TAPE SQUARED
It takes extra time, it costs twice as much in materials and it demands careful attention to what’s gong on during the oven heat cycle – and we don’t care. It’s the best way to assure a uniform dispersion of the latest resins throughout the carbon fibers from tip to butt. It eliminates tiny strength-robbing voids, improves hoop-stength and makes stronger, smoother transition points.
Once cooled and untaped the surface finish is similar to a cat’s tongue, rough in one direction and smooth in the other. We LIGHTLY SAND this surface to maintain much of the strength the resin provides. The result is a noticeable tape pattern and a ridged appearance that you have to feel with a fingernail to even realize it’s there. The “micro-ridge” surface wraps easily and some of our field staff believes the ridges trap a little extra epoxy and hold guides slightly better than a smooth or glossy finish.
We can’t confirm that but we can confirm that you can pick a POINT Blank out of a pile of unmarked sticks. You can even see it on blanks that are gloss finished.