Installing hood pins on my new CF hood. It's actually fiberglass with CF overlayed - the VIS Racing hood.

Anything I should know before I start drilling? Any special procedures for drilling CF that I'm not aware of?

Thanks!

 

i dont know **** about it, but if it helps... Jesse James used what looked like heavyduty masking tape, or panters tapeon the spot he was drilling and cutting in one of those episodes, but that wasnt carbon fiber it was just a body panel,

i would use a brand new expensive bit and use some tape to prevent any falking or cracks in the layers around the hole, if you have the right bit it should go through without mmuch pressure i think

 

Good info. I appreciate it! I have some painters masking tape that should do the trick. I guess duct tape wouldn't be too bad, either.

Thanks!

 

yeah but i was thinking that pulling up the duct tape might be too strong and might peel up the top layers aroung the hole when you peel it off....

 

You're going to want to put the tape on BOTH SIDES of the hole before you drill. Use a brand-new bit at relatively high speeds. Start by making a "pilot hole" by centering the bit on your mark and squeezing the trigger once or twice to create an indentation so your blade doesn't walk (you can't use a punch or awl to make the indentation, you'll ruin the carbon). Let the drill do the work, don't force it through. The resin used in carbon production is very strong and will take a little while to get through, similar to metal.

Sean

PS Most of this applies whenever you're driling, but it's worth mentioning for thi sspecific concern.

 

1. Use a stiff backing material.
2. Clamp the material on tightly.

I use a diamond drill bit, but you probably don't have one of those lying around. bits are strongly not recommended by me. In that case, try and find a new carbide bit. Regular wood/metal With a diamond bit it's important to keep the bit wet, with a carbide bit it's not quite so important.

I spent yesterday drilling holes in CF test coupons, and it's a huge pain in the butt. If I have a chance I can post a pic of the rig I was using. I found 2 pieces of metal with ~1/2" holes in them that I could sandwich around the CF, with some fiberglass and some scrap CF behind my test coupon as a backing.

Nathan