Always read the fine print
 

So I tried my first attempt at carbon fiber lamination tonight (total failure). Everything was going fine; prep of the piece was perfect, the cloth was gorgeously cut, the resin. . . well not so perfect.

I followed the directions for mixing the resin to a T, but after about 20 minutes of mixing. . . the resin was still very milky and aerated. So I checked the directions again and it said if the mixture is slightly warm, the resin is good to go. So I went ahead and brushed some reason onto a practice piece (Very smart idea to do!!!). After letting the reason tack up, it was looking pretty good, alot of the air bubbles went away so I applied the piece of cloth. After waiting about 30 minutes (major mistake 1, forgot about letting the piece sit until the carbon cloth does not shift) I brushed on more reason (Remember, the resin is still cloudy as hell looking).

After waiting about an hour, the carbon fiber looked amazing. . . the resin. . . didn't.:tear: There was so many bubbles in it, and was very very milky.

Upset and frustrated the genius that I am decide to read ALL the directions including the little fine print warning label I overlooked earlier.

Just a little background, I live in south east Michigan, and was working in a friends shop that around 55 degrees.

Back to the story. . .

That little warning label says VERY VERY BOLDLY

"WARNING! DO NOT ATTEMPT IN TEMPERATURES LOWER THAN 70 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT! DOING SO WILL CAUSE UN-REMOVABLE AIR BUBBLES TO FORM AND MAY CAUSE RESIN TO NOT HARDEN"

. . . there is not a word in the english language to describe how pissed I was at myself. . .:mad::headshake

Moral of the story. . . READ ALL THE DIRECTIONS.