Wrapping rails neatly

[BWD]

Cut lap, if you care enough.

[grandeand]

why wrap the tracks instead of laminating on them?
many companies sell high density pu blocks, com or rails installed.
just insert it in the core of the table, and laminate on it.

[RichR2]

why wrap the tracks instead of laminating on them?
many companies sell high density pu blocks, com or rails installed.
just insert it in the core of the table, and laminate on it.

I think you've misunderstood what we've been discussing, when I said 'rails' I was referring to the outside edges of the board.

[grandeand]

ok, with google translade I translate the words rail and I thought I suffered from the rails of the mast attack.

[TomW]

Theres 2 tricks i use with carbon.

First I prepare board by taping off the rail edge where laminate will end.

1. I wet out the carbon on a piece of builders polyethylene film, the thick stuff used in walls. I lay out the Pe film, put my carbon on it and wet it out on a flat table. Then I flip it over onto the board. The CF doesn't peel off when you flip it. Then I cut the CF and film with good quality composite scissors. Then pull off the pe film. Edge of CF is clean.
2. I use a squeegee to stretch out the fabric and onto the rails. But, importantly, I don't touch the CF edge with the squeegee. I do final wrapping of rail with nitrile gloved hands, fingers. This results in nearly no fraying.

I have to add, that I then put my board in a vacuum bag using all the standard procedure. That's another subject.

Now, if you wanted to do a cut lapp, you can't vacuum bag, and you can't see the tape edge like you can with glass. So I strongly don't recommend that.
Better to let it cure hard.then using a soft surfboard sanding pad on your powered rotary sander and 80g paper carefully grind the rail using broad sweeping motion, with rotation of pad going towards the tape. As the carbon thins, you'll start to see the tape, as you break through the fiber the tape edge will fray. Stop. Do this all the way around, then remove the cured waste edge and tape. Edge is now tapered. I can grind a board this way in 5-10 min. It's easy once you get the nack of it.

You can hand layup CF without vacuum, but carbon has the tendency to lift and expand during wetout. It is difficult / impossible to get good quality laminate. Glass doesn't do this. I've tried both. Putting the CF into vacuum makes surface super compact and smooth. CF is so much more expensive than glass, it's worth it to go the extra mile with vacuum.

[RichR2]

Some great advice Tom, thanks.

[revhed]

I simply do this.
Use plastic envelope, wet out carbon with credit card, easy to see impreged, goes clear black and leaves close to good ratio, clean task if done right!
Use template for shape and cut with either razor knife on glass or sissors.
Peel one side of plastic and stick exactly where you want. If you want some better stick paint brush some epoxy on part and let set for a while until just tacky.
Able to apply hand pressure to position and adhere some to start, able to see due to clear plastic.
Can even leave half plastic envelope when vac sac pulled.
Warning, this is time consuming but as least for me works so well.
R H