Jump to content
SAU Community

Repairing Carbon Fibre

Mushroom
 Share

Recommended Posts

Mushroom Veteran

Mushroom

Posted
Posted

Guys I have a carbon panel that has had the clear coat cracked and I was wondering how do you fix it as it is in a very visable area.

if anyone knows even of a place i can take it to be repaired in brisbane?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Spunky Munky Grand Master

Spunky Munky

Posted
Posted

Hi mate, it's really hard to fix CF and expensive too...I'd see if I can get the whole thing replaced if I can. However, what you can do is buy CF sheets by the meter at some places and then fix that particular part of your panel yourself or get a panel shop to do it for you.

Check out www.topstage.com.au for CF sheets. Speak to Freddy and say Kevin with the black Skyline sent you. He'll look after you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mushroom Veteran

Mushroom

Posted
  • Author
Posted

yeah guys it is only clear coat that is cracked, the part was damaged in transport so I really don't want to shell out more money for the same item.

I will check with a body shop thanks guys!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Brandon Veteran

Brandon

Posted
Posted (edited)

Hey! I had sorta the same problem only mine would probably be worse. I called up some paint shop and the quote is ridicules (its even more exp than buying a brand new 1, considering a new 1 is 450 as 1 of the trader is selling it).

Anyway, like you, I dont really feel like spending that much on fixing it. Depending on how much you want to do, it can take VERY long to sand it down. Mine was turning yellow with bird shit size clear gone and I decided to sand it down to the carbon and get it re-coat. The end result was amazing. I never knew its this BLACK to begin with since I'm used to seeing it yellowish.

Anyway what I did was get a 160 to sand of the first few layers of clear (the previous owner obviously didnt sand it before he re-coat it as it feel like sanding 4786239463789 layers when I'm doing it). To cut everything short, it took me a good 8hrs to sand it down. Start with 160 or 180 and change to 240 when you're down to the thinest layer of clear. When you start seeing carbon or you're sanding black stuff, change to 2400 to make the whole thing smooth again. Make sure you've got the wet/dry type of sand paper as you'll need to sand it with water towards the end use of each grit size. Dont be too concern with how scratched it looks at the end. Pour some water over it and if it looks glossy, you'll be fine (thats how it'll look like when its coated).

It cost me around 130 to get everything done.

http://www.sauqld.com/ipb/index.php?showtopic=2248&hl=

Here's some photos of the after pic. Pity I forgot to take the before for comparison. Cheers!

Edited by Brandon
Link to comment
Share on other sites
F1 Carbon Explorer

F1 Carbon

Posted
Posted

Just thought I`d say, your unlikely to have this problem with Dry carbon fibre as the resin is pre-pregnated and autoclaved. Where as the wet lay up carbon is a seperate layer of resin. So the top layer is prone to cracking and also warping and giving you a ripple effect. This is because the resins used can`t cope with temperature, so the sun heats up the resin and distorts it. Pre-preg carbon is baked in the autoclave 140 degrees, vacuum bagged and presurised, so the resin won`t warp. Just a food for thought when purchasing carbon fibre products. Better spending more on Dry carbon that will last a long time and look spot on, than waste your money on repairs and a shoddy looking product. Also the final product weighs much less due to a less resin used.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 months later...
AnDyStYLe Community Regular

AnDyStYLe

Posted
Posted

Bump, up she goes...

Where can I get an good quality UV resistant clear coat in an aerosal guys?

I'm going to try do some repair work myself and sand back the clear coat. I'll need to re-coat the clear and hoping to get something that won't turn yellow and discolour after this summer :D

Cheers,

Andy

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Carbon 34 Grand Master

Carbon 34

Posted
Posted

it can also be lacquer. if thats is the case buy marine grade lacquer to respray it. to stop yellowing ,dull, cracking

note Carbon fiber uses different epoxy for its clear coat as you put it. you need surf board grade epoxy to be strong enough for car parts

you dont need to autoclave parts either, unless you have a vacuum pump etc around. Im doing heaps of my stuff now . all fine without it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Similar Content

  • Latest Posts

    • GTSBoy
      AC Compressor

      By GTSBoy · Posted

      Sadly, it won't happen. The AC controls in our cars are essentially on-off. Whereas the AC in new stuff is more a case of variable displacement compressors giving infinitely variable output.
    • soviet_merlin
      AC Compressor

      By soviet_merlin · Posted

      I don't think anyone did. But it still made me consider. For me personally it wasn't clear whether the AC experience in my car was shit because it is an old system, or because it wasn't maintained. Looks like it may have just been the latter. I see some more modern setup being sold as an upgrade and I wonder whether it would make it drive like AC in a modern car. Where you don't really hear it or notice it. But maybe that's asking for too much as well.   Haha, stick it in a Nissan Cube and you end up with a driveable fridge I'm not doubting your experience. Just thought it was interesting to hear the AC technician's thoughts on it.  
    • Butters
      AC Compressor

      By Butters · Posted

      Guess I should be hunting down one of these big ol ford units then for max flow ....  I've had fresh gas in mine and it was never as cold as it is now . The compressor could have been trash though, like I said I am one example with a bunch of unknowns. 
    • GTSBoy
      AC Compressor

      By GTSBoy · Posted

      I don't know if anyone was seriously suggesting a retrofit of an Echo compressor in place of a more-or-less working original comp. You'd have to change the hoses at the bare minimum to do so, and that will definitely add significant cost. I had to get my hoses modded when I did the engine transplant and chose to use the Neo's AC over the even older R32 comp. That was startlingly more expensive than expected for what looks like a simple welding job, and a massive pain in the arse when it turned to have a pinhole leak in the weld too. The Frenchie's kit is for people who have next to nothing of the original system or have more than that but some of it is a bit shit and better off thrown away than salvaged. If you've got 90% of the system, you just patch it up. Mine is currently degassed because it apparently has a big leak somewhere. If I find it is the compressor, I will be looking to take my spare comp to a shop to assess and/or recondition, rather than contemplating a retrofit to anything off-brand.
    • soviet_merlin
      AC Compressor

      By soviet_merlin · Posted

      I went and got the aircon regassed in the Stagea today and asked the guy about the upgrade to the Toyota Echo compressor. He was saying it is likely not going to be as good. It is newer but smaller and not going to pump as strongly. And it would be better to try and get a new OEM compressor. He was saying that the improvements people are seeing may be more likely due to regassing the system. I thought it was interesting to hear. Going by the sticker the system in my car was last checked in 2015. Gas was at 50% which is apparently beyond terrible. Under 80% is where efficiency already falls apart. Anyways, with fresh gas the AC is now bloody freezing. I think it may be working a bit less hard as well. I need to drive it a bit more to try it properly. Previously on hill starts it would utterly bog down the car. I'm hoping this is a bit better now. The frenchies kit looks great, but $1400 for the compressor upgrade alone makes it a bit of commitment. Very much so compared to a $150 regas.
×
×
  • Create New...