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One trick I found that makes it easier to trim carbon fiber tubes is using an abrasive blade on a grinder or oscillating tool like you have, but the trick is using a typical automotive worm-gear hose clamp to locate your cut line and serve as the guide. Tape works, but is finicky as you said. A hose clamp is more easily located and installed, is always square to the centerline of the tube, and serves as a physical guide for your blade or sander, so that you don't cut the tube too short. Try it if you have a chance. Keep up the good work.
Just what I was looking for. I realize that this video is over 3 yrs old as I am watching it but I am thankful for the information and safety tips that you included in this. Great comments/suggestions from others as well. Cool!!
not a bad idea to "paint" the fresh cut ends with some CA before the tape comes off, before any sanding, to ensure the newly-exposed fibers remain locked together
@@DarkAeroInc I would not try a pipe cutter on carbon - the clamping action of the cutter frame and wheel will fracture the edge of the fiber tube. For Aluminium, pvc, steel, brass etc a pipe cutter would suffice.
I notice you said it was fiddly to get the tape wrapped around perfectly square. Why not try a piece of paper instead? Cut out a small strip of paper, leaving one straight factory edge, and take all the time you want to line it up, without it sticking before you're ready. Then you can tape it on the other side.
Have you tried to cut with an abrasive blade on the oscillating tool? They are supposed to work better on carbon fiber compare to ones with teeth but I haven’t tried it. Curious to know the difference.
I think we tried abrasive ones a while back but we came to prefer the ones with teeth as they are better for making precision cuts. This blade in the video was admittedly a bit dull.
@@DarkAeroInc Could it depend on the layup? I've tried to cut those small diameter carbon fiber tubes they use in kites (very flexible) with a hacksaw type of blade and the result was lot of splitting. I think those are just unidirectional axial layups. Is your tube a diagonal type of layup? Also do you happen to know if the glossy "3k" tubes have the same diameter tolerances as the ground one you are using?
@@experimental_av Fiber orientation does impact the cut. An all unidirectional tube would be prone to splintering as you mentioned. I think for those I would recommend an abrasive wheel on a Dremel tool. This tube has fibers running at a mix of angles relative to the tube axis. The glossy tubes probably do not have as tight of a diameter tolerance as these.
CHET M thanks for the comment and suggestion! I think you’re right. There definitely is more than one way to cut a tube. This video is meant as a guide and overview we can point to for our future kit builders who will need to do some light carbon work like this. The oscillating tool is something they will need for other parts of the build so being able to use it to also cut carbon fiber tubes can help limit them from having to purchase a separate tool for a one off job.
Put that tape measure down ... continual tape measuring is a massive time sink.. not to mention can be inconsistent .. get or make measuring jigs ... and use them ... you will have consistent precision across the project and save an unbelievable amount of time... is measure twice to set up , and then cut to your hearts content ...
the tool is called a (carpenters) square: used to check for square angles/perpendiculars. The expression using a square is correct. The tool itself is “shaped ‘ like a triangle, but called a square.
Quite wreckless. Not working safely, violently jams tube into sander, smacks end of tubing on base plate (probably fractured tubing) and workspace is a complete mess.
Dave Story the cutting starts at 4:20. The video is a more detailed overview meant as a good overview for our future kit builders, some of whom have little to no experience with carbon fiber. Thanks for watching!
