Where to buy Composite (Nidacore, Rhinocore, etc.) materials?

[HMR]

Can some of you smarter/faster/better looking/more experienced Expo members share where you've purchased composite materials? The more I search, the more confused I get on what products work best and where to buy the appropriate material.

Maybe we could use this thread to create a "Composites 101" type resource?

[southpier]

at one time i requested a sample (http://nida-core.com/english/) and it was sent with a local distributor's representative's business card. the guy called me every month for a year trying to get me to buy, so i think if you experss any interest they will beat a path to your door.

http://www.dogpile.com/dogpile/ws/re...7?_IceUrl=true

[westyss]

http://www.amerimaxbp.com/home
http://www.rhinokore.com/products.html
http://www.ccvbc.com/composite_panel_systems.html
http://www.cranecomposites.com/facilities.asp
http://www.bellcomb.com/rail.aspx
http://www.portafab.com/aluminum_honeycomb_panels.shtml
http://www.ebertcomposites.com/contact.html
http://www.monopan.ca/

http://www.compositesworld.com/articles/ct

[RusherRacing]

I know crane composites (they just make the skins), and bellcomb probably wouldn't be interested in small run situations for a single job. Unless you pay through the nose.

I would check out PanelTec. They are setup for the custom job and have all the contacts at various vendors to supply you with a good quality product.

[Ozarker]

If they are beating a path to your door for a year on a small job, I would think the stuff must be pretty expensive.

Can you make your own pannel, fiberglass sheets or a poly sheet, 1x1s or 1x2s and spray foam or cover blue board?

[Ursa Minor]

Nidacore is the only one on your list I've dealt with. They focus on wholesale to manufacturers. Not that they won't sell you materials direct - a boat builder might need a one time shipment so they do work with small orders I think.

The Nidacore panels & resins used to be carried here in San Diego by DMC, but when they went out of business I don't think any other distributor picked up the line, not sure who has it in LA. All of these panels will be expensive unless you're getting a lot of it since it ships on a pallet commercial freight so residential delivery is $$$.

Composite supply companies in SoCal may have these materials in stock if they have a customer using it for production already - or they may special order it in for you. For specific item, it's easier to start at the source and find out what they shipped to which distributor, then call the distributor.

For anyone in San Diego, a handy source for fiberglass materials is Fiberlay, they sell retail and have a pretty deep catalog of materials. The warehouse is just off of Morena by 5 & 8 intersection.

Cheers
John

[HMR]

Thanks for the replies! Very helpful.