Repairing a Hockey Stick with Epoxy and Carbon Fiber
A hockey stick is subjected to repeated stress and impacts, which unfortunately makes cracks in the shaft and blade fairly common. A well-executed carbon-fiber-and-epoxy repair can give a broken stick a new life.
Basic principle of the repair
The goal of the repair is to restore the mechanical strength of the damaged area so that the repaired section performs structurally the same way as the original. This requires that the carbon-fiber reinforcement is firmly bonded to the wall of the shaft or blade and that the resin fully wets the fibers. Cured epoxy alone, without reinforcement, will not withstand loads, and if a carbon-fiber sleeve ends up encapsulated in epoxy without contact to the stick shaft, it will not function as reinforcement in the structure.
External repair of a carbon-fiber stick shaft
An external repair is best suited for surface-level cracks and for reinforcing the outer wall of the shaft.
- Sand the damaged area rough, about 10 cm in both directions.
- Clean with acetone.
- Cut a suitably sized carbon fiber braid.
- Wet the braid with epoxy. Wet the carbon-fiber braid thoroughly with the epoxy mixture before placing it (or while placing it) so that the fibers are properly saturated all the way through. Dry fiber will not reinforce!
- Place the wetted braid over the shaft and compress it tightly with shrink tape or plastic film. Light compression helps remove excess resin. After curing, remove the compression material and finish the surface.
Internal repair of a carbon-fiber stick shaft
If the stick has cracked deeper, or the shaft is almost completely broken or fully snapped, an internal repair may be necessary. This method uses a carbon-fiber sleeve inserted inside the shaft, which cures tightly against the inner surface.
- Carefully sand and clean the inner surfaces.
- Cut a carbon-fiber sleeve of suitable length and with a diameter that fits inside the shaft hiilikuitusukka.
- Place a tight plug at the lower end of the repair area to prevent epoxy from running through.
- Insert a piece of suitable foam inside the stick to press the sleeve against the inner surface of the shaft. The foam forces the carbon-fiber sleeve tightly against the inside wall so the fabric doesn’t “float” in the middle of the epoxy, but instead forms a structural bond to the inner surface.
- Pour the epoxy into the stick.
- Let it cure at room temperature or with gentle post-heating (for example 30–40 °C) to speed up curing.
In this method, compression is crucial: the carbon fiber must be tightly against the inner surface of the shaft, otherwise the result will be structurally weak.
A cured epoxy “plug” in the middle of the shaft is not load-bearing and can even weaken the structure.
Practical recommendations for the repair
- Repair temperature should be at least +15 °C, preferably 18–25 °C.
- Do not pour epoxy in thick layers (a thick layer may overheat).
- Always wear protective gloves and ensure good ventilation.
- Better mechanical strength is achieved if the repair is allowed to cure for at least 7–14 days before use. For the best mechanical properties, the stick can be post-cured at 50 °C for 16 hours.
Material recommendations
- Ampro 1,33 kg kit (for larger repairs or multiple sticks)
- Carbon Fiber Braid: 25 mm (6K), 45 mm (3K), 60 mm (6K)
- Carbon Fiber Tape: 50 mm UD-200 g/m² tai 100 mm 250 g/m²
When done correctly, the repair not only extends the stick’s service life, but also keeps the playing feel almost like the original!