Carbon Fiber Rebirth

[ScubaStevo]

Now that I'm in with the import/domestic compact scene, I've been getting a lot of calls about carbon fiber hoods.



I had done work on his friends car in the past, and alot of the work I get are recommendations from him, so I decided I'd take a look at his hood and the rest of his exterior.



Before Oxidization:

Ya, it was bad, so I tried some Hyper Compound and had NO EFFECT!



I thought that Klasse might make a dent as it actually breaks down oxidization, and use the PC and a yellow sonus cutting pad to the section in the below picture. I then followed it with Hyper Compound.



Here is after the Klasse and Hyper Compound, with not final polishing. Before on the majority of the hood, after on the top right.

And here is after Klasse, Hyper Compound, SSR 2.5, Meguiars #82, SSR 1, and Colonite. The hood alone took me a hour and a half. There must be a better way, so please let me know.

And some quickies of the rest of the car.

 

[01bluecls]

Awesome, Im detailing a car soon that has a carbon fiber hood...what are your general thought about the clear coats on CF hoods?? (hard, soft, thin, thick, easy to remove swirls...when compared to paint) I guess you are getting a lot of referrals from the "modified" crowd!

 

[ScubaStevo]

Awesome, Im detailing a car soon that has a carbon fiber hood...what are your general thought about the clear coats on CF hoods?? (hard, soft, thin, thick, easy to remove swirls...when compared to paint) I guess you are getting a lot of referrals from the "modified" crowd!

Carbon fiber hoods seem to have cheap, thin clear on them, with apparent sanding marks all over the place. I always recommend that they get the hood recleared because its just not worth the hassle of dealing with the crappy clear thats on them.

 

[01bluecls]

Forgot to mention that the silver paint looks extremely wet!! What was the process for the rest of the car (other than the hood)

 

[01bluecls]

Carbon fiber hoods seem to have cheap, thin clear on them, with apparent sanding marks all over the place. I always recommend that they get the hood recleared because its just not worth the hassle of dealing with the crappy clear thats on them.

Figures, that's why I see a lot of CF hoods clear peeling and failing!

 

[ScubaStevo]

Forgot to mention that the silver paint looks extremely wet!! What was the process for the rest of the car (other than the hood)

Same process skip the Klasse an #82.

 

[ZeusCGP]

Carbon fiber hoods seem to have cheap, thin clear on them, with apparent sanding marks all over the place. I always recommend that they get the hood recleared because its just not worth the hassle of dealing with the crappy clear thats on them.

Most carbon fiber hoods come with a 'gel coat'

 

[stilez]

"A better way to go"?





Yep, sand it and clear it. The gelcoat is garbage.





I remember doing only 1 carbon fiber hood. I spent about 30-40 mins alone on it.

 

[imported_animes2k]

Most carbon fiber hoods come with a 'gel coat'

Yup. It's a cruddy gel coat. If you have a lot more of this, you might look at some of the Meguiar's marine-specific products. Most boats have a gel coat on the hull, so products MADE for gel coats are probably a good idea.



http://meguiars.com/?boat-cleaners-compounds/Heavy-Duty-Oxidation-Remover



http://meguiars.com/?boat polishes/Boat-RV-Polish



And maybe protect with a marine-specific wax or something else with a lot of UV protection.

http://meguiars.com/?boat-liquid-waxes/Flagship-Premium-Marine-Wax

 

[BigAl3]

nice save scuba :up

 

[the0ne]

I love EK hatchys