First DIY Carbon Fiber Stock

Mram10us

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Oct 19, 2019
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Idaho
It has taken a while with other projects, but here we go. I took my manner eh1 stock and made a good fiberglass mold. I made sure to sand it to perfect the edges and polish it with a red scotchbrite wheel. A couple coats of paste wax for release and it was ready for layups.

I used 2 layers of cf weave then vacuum bagged in each mold half. After they were fully dry, I laid down 3 layers of unidirectional cf inside, put the two halves together with cf overhanging inside to join. Once bolted together, I poured in some expansion foam thru a hole in the top of the mold (just above the trigger). The stuff expands 30x its liquid volume and you have about 45 seconds to mix and get it in there. I placed the mold in a heated closet at 80f and let it expand for an hour (only takes 5 minutes). Decided to leave it in another 3 hours for the epoxy to cure enouh to pop out of the mold and here she is.
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Obviously needs the edges cleaned, but at 22.4oz and strong as can be, I am pretty happy. Next is to clean, trim, lightly sand, inlet and test. Not bad for the first full try.
 
Here are the 2 form halves. This was the toughest part. About 10 total layers of fiberglass in 3 settings to get them strong enough. Definitely not easy :) Really cool to be close to a functional process. After all the cleanup, if it doesnt look as good as I'd like, I can use a cf sleeve like tikka and cover up the mistakes :) I'll post pics tomorrow when its all cleaned up

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Looks awesome, I like the process. Are you gonna do anything different for the recoil lug/bridge area of the stock for strength as manners does?
I have a 3d printer on the way and plan on making a carbon fiber nylon bedding block for testing. Open to any ideas though. The foam is incredible! I got the lightest stuff (2.2lb) and will try some 8lb next. Light but dries hard like concrete for machining
 
I have a 3d printer on the way and plan on making a carbon fiber nylon bedding block for testing. Open to any ideas though. The foam is incredible! I got the lightest stuff (2.2lb) and will try some 8lb next. Light but dries hard like concrete for machining
Nice! That block epoxied in place with an aluminum pillar through it should be plenty tough I would think
 
Couldn't sleep so cleaned it up, trimmed, rough inlet, sanded and put a coat of epoxy over it. When it cures, I'll block sand and see where we are. You can see some flaws in the pics I need to fix but still promising. Definitely useable. Weighs 26.2oz with butt pad.
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