r/Composites

I know I’ve posted on here multiple times trying to find answers regarding core materials, matrix materials, and etc. Now after trying very hard to find something “affordable” and obtainable has made me doubt if I’ll truly get into fiberglassing. I’ve done fiberglassing before by using the little 8 square feet sheets at homedepot and some cheap quart epoxy. Never really paid attention to the price per square foot of all of it cause I was just making little projects. However, after trying to price and find a crap load of combinations of resins and fiberglass cloths and mats and core materials, I can without a doubt say that this is not affordable and way to much the work and effort for anything bigger than a glorified large box. I grew up always hearing how amazing composites were and how they can be supper affordable if you look hard enough but I cannot find anything resembling that. Many of you have suggested and recommended us composites(almost religiously if I’m being honest) but they are very expensive. Yes I understand I am building something considered “large” but this is thousands of dollars and even with the price increase of plywood and traditional building materials don’t come near the price somehow? Am I doing this right? Do I have the wrong idea about composites? What is the secret to this or am I just gonna have to give up?

I’m working on my final project and decided to make some drum sticks, I was having a hard time deciding how to make them, if I should filament wind/ rolling table them, or wrap some other drum sticks make them fully out of carbon our create a core with some foam at the shop. Any ideas will be helpful and I was hoping to add some nylon tips from some other sticks onto them.

I've been struggling to find cheap and efficient core material that wont rot or burn. The Burn part is more manageable but the water proof part is essential. I have decided to go with PMF since the cost is just so much more dramatically accessible. I can't find any decent core materials. OSB boards are extremely economical but have so much risk with water that it could run a bunch of progress. I'm planning on putting 3 (7feet by 6feet by 6feet) rooms together in a homemade tiny home. I have looked at EPS foam and found that they are just barely affordable at home depot but I think without proper fiberglassing they aren't gonna be strong enough for my needs. I was thinking about fiber cement boards as they check off all the water resistance and fireproof but are incredibly brittle and heavy. I dont know what else I could use that is also affordable. Do any of yall have any recommendations?

Having recently started using the vacuum resin infusion method I am hooked.

I am looking for ideas on how to produce a very thin layup. The finished part will be 100g carbon, 1mm balsa core, 50g glass.

First thought is lay up the carbon, pre bond the 50g glass to the balsa then bond in the balsa afterwards.

From my experience so far the problem would be getting the peelply and flow mesh off the carbon without it demoulding or being damaged.

I know this sounds complicated but I hate wet layups and keeping the weight down is critical (rc aircraft fuselage)

Any thoughts gratefully received

Does anyone know of good reputable companies in the US that can build fiberglass molds for me?