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NOW AVAILABLE - Fairings in Chopped Carbon!

dmat

dmat

Well Known Member
Advertiser
All,

I am pleased to let everyone know, Fairings-Etc is proud to offer ALL fairings in Chopped Carbon.

Price is the same as basic weave CF.

- Same Great Artisan Quality (all our products are made by hand)
- Same Easier/faster install than stock Vans fairings
- Same strength
- Same weight reduction (~1/3 the weight of fiberglass) *correction ~1/4 to 1/3 weight savings from fairings-etc fiberglass fairings*
- No need to paint :cool:

Come check us out at Fairings-Etc

Thanks,

D


chopped 2.jpegchopped 1.jpeg
 
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I went to your page but didnt see any info about the chopped pieces. Can you explain more about them?
Also, I looked at the Nose Wheel fairing and couldnt figure out where that one piece fits. Im not satisfied with the fairings I have on my nose wheel so I am interested in new ideas. I have a carbon fiber spinner so matching fairings would be nice.

thanks!
 
While pretty, I'm a bit confused by this decision; chopped carbon is inherently weaker than continuous fibers of any type (including glass). Why not go with clear-coated twill weave carbon fiber/epoxy?
 
Please explain the decision to make these using the chopped fiber method vs lay-up? I’ve never run across an aircraft part fabricated using the chopped fiber method.
 
I am sure it has been considered in your design but for those experimenting with carbon fibre parts mounted on aluminum, make sure to have some kind of insulation (glass fibre layer for example) between the carbon and aluminum if you want to avoid potentially serious galvanic corrosion. I have seen numerous constructions not addressing this issue...
 
F18Sailor said:
While pretty, I'm a bit confused by this decision; chopped carbon is inherently weaker than continuous fibers of any type (including glass). Why not go with clear-coated twill weave carbon fiber/epoxy?
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None of these parts are structural. Chopped carbon provides more balanced strength and stiffness in all directions. Regardless of that fact, this is more for the look and all my chopped carbon products are backed with another layer of woven carbon followed by a layer of glass to reduce chances of galvanic corrosion.
 
Bastien said:
I am sure it has been considered in your design but for those experimenting with carbon fibre parts mounted on aluminum, make sure to have some kind of insulation (glass fibre layer for example) between the carbon and aluminum if you want to avoid potentially serious galvanic corrosion. I have seen numerous constructions not addressing this issue...
Click to expand...
All Fairings-etc carbon parts have a backing layer of fiberglass to reduce chance of galvanic corrosion.
 
mfleming said:
Please explain the decision to make these using the chopped fiber method vs lay-up? I’ve never run across an aircraft part fabricated using the chopped fiber method.
Click to expand...
It's more of an esthetic/ personal opinion. I personally prefer it as it doesn't show any seams and has a beautiful opalescent shine when you see them in the sun. It's hard to get a good video of that effect. (still working on it) But the pictures don't do it justice. Come and check them out at my booth at OSH 2025.

All the chopped carbon parts have:
- 1x layer of chopped
- 1x layer of woven carbon
- 1x layer of fiberglass

And if you prefer the look of the woven carbon, you would get 2 layers of woven carbon and 1 layer of fiberglass.

You have a choice of either woven or chopped on the website. Both are the same price.

LINK to Fairings

D
 
dmat said:
..fairings in Chopped Carbon.

- Same weight reduction (~1/3 the weight of fiberglass
Click to expand...

If the chopped carbon parts have 1x layer of chopped, 1x layer of woven carbon, and 1x layer of fiberglass, how can it possibly be 66% lighter than an all glass fairing?

Reality below, from a good reference. Volumetrically (i.e. for the same thickness), carbon/epoxy is only about 16% lighter, so carbon fairings would need to be very thin to be 66% lighter than the otherwise identical glass/epoxy part.

Material Properties Summary.jpg
 
rockwoodrv9 said:
I went to your page but didnt see any info about the chopped pieces. Can you explain more about them?
Also, I looked at the Nose Wheel fairing and couldnt figure out where that one piece fits. Im not satisfied with the fairings I have on my nose wheel so I am interested in new ideas. I have a carbon fiber spinner so matching fairings would be nice.

thanks!
Click to expand...
Hey Rockwood,

The chopped carbon is live on the site. :) As stated above, the chopped is more for looks and weight saving (1/3 lighter than my fiberglass parts). None of these fairings are structurally integral to the aircraft considering my main business is fiberglass fairings.

The Carbon provides a beautiful look with the added benefits of a stronger, lighter product which doesn't require painting.

D
 
DanH said:
If the chopped carbon parts have 1x layer of chopped, 1x layer of woven carbon, and 1x layer of fiberglass, how can it possibly be 66% lighter than an all glass fairing?

Reality below, from a good reference. Volumetrically (i.e. for the same thickness), carbon/epoxy is only about 16% lighter, so carbon fairings would need to be very thin to be 66% lighter than the otherwise identical glass/epoxy part.

View attachment 84822
Click to expand...
Hey Dan, Sorry, you are correct, that was a typo on my part. We have been weighing out fairings as we make them to collect the data. We have been seeing a weight reduction of about 25%-33%. What I meant in the original post was a reduction of ~1/3 the weight. Thanks for the catch and keeping me honest. I have updated the original post to show the correction.

D
 
dmat said:
None of these parts are structural. Chopped carbon provides more balanced strength and stiffness in all directions. Regardless of that fact, this is more for the look and all my chopped carbon products are backed with another layer of woven carbon followed by a layer of glass to reduce chances of galvanic corrosion.
Click to expand...
Well, they are structural in that they must stay attached to the airframe! However the pure aerodynamic loads aren't an issue, rather I'd be more concerned about dings from debris (rocks/mud/grass/sticks)-woven materials glass (backed with kevlar) probably have the edge there. In any case its good to know they are backed with a layer of woven and isolated with glass. The reduction in weight is appreciated by all. They do look good in clear coat!
 
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