue do you use to bond the hood components together. I believe some people use methylmethatrolate

[@kylemcnair7513]

How do you match the weve of the carbon waying laying the two halves over eaach other?

[@ajhartmanaero]

Top secret. But have been thinking of doing a video on how I do it.

[@domp1819]

@@ajhartmanaero please do!

[@LS3Keyso]

@@ajhartmanaero yes!

[@WEIGHT_LOSS_Motorsport]

My favourite youtube channel, so much good infos to work with composite. Great job🤝

[@robertoarteaga7152]

That looks nice. I have a question I bought a carbon fiber hood but the holes for it to get bolted to the car are closer and don't match with the cars hinge

[@tannercraig1567]

Seen a few of your videos and blown away by the work you guys do!!! Would love to know if you guys do custom carbon fiber hoods for random cars (ones not already on your website)?

[@ajhartmanaero]

We do not. Wayyyy to time consuming to do the molds.

[@Jack_Hurst_]

3:37 at 0.5 speed got me 💀💀🤣🤣

[@user-kc9cn5js1u]

Really awesome work, I would love to see your moulding process Keep up the good work

[@averycalderon3917]

How long does it take you to make just one hood? And appoximatley how much are you paying for all the materials. Im looking to make a boat in future out of csrbon fiber and i would like to have a good idea of the time and cost.

[@Justk75]

That's incredible 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@Boosted_e63chuck]

Nice but is there a way to get a bigger width so you don’t have to have the seam in the middle of the hood?

[@ajhartmanaero]

Yes. There is 60" wide carbon.

[@elvisevanessa4713]

Following your work from Japan Congratulations!

[@armenvegas]

Awesome!!! How do you get giant rolls of carbon fiber fabric?

[@Hi-jk1fd]

very nice work! can you sent me a link were i can buy the carbon fiber roles?

[@imaanster322]

So dope, I love love love the process

[@dubbleA100]

Do you have a video on the mold process? I think that would be a really dope and informative one

[@ajhartmanaero]

Yes. A few videos ago we did a mold.

[@RLCPLUMBINGLLC]

As usual the video was great. Could you break down what you have in you vest?

[@ajhartmanaero]

Several people commented on my vest. Might be worth a video soon.

[@MrAmoney416]

Nurse IV pump vibes on the infusion

[@cunbal]

Thanks for the great video! So you basically only have two layers? Do you think it would survive at high hood temperatures?

[@ajhartmanaero]

Never an issue yet

[@domp1819]

Love your videos and quality. My question is what is the blue tape you use to keep the weave from getting messed up when cutting the carbon and also when making a Chevron seam in the middle of the hood?

[@ajhartmanaero]

blue tape is just blue tape. I did a video on how I do the center weave.

[@BigBrotherIsTooBig]

Love to see your work but it seems like there are no videos where you instruct on the layout.

[@johnbehneman1546]

GREAT VIDEO AND EDUCATION. I NEED TO START SIMPLE AT FIRST. THEN BUILD FROM THERE, THANKS FOR SHARING I LEARNED SO MUCH!!!!!

[@Ewat69]

IM GLAD YOU LIKED THIS VIDEO ENOUGH TO PUT THIS ALL IN CAPS LOCK

[@Scott-kd4gs]

What product do you use to bond the two together please?

[@andrewbrown6522]

I have a plastic boat that is made with upper/lower clamshell style pieces. Id like to split it and use it as a mold to make a CF version. Im wondering if i could do it for under a grand. I have service truck worth of tools but no vac or other related stuff. I use the boat for river adventures and its setup to row. Id want to incorperate some keel sheilding for landing and dragging/rock protection. I currently use hdpe patches that take hours to make. Boat is 10'x4'x36" & weighs about 140lbs from factory with foam blocks inside. Wondering where it would sit if made from CF.

[@aieaman]

just subbed! had a question. How did you go about making your molds for the carbon fiber?

[@ajhartmanaero]

Stay tuned. Editing a mold video right now and will be out soon. But simply put the molds are orange tooling gelcoat and fiberglass.

[@capitao2259]

What carbon fiber fabric do you use. it looks like it dosent frey at all

[@mattlee007]

very nice job ... my only complaint is i would have loved it if you would have slowed done at certain stages to show more detail and show the skills (just like the epoxy part... clearly a great job .. beautiful finish. Please show that

[@Carsntime]

That’s fantastic! Have you got a link to the clear coat you use to spray into the mould before the carbon goes in? I alway post-lacquer my stuff but this looks much better!

[@AdamNZ]

Clear coat weighs more

[@Laidup77]

Did you ever figure it out? I’m also looking to buy lol

[@garydeandeery]

Iv done a few just covering the bonnet with carbon fibre then clear coat UV finish. Best way is resin base coat wait till tacky then roll from one side to the other. Don’t try the spray glue way

[@fernandodelavera9146]

A.J what kind of spray do you use GeForce saying down the carbon fiber? I would like to try this process myself. Thank you

[@DAV4WSR1]

no lung protection for carbon fiber dust, for the beginning???

[@Mdf76]

hello very good job! question with what do you cut the carbon can you show the tool you use? THANKS

[@garydeandeery]

Dremil if gone off or sharpened scissor when in cloth

[@Tronatra]

So cool to see stuff like this. Whats the weight difference between this and the stock hood?

[@ajhartmanaero]

This was 11lbs. Oem aluminum is 23 and oem steel is 36 or there about if I remember right

[@jus1975]

love the videos. Im going to attempt a hood for car soon. Do you need hood pins if Im using a factory latch. And do you have any recommendations on a vacuum pump. I have one from harbor freight. Not sure if its adequate. Thanks again

[@tombeasley1943]

What does that hood weigh compared to a stock hood?

[@ajhartmanaero]

9.5 vs 23

[@zc18crx]

What type of clear coat did you apply?

[@ODGColornChrome]

Awesome! Would the resin flow better if the part were horizontal as opposed to vertical?

[@clypeum5063]

the orientation is not critical. the vacuum sucks the resin in every direction and is the driving force.

[@lamariabderezak3976]

Very very neat work I loved this and the result was amazing Tell me pleas at 18:47 what kind of glue you used??

[@youtuberAstar]

What is your "clear coat" ?? Is it resin OR a paint? Thanks form New Zealand. Love watching your vids. Thanks for sharing. 10/10

[@arkriffer3691]

Clear coat is a spray paint to make the surface look shinny and clear

[@crybaby6108]

How does your resin stood up for 40mins+? Doesn't it dry quick? What's your method for your resin to stay dense for quite a time?

[@fM4047MF]

first video of your's i watched and i subscribed now excelent work. But i have a question what is that component that you use to bond two pieces together thanks.

[@ajhartmanaero]

3m panel bond

[@wtfftw24]

But.. when you spray clear coat on waxed surface don't you get plenty of fish eyes issues? Thanks

[@oliverf944]

I use to make carbon fiber bonnet 15-20 years ago. there wasnt many people doing it back then. i used 1.5m roll widths so you dont see joins

[@johnnieburge4997]

Can you make me a custom carbon fiber hood & trunk?

[@АлмазАлмаз-б9ш]

Стыковка лицевой углеткани сделана с помощью какого то скотча интересного, не могли бы сказать какой это скотч?

[@DBatty]

You make it look so easy. When if most definitely isn’t!

[@3xeplodng_3agle_studios]

What are the particularly difficult parts? I actually want to know. Planning an attempt for the near future for one of my cars.

[@jrich436]

There is a significant price difference between a fully CF hood and a single layer CF over a fiberglass or ABS skeleton They aren’t marked up at all

[@TTL834]

may i know what product you use to demold? so resin wont stick to the mold or in the other video to the glass? also i see you used 2 pieces... is the line between both sheets visible? thanks

[@kaijudt8358]

Nice video nice to see how Something is builded. But for what you wear this vest ?? Best wishes from Germany

[@ajhartmanaero]

It holds all my tools.

[@kaijudt8358]

OK that make Sense 😊

[@jasonp978]

Much respect - craftsmanship ! Make any parts for 996's ?

[@philoffhistree6700]

what was the little spray can you used just spray glue or something else, also it said on screen that you used clear coat i thought you had to use gel coat did you use any release stuff as well or just straight up clear coat onto bare mold

[@DirectEnergySmirk]

Where do you get your carbon fiber?

[@kenecchi]

Would you be willing to share your strategy for making pleats in the butyl tape, in regard to the frequency and length of them versus the amount of bagging material? Or do you just sort of eyeball it?

[@ajhartmanaero]

On something this relatively flat, just a few random ones roughly eyeballed. More pleats is always better than not enough.

[@petergetler2649]

are the "gule sprayed" tacked places visible? or it is 100% clear ? btw love watching your videos , great job !

[@ajhartmanaero]

No.

[@Mastercylinder_]

I’m confused what did you put before the clear coat ? To make it come off with the hood ?

[@blobcsgo7190]

Thanks for sharing, seems difficult, Nice work

[@driftykamryn]

Roughly how much resin was used during the infusion?

[@stevenjaquin8218]

Gotta ask, why the tactical vest?

[@Gborohooo]

What's the surface of your workbench if you don't mind me asking? I'm making a table to cut my fabric on and have been trying to find a material I can use that's large enough

[@murk1352]

Slick technique! Do you do E82 135i hoods…? Nice job…💪🏻🏁

[@ajhartmanaero]

Thanks. I don’t have a mold for E82’s so can’t do those.

[@murk1352]

@@ajhartmanaero Oh I see, maybe something to think about in the future. Lot of guys out there that would buy your hood & parts. For the E92 as well…👌🏻🏁

[@ajmxxl]

will the pattern messes up with intersecting each other?

[@antonchannel589]

What ingridient to make carbon fiber.??

[@Philly_2JZ]

This is the 2nd video of yours I’ve watched (subscribed now), and I’m curious of something. Wouldn’t you want the first layer to be as close to a single sheet as possible so you don’t have split lines or potentially mismatched strand orientation to the customer facing “show” side. I understand that some shapes make this impossible (likely). Just my curiosity.

[@ajhartmanaero]

Yeah. There is 60” wide carbon if you wanted to use that.

[@YuichiTamaki]

Wow I didn't know clear coating prior laying up was possible!

[@franciscogoyo]

Did you use the original metallic hood as mold?

[@printrun5]

what is the purpose of that white “core” stuff? wondering if isnt better to use the same resin instead of panel bond to glue both parts together.

[@jeffmcguinness7132]

Thank you for the amazing vids. Can you let us know the tape you use for the sharp edge seam? It also looks as if you leave the tape during the infusion process?

[@ajhartmanaero]

Check my videos list. Did one specifically on it.

[@erat91]

Does it matter what weight carbon lays where? Does it matter what order it goes in? Or is it purely for cosmetics?

[@T10Titan]

is there prepreg option or is that harder to work with or do you use this method to not have to cook it?

[@hiteracing1489]

So what's your price and do you do foxbody mustang hoods

[@samueluger8620]

Bonjour, faites-vous les parties pour moto?

[@cabeloe36]

Its plain or twirl carbon?

[@DirtyBond]

Could you make a video of all the products you use and why 🙏🏽 please ❤

[@jayguesty8268]

I want to learn how to make my own carbon fiber bonnet (hood) am i wrong by saying i can do it in reverse to the way you am doing it to use the outer skin or would i just completely mess it up doing it that way ?

[@monkeybase01]

What kind of tape are you using in the center of the outer shell's first layer?

[@drrock5356]

What clear coat do you spray in the mold first? 2K urethane, or polyester?