Just wondering if anyone has ever tried to source carbon fiber as a sheet good? Seems it's pretty easy to modify existing ones so it shouldn't be too difficult to punch them out of a sheet. I'm sure there is a source somewhere, and I'm equally sure Penn would like to keep that source well hidden!
Has anyone found, or have any leads on, bulk carbon-matrix drag material? ???
Quote from: nook55 on December 15, 2009, 02:43:48 AM
Just wondering if anyone has ever tried to source carbon fiber as a sheet good? Seems it's pretty easy to modify existing ones so it shouldn't be too difficult to punch them out of a sheet. I'm sure there is a source somewhere, and I'm equally sure Penn would like to keep that source well hidden!
Has anyone found, or have any leads on, bulk carbon-matrix drag material? ???
im sure you can buy from china. be prepared to dish out some dough. i tried to buy sheets of abalone shell paper to make lure heads. i had to purchace 800 sheets minimum at $20 a sheet. guess you know how the story wound up, i passed on that bargin lol
i've been looking for years. the stuff is expensive as hell, and a real mess to work with.
i too have been looking for years for this kind of thing so that i could punch and cut my own drag washers. Penn protects this source like they were the secert service :o
Yeah, I knew it couldn't be an original idea. But ... I figured this board has international reach, so maybe it is more available outside the US. If it is a bulk order / cost issue, maybe we could leverage a few hundred board members at $10 each. Just seems there aughta be a way.
Well, that's my rant! I'm done. ;)
You can buy pieces of carbon fiber sheet from me if it's for reels I don't make washers for.
Dawn
Smoooooth Drag
ok, guys. there you go!
yay Dawn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D how much per sheet?
Ya beat Me to it Reelmedic
Inquring minds wants to know Miss dawn
check out her website for her e-mail address. this might not be something she would offer to just anyone. alan
Finally got to this, sorry for the delay.
Carbon Fiber sheet material
.020 (.5 mm) or .030 (.76 mm) 6.5" x 5" $30.00
.040 (1 mm) 6.5" x 5" $35.00
I can do bigger sheet if necessary, but i thought this would be a reasonable size for most needs.
Material is not hard to cut, even with scissors. BUT it's really not easy to cut washers out, just FYI. But if you want to...there you are.
Dawn
Smooooth Drag
at one point, i had these delusions of cutting my own drag washers on a large scale. after grinding down a few and dealing with the mess, i decided no way!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi alan, i know this is an old post but, have you tried a wad punch. I cut my own carbontex washers up to 1 mm thick with a wad punch . I have a kit with szes 5mm - 32mm. Anything bigger i have used carvery scissors. If needed to dress edges i use a fine file and drag the washer not file, as such.
Hello spearo, I was going to try them myself but when I found out the cost for a set, it was more reasonable to just order the washers. I've been cutting the OD with scissors on my 1mm washers with no problem, I've mentioned it on a previous post, but no one had a comment on it. :-\. In most cases the OD on a washer doesn't have to be perfect, but the scissors do a good job. I was going to order a ponch set, the same set they use for teflon washers and give that a shot. I don't see why it wouldn't work, if I place the sheet on a piece of wood and hit it with a nice size hammer it should do it. Hey if it doesn't work I can always use the set for teflon washers ( not for my drag stack) , it's always good to have a set.
Im with the "NO WAY" group here..
I have had to fabricate a few, real mess & never perfect (that alone drives me nuts) compared to the cost of pre-cut to perfect size IMHO...
Time in a reel goes way off the chart...
Mess of black dust....
Never (for me any way) are they perfect.. So I spend more time!!!!! ???
I will do it if "I have to", but much rather buy them ready to go....
.
i have 5 sheets 5"x5"x1mm if anybody needs them
$100aud includes postage to anywhere.
1 lot only.new,not greased.
same material as used by okuma in there reels.
pm me if interested.
cheers
Here's another source for carbon fiber sheet: www.ballard.com
borch
Quote from: spearo776 on July 15, 2011, 11:02:38 AM
Hi alan, i know this is an old post but, have you tried a wad punch. I cut my own carbontex washers up to 1 mm thick with a wad punch . I have a kit with szes 5mm - 32mm. Anything bigger i have used carvery scissors. If needed to dress edges i use a fine file and drag the washer not file, as such.
Hello Spearo, I just wanted to thank you for the great tip on the wad punch. I just received mine today, I purchased a used set of 7 for $10 on ebay. I just got done punching a half dozen washers that I needed, I used a 1mm sheet of carbon fiber and was amazed on how easy and clean it was. I placed the sheet on a piece of hard wood and all it took was one hit with the hammer. I'm very excited on this one, thanks again and keep your great tips coming. Take care, Sal
Great to hear alto. I'm in the process of doing every reel i own. I source my carbotex from www.thedownriggershop.com the guys name is andy and he's from Sydney, Australia. Very reliable to deal with so far.