I did the weight comparison on this... 1/4" ABS (absolute minimum i think for a splitter) is heavier than 1/2" ply and it is usually less rigid. Actual density and strength of your ply depends heavily on the glue/layers/wood type but for a regular sanded 1/2" birch ply, it's better in every way. ABS has it's uses for sure but as a splitter isn't one of them. I use 1/8" abs for the airdam and small piece but the splitter is plywood. Another big benefit is the abuse plywood can take. Constantly scraping on curbs, trailer ramps, etc...
Really exciting seeing you with a s550(ish) chassis in the shop. Because I think if you can create a "all inclusive" splitter (with the blade the mountings solutions etc) this will be a great thing for the mustang community. Always a pleasure watching your videos. Thanks!
3/8 Abs plastic worked well for me. Easy to cut. But kinda heavy. and still bendable a bit between mounts. Kinda hard to glue together though. It becomes very rigid and the glue always cracks if your not careful
FYI...my 1/2 birch plywood splitter weighs 17.4 lbs with a good chunk worn down from scraping. My first attempt at a carbon splitter (3/8” foam core, 1 layer 12k spread tow each side) weighs 5.2 lbs. If you want pics of my carbon splitter...I will refuse in an attempt to maintain my dignity.
I wouldn’t. The smooth surface on the alumslite would provide very little sheer stress. A proper core material for composites would be cheaper and stronger than alumalite.
i worried that if i put a spliter the material like plywood and abs will catch fire or melted because of exhaust manifold and turbo. Is there a case something happened?
It is not that glass is heavy. It is not very rigid compared to carbon. On the flip side I dont see why a foam core or coremat laminated with E-glass and epoxy would not work for a splitter.
@@ajhartmanaero we just use a boss Laguna Seca style splitter for our AI car. We had the ABS one for one day before we took it off lol very flimsy at high speeds
You can get an ACM panel like alumilite but with a solid plastic core. The problem with alumilite is the plastic core is like cardboard core and weak. The solid core ACM panels I have used. It way stronger and you can easily radius the lead edge.
Have a look at Tegris splitters. When NASCAR was doing research for the Car of Tomorrow (which had a splitter) it was their choice of material. It has a pretty good compromise between strength, weight, cost, abrasion resistance, stiffness, etc.
I did the weight comparison on this... 1/4" ABS (absolute minimum i think for a splitter) is heavier than 1/2" ply and it is usually less rigid. Actual density and strength of your ply depends heavily on the glue/layers/wood type but for a regular sanded 1/2" birch ply, it's better in every way. ABS has it's uses for sure but as a splitter isn't one of them. I use 1/8" abs for the airdam and small piece but the splitter is plywood. Another big benefit is the abuse plywood can take. Constantly scraping on curbs, trailer ramps, etc...
It's like you're a mind reader. Thanks for doing this! Very timely for me.
Really exciting seeing you with a s550(ish) chassis in the shop. Because I think if you can create a "all inclusive" splitter (with the blade the mountings solutions etc) this will be a great thing for the mustang community. Always a pleasure watching your videos. Thanks!
3/8 Abs plastic worked well for me. Easy to cut. But kinda heavy. and still bendable a bit between mounts. Kinda hard to glue together though. It becomes very rigid and the glue always cracks if your not careful
FYI...my 1/2 birch plywood splitter weighs 17.4 lbs with a good chunk worn down from scraping.
My first attempt at a carbon splitter (3/8” foam core, 1 layer 12k spread tow each side) weighs 5.2 lbs.
If you want pics of my carbon splitter...I will refuse in an attempt to maintain my dignity.
Lol...Home Depot racing. Sad to think how much of my car comes from Home Depot
What a nice video. Thank you
What about for more harsh driving conditions where the main gaol is protection, rally/ street/track. Would steel ever be considered?
No, could you imagine the weight to rigidity ratio. Not to mention if it caught edge it could be a frame bender.
For a skid plate or a 4x4 winch bumper sure. for a splitter, probably never
Any benefit to running an alumalite core inside a layer of carbon? i don’t recall how thick your carbon splitter is.
I wouldn’t. The smooth surface on the alumslite would provide very little sheer stress. A proper core material for composites would be cheaper and stronger than alumalite.
i worried that if i put a spliter the material like plywood and abs will catch fire or melted because of exhaust manifold and turbo. Is there a case something happened?
Do fibre glass is not even a consideration due to weight?
It is not that glass is heavy. It is not very rigid compared to carbon. On the flip side I dont see why a foam core or coremat laminated with E-glass and epoxy would not work for a splitter.
I’m sure you could use it but might be comparable to plywood when it’s all said and done on a strength to weight basis with a lot more fab time.
Could you not wet lay a front splitter?
Yes
Yeah.
I use 3/8 hdpe plastic, I can order a 72x48 sheet for 100 bucks and get two splitter out of it.
isnt it to soft to be used for a splitter?
Nice. I wouldn’t be able to get a single splitter out of a 72x48 sheet, even my old “smaller” splitterfor American Iron.
@@p0intdk it’s pretty strong and not as flimsy as ABS.
@@ajhartmanaero we just use a boss Laguna Seca style splitter for our AI car. We had the ABS one for one day before we took it off lol very flimsy at high speeds
Would 12mm 1/2 divinycell h60 with polyester fibreglass sandwich be fine for a splitter? Cheers.
Maybe. Depends how it’s mounted.
I will use fiberglass :P
You can get an ACM panel like alumilite but with a solid plastic core. The problem with alumilite is the plastic core is like cardboard core and weak. The solid core ACM panels I have used. It way stronger and you can easily radius the lead edge.
What thickness acm?
@@buzz4532 I've seen 6mm. There might be thicker stuff out there. I ended up going to plywood as it was cheaper
Have a look at Tegris splitters. When NASCAR was doing research for the Car of Tomorrow (which had a splitter) it was their choice of material. It has a pretty good compromise between strength, weight, cost, abrasion resistance, stiffness, etc.
Ah yeah, forgot about that. I’ve seen Tigris. Never personally used it and not sure how readily available it is. Neat stuff for sure tho.
That stuff looks awesome and the price seems pretty good. I think I'd like to try it. Is there a recommended thickness?