cutting carbon fiber?

Brian Avila

Brian Avila

Joined
Jan 2, 2011
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I have been trying to find a definitive answer about working with carbon fiber. Specifically cutting it.

I hear it is pretty hairy stuff so I need a respirator, protection (gloves, long sleeve shirt, goggles, etc). But I hear contradictory info about cutting it: that it doesn't do well with a normal bi-metal band saw and that it is just fine to cut with a normal bandsaw that I would use to cut my steel?

I was curious if this was true. I need to cut out and shape some scales but don't want to ruin my saw.

What do you guys use and do you have any tips working with it that make it better, and safer?

-brian-
 
Brian Avila said:
it doesn't do well with a normal bi-metal band saw and that it is just fine to cut with a normal bandsaw that I would use to cut my steel?
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Wait, what are you using to cut your steel? should be bi-metal
A bi-metal blade will do it but its not great for the life of your blade.
A carbon blade will probably just have its teeth melted off

A diamond saw will work best but who's got the dollars for one of those
 
Brian, I ruined two bi metal blades in a row cutting carbon fiber. I finally clamped it down and make straight cuts with an angle grinder around my pattern lines and ground the scale into rough shape . I finished sanding them to fit the profile when I epoxied the finished blade together with the scales. I don't use carbon fiber anymore because I believe it to be very dangerous to inhale and the super fine black dust it makes gets everywhere in the shop. Finish your knife and next time pick a safer material to use. Just my opinion. Larry
 
Maybe the carbon fiber I get is different but so far I don't find it terrible bad to cut on my metal cutting band saw with 14 teeth per inch. Go to 1/ 8" and thicker titanium for some lessons on how to dull blades .Use one blade to cut these and another to cut blade steel and metal bolster material. Frank
 
Use a diamond blade on a wet tile saw to cut carbon fiber and G10.

Lowes and Home Depot have wet tiles saws starting at about $100. Harbor Freight as saws for less.

Chuck
 
A regular saw like you use to cut steel will do the job, but it will be dull when you're done. If you have a lot to do the diamond saw sounds like the ticket.

I've cut a fair bit of it under flood coolant with a 1/4" solid carbide router bit.

It can be a bear to work with.
 
Frank Niro said:
Maybe the carbon fiber I get is different but so far I don't find it terrible bad to cut on my metal cutting band saw with 14 teeth per inch. Go to 1/ 8" and thicker titanium for some lessons on how to dull blades .Use one blade to cut these and another to cut blade steel and metal bolster material. Frank
Click to expand...

Same here. It cut pretty easy to me.
 
Tile saw all the way... you can buy a cheap one for the cost of a good bandsaw blade. Wet/Diamond
 
I use a carbide edge tile saw blade in a jigsaw to cut CF and G10. Cuts very easily and you can follow curves. I have been using the same blade for years and never needed replacing.
 
From what I can see on the tile saw is it looks like a little table saw. So how do I really fallow the outline of a handle placed onto the carbon fiber with that? I feel like I am missing something...

-Brian-
 
Well, Brian, it's a commonly done thing on some materials even including mammoth tooth to cut straight lines around the shape required and to contour grind the rest . Frank
 
Frank Niro said:
Well, Brian, it's a commonly done thing on some materials even including mammoth tooth to cut straight lines around the shape required and to contour grind the rest . Frank
Click to expand...

Good point... I didn't really know if that was what really how it was done or not. Still learning all the little details it seems.
 
Chuck, Thanks for this info. Using a wet tile saw would help with the dust problem big time and spare the wear and tear on the band saw blades. What a great idea. Larry
 
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