How can you manufacture carbon fiber?

Question

Im curious how to make carbon fiber. Are there alternatives that are cheaper even if their weaker?

Answer 1

Neither you or I can make carbon fiber in the quantities or quality necessary to make anything of value, but if you want to try, simply take some pure cotton thread, stretch it out, and cook it until it becomes black. Voila... home made carbon fiber. Of course, quality would vary way too much to be of any use other than to be able to say you made your own carbon strand.

Anyway, there are many places that sell CF tubes and cloth in different varieties but, as you probably know, it isn't as simple as just buying the stuff and putting it together. It also isn't as expensive as you might think.

There are countless things that are weaker and cheaper than CF, but you haven't provided any information on what you are using it for so I am loathe to give you examples.