While I was working on doing the very first batch of the Minoura water bottle holder brackets (the one that sandwiches the rails with the holder), I had discovered a very, very horrbible thing- the flat stock that I thought was going to be the perfect stuff is not going to work. This stock is not poorly manufactured, but it is not quite representative of what 2.4mm carbon fibre is supposed to be, either. I found this while torquing down the holder to the seat. It has roughly .5mm of carbon fibre on either side of a wood core, and I found out that the wooden core is what gets thicker in the subsequent sizes. This is quite a disappointment.
Furthermore, I test every thing that comes from my shop with my name on it, even if it is a miniscule clamp. I test for fit tolerances, as well as strength of bonds in the bonding process as well as voids in a batch of composite. I test 10% of my batches, as I would rather stop production problems I would rather have no product to sell than poorly manufactured product to destroy my name.
I apologise for any disappointment that this may cause for those who had hoped for one of these brackets.
No, it isn’t easy. This clamp idea had worked with some very shoddy-quality, self-made flat carbon bits that were scrap. Scraps are how I turned into what I call a “reclaimation engineer”. I had thought something of the same thickness would work even better. Remember this, my aspiring carbon people- not all pre-fab carbon flat stock is the same. Ask lots of questions of your suppliers before buying. Wood core is good- just make sure it does not comprise more than 50% in a small thickness. I am certain 5mm or thicker stock from this vendor would have worked fine.
However, my pre-fab plate was not a total loss, I made a really cool pick guard and bell-cap for my bass. But Brer (wifey) will kill me when she finds out that $85 worth of carbon flat stock turned into a pick guard. Oh, well.
I trust you did see a sneak-peek of my newest product? I don’t know if you ever get my e mails.