Cutting carbon blades

[Ale Andres]

Hi! i have a pair of Carbontek 85 carbon fiber fins, and i only use them for spearfishing, (i use the monofin to go deep) and never go deeper than 30 mts, the problem is that this fins are extremely long and makes spearfishing harder, so i'm thinking in cut them a few cms to make them more easy to use for spearfishing. Is it possible without risks? what way?

 

[Bill]

If I remeber right, Martin Stepanek cut his C4s. I'm very interested in cutting carbon fins too. Thanks for starting this thread.

 

[azapa]

i can recommend an angle grinder with a stone cutting disk for tough fiber glass, but I have a feeling a pair of sharp metal shears would do well on thinner carbon. Try an area ABOVE (towards the waste end) first.

 

[Old Man Dave]

High speed rotating cutting disc in a hand angle grinder (grindette). Cutting disc rather than a grinding one and I don't think it matters whether it's a metal cutting, stone cutting or a diamond disc. Watch out for friction heat build up in the carbon if you go too slowly. I'd G clamp some wood slats top and bottom across the fin when cutting for strength and for use as a guide.

Dave

 

[Ale Andres]

Thank you guys! any care with the cut zone? do i have to put resine or something there? i will cut them and post pics, wish me luck!!! i'm a little scared, but i will cut them...any advice will be well received

 

[Claudio]

Hi Alejandro,

I hear from the forums from Spain that Carlos Thomas, CarbonTek's owner, offers very good after sales service and is ofter present at these forums answering user's questions.

I recommend trying to email him at [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]carbontek@carbontek.net[/FONT] or by phone at [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]0034 665 71 72 29 to see if he has any recommendations on how to cut your blades.

You can also post this question on the Spanish forum he frequents. PM me if you want to know the forum's name (I don't think I can mention it in this forum as it may be against the forum's rules).

Good luck!
Claudio
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[badlander]

I asked my friend who's company makes carbon racing yachts and the like about this.He reckoned a fein saw would do the job,it cuts using vibration and will do it cleanly. Failing that,take a hacksaw and cut it only on the back stroke,it'll leave a clean cut with minimal fibre disruption apparently!

 

[hudasmt]

why not buy a shorter blade than waste the carbontek? im sure there are someone lurking for blades,especially long ones.

 

[spaghetti]

Once you have cut them, I think you should not leave naked carbon fiber at the edge. What about covering the cut edge with a thin film of of epoxy or polyurethanic resin?

 

[Ale Andres]

This is what i was wondering about, the naked fiber that will be after cutting, i will e mail Carlos Thomas and see what he says...

 

[flying_spanner]

I'm an aircraft engineer. I deal with both fibreglass and carbon fibre in my job.

I cut resin (both thermo and exo plastics) with a small air powered grinder and a cutting wheel. If you don't have air tools a Dremmel with a small cutting disc does the same job but it's electric.

The exposed fibres can be very easily sealed by mixing a little resin and brushing it on. I'd do a couple of coats and use 300 grit emery paper between coats.

When you mix the resin use your mixing stick as a guide, stir the resin and lift the stick up. If the resin kind of drips off in a constant stream it's about perfect to leave a nice glossy sheen when it's dry.

Hope this helps.