Recommended epoxy/adhesive for carbon frame repair?

[guylimey]

Any recommended epoxy/adhesive for carbon frame repair? Not a significant repair, a short (just over 1/4 inch) hairline crack in one chain stay but I have carbon fiber sheeting and would like to patch the area but need to know what epoxy/adhesive to use. Thank you.

[Black Dog]

West System. Widely used for kevlar and carbon fibre in high stress marine applications. For any serious structural repair I would ask one of the carbon builders on this site for advice on adhesives.

https://www.westsystem.com

[zmalwo]

Make sure you mix them thoroughly, or you get spots that never hardens from the resin that wasn't mixed with enough hardener.

[Mikej]

You're not going to fix it by gluing it. You have to clean up the ends on the crack and remove any delaminated material, replace material and re epoxy.

[zmalwo]

just sand the whole chain stay and wrap more than 5 layers of carbon and you are set. no need to worry about weight at this point you want that thing layered up like a tank to the point it's almost solid carbon.

[11.4]

A crack in a chain stay? Ummm, send it to a professional frame shop such as Calfee or Parlee (or to the original maker if it's a custom frame) for a proper repair. Just wrapping and gluing it isn't going to do much.

[muz]

just sand the whole chain stay and wrap more than 5 layers of carbon and you are set. no need to worry about weight at this point you want that thing layered up like a tank to the point it's almost solid carbon.

This won't work, at least not for long. As others suggested, you need to sand down to carbon first. Then you need to apply several layers, starting with a small patch and then extending the next layer another cm on each side, etc. Otherwise you create a stress riser and it will crack at the transition from the patch to the original chainstay. This won't be pretty, but it will probably work.

[ergott]

I'm sending my post crash frameset here for eval and discussing any possible repairs. I think the bike is fine, but not worth it to take a chance.

https://www.ruckuscomp.com/

[commonguy001]

I’d check with Drew at Cyclocarbon in Rochester MN and get his thoughts. He is on Facebook and posts a number of his projects on Instagram. He also puts on a few gravel races in southern MN, a solid guy who does a goood job.

[Bruce K]

I highly recommend Ruckus

Good guys with lots of experience and know-how

BK

[AngryScientist]

if it were my bike with a similar issue, i would absolutely undertake a repair myself.

i do not buy into the internet alarmists who tell everyone that you have to get a "professional" to repair anything.

The OP has taken a good first step and is asking a question before jumping into a repair, although the actual repair is probably going to be a little bit more involved than the simple question asked in the original post - an at-home carbon patch is absolutely possible. People have been DIY'ing fiber stuff for years, it's not as if we're trying to build a lunar rover in the garage here.

do a little more research guy, in the area of surface prep, carbon fiber repair, compatible epoxies, etc. with the internet at your literal fingertips, all the information and supplies are readily accessible for a successful repair here.

[prototoast]

This should be fine, I've used it before: https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F11 1598779395

Most important thing is to make sure you get an epoxy resin, measure the quantities accurately, and mix well.

Don't mix too much at once or you can start a fire. You won't need much for this project, so I'd advise to mix up no more than 50ml at a time. This time of year, if your workspace isn't heated, you'll want to add some heat to help it cure. For a room temperature resin, you won't need to nuke it, but get it up to 80-100f.

For a hairline crack in a straight stay, it should be pretty easy to lay the carbon fiber, and get good compaction with perforated heat shrink tape like this: https://compositeenvisions.com/hi-shrink-tape-0-5-width-x-100-yards-release-coated-1633.html

Surface prep is very important. Make sure you sand and clean with acetone and alcohol first. Wear a mask and do it outside if you can, because carbon fiber dust is bad for you.

If you happen to live in the SF Bay area, pm me and I might be able to help.

[guylimey]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. Not intimidated by the repair just want to use the right materials and prep correctly.

[glepore]

Carbon repair? No need to be afraid. The ebay resin above is fine, most of the ebay sellers are simply repacking industrial resin. Sand well. There's likely filler and primer etc. Clean with acetone. Saturate the cloth and lay in place, then wrap tightly. I usually use scotch blue masking tape, electrical tape works as well. There are specialty wraps the suppliers sell with perforations to allow resin to seep through, but these are mostly unnecessary with small repairs. Allow to set for 24 hrs or so indoors, remove tape, sand smooth, repeat.

I've repaired frames, parts and even Lightweight wheels this way.

[SoCalSteve]

I'm sending my post crash frameset here for eval and discussing any possible repairs. I think the bike is fine, but not worth it to take a chance.

https://www.ruckuscomp.com/

Sent you a PM regarding Ruckus. My recommendation is to send it elsewhere, they are very incompetent. If you search them here you will see mine and others document just how incompetent they really are. Good luck!

[SoCalSteve]

I highly recommend Ruckus

Good guys with lots of experience and know-how

BK

Not sure where you are getting this info from, they may be good guys and have lots of experience and know how, but they are thoroughly incompetent at fixing and refinishing carbon fiber frames. I know from very personal experience.

It’s been well documented on here by me and others:

https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=197262&highlight=Ruckus

Read through this and you will understand more.

[glepore]

I had a riding companion send a Colnago to Ruckus last year for a dropout replacement. It came back with some much excess on the inside chainstay. you couldnt use the smallest cog.

I fixed that, but...

[cmbicycles]

Predator Cycling has a DIY carbon repair kit, I haven't used it, but its on my radar for use under the right circumstances. I'm sure there are similar kits out there from other companies as well.

https://predatorcycling.com/products/carbon-repair-kit

[DuddyJ]

I have personally used Henkel EA 9396, not for a bike application, but I can vouch for it. Its not cheap but it is strong.

https://www.skygeek.com/henkel-hysol-ea-9396-50-gram-ez-pack-as9280009.html?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=shoppingengine&utm_content=henkel-hysol-ea-9396-50-gram-ez-pack-as9280009&utm_campaign=froogle&gclid=Cj0KCQiAi57gBRDqARIsABhDSMqViS-XfAyMIj43zytFHpSTZPydpzI59_ecN0HwMGg8S8S71tsTpJMaA rdeEALw_wcB

Are you just going to patch it with woven? Is the crack on the length of the chainstay or the width? If its on the width there is a break in the fibers and while a patch will help it wont be as strong.

[JWDR]

if it were my bike with a similar issue, i would absolutely undertake a repair myself.

i do not buy into the internet alarmists who tell everyone that you have to get a "professional" to repair anything.


I just got finished using the cheapest Amazon kit to repair a crack in the down tube of my Carbon Trek Fuel.

Sanded a huge chunk out to ensure I got all of the damaged material and then put 4 layers of carbon fiber cloth of increasing size over the crack a layer at a time. I let it cure 24 hours or so between layers but that’s probably overkill. I was truly amazed how easy it was to repair so little cost.

[aaronf]

I'm sending my post crash frameset here for eval and discussing any possible repairs. I think the bike is fine, but not worth it to take a chance.

https://www.ruckuscomp.com/

Yeah, add me in for another Ruckus-absolutely-never-recommendation. Totally amateur-show at best. PM for further info if you would like.

[RadNerfHerder]

This won't work, at least not for long. As others suggested, you need to sand down to carbon first. Then you need to apply several layers, starting with a small patch and then extending the next layer another cm on each side, etc. Otherwise you create a stress riser and it will crack at the transition from the patch to the original chainstay. This won't be pretty, but it will probably work.Definitely. As long as you scarf out each layer as muz said you should be fine. Just replace each layer that you remove and you'll be back close to new.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

[54ny77]

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/ScaredHomelyDachshund-size_restricted.gif

[GParkes]

Some resources ---

https://www.fibreglast.com/category/PrePreg_Fabrics

http://www.carbonfiberglass.com/

http://www.velocite-bikes.com/carbon-fiber.html

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/cm/index.html

[weisan]

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/ScaredHomelyDachshund-size_restricted.gif

I had a really good laugh watching the video, y'all should try it!...I mean, give it a good laugh, that's what the doctor order, a good laugh a day keeps the grunts away.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwdOtjlqs-Q

[Elefantino]

Flex Tape and Flex Seal actually work!

[false_Aest]

Hern Montenegro (MMFG) is on the East Side of LA. He used to work for Predator. Just did some shoes for KISS (seriously)
Makes a decent whip too.


Word.

[RocketPockets]

One of my friends use GorillaCarbons a lot and highly recommends it.

GorillaCarbons (http://www.gorillacarbons.com/index.php?route=product%2Fproduct&path=60&product_id=55&fbclid=IwAR2r-zF3FZ0-q6pV8yIKfmBw6lvBRmUyU83sSgdcKvOQ3gMYlsiyumVrLlY)

[duff_duffy]

I know what they mean by this in the product description but gotta laugh out of it. I always look for this when picking how to fix my bike:
“This kit was carefully created for lowest odor possible.”


One of my friends use GorillaCarbons a lot and highly recommends it.

GorillaCarbons (http://www.gorillacarbons.com/index.php?route=product%2Fproduct&path=60&product_id=55&fbclid=IwAR2r-zF3FZ0-q6pV8yIKfmBw6lvBRmUyU83sSgdcKvOQ3gMYlsiyumVrLlY)