erock90
04-21-2009, 09:50 PM
So i have been wanting carbon fiber trim for a long time, but me being cheap never pulled the trigger and bought some. I wondered how hard could it be
to skin the parts in carbon fiber myself? My quest started at youtube. I watched
one video where i could make a mold then lay carbon fiber in the mold
and make the pieces that way (way to hard). The next one i found was from a
company called Carbon Mods. It showed me how to skin the parts and create my own carbon fiber parts. I emailed the company some question and was given a
response rather quickly. The next day i ordered a starter kit and wait
patiently.
2 weeks later i got the kit, but took another 2 weeks to start the project.
First try:
I took the 3 pieces of the dash and sanded them down to what i thought was
the hard plastic. when i put the resin on the trim it fish-eyed and looked like crap.
2nd try:
Got a palm sander and sanded the hell out of it and this time i was down to
the plastic. Washed the pieces and let them dry for a few hours. The next day
i used fresh resin and waited 2 hours.
Carbon Skinning:
I was ready to lay the carbon over the plastic pieces to my suprised the
carbon was tuff to cut and had to be worked with very gently. The first
piece was a disaster - two strands got out of place and when i tried to fix it, i pulled the
carbon fiber off and it practically shredded apart. That was a waste. The next pieces went on fairly well.
Taping:
The carbon fiber got all crazy and was coming apart at the ends, so I taped the excess carbon fiber to
the back of the piece fairly quickly.
First clear coat:
Luckily my cousin was over so he mixed the first clear and i brushed it on.
Now I'm waiting till tomorrow to wet sand the piece and apply additional clear coats. Then
laquar it the next day.
Finally it was pretty fun to do, but dont think your first piece will be the
greatest piece ever made. Be ready to spend a lot of time making your
carbon fiber pieces.
P.s. make sure your cousin screws the lid on the the hardener before you
move it to avoid spilling half the bottle on the floor - only then tell you that
he put all the cap on tight.
to skin the parts in carbon fiber myself? My quest started at youtube. I watched
one video where i could make a mold then lay carbon fiber in the mold
and make the pieces that way (way to hard). The next one i found was from a
company called Carbon Mods. It showed me how to skin the parts and create my own carbon fiber parts. I emailed the company some question and was given a
response rather quickly. The next day i ordered a starter kit and wait
patiently.
2 weeks later i got the kit, but took another 2 weeks to start the project.
First try:
I took the 3 pieces of the dash and sanded them down to what i thought was
the hard plastic. when i put the resin on the trim it fish-eyed and looked like crap.
2nd try:
Got a palm sander and sanded the hell out of it and this time i was down to
the plastic. Washed the pieces and let them dry for a few hours. The next day
i used fresh resin and waited 2 hours.
Carbon Skinning:
I was ready to lay the carbon over the plastic pieces to my suprised the
carbon was tuff to cut and had to be worked with very gently. The first
piece was a disaster - two strands got out of place and when i tried to fix it, i pulled the
carbon fiber off and it practically shredded apart. That was a waste. The next pieces went on fairly well.
Taping:
The carbon fiber got all crazy and was coming apart at the ends, so I taped the excess carbon fiber to
the back of the piece fairly quickly.
First clear coat:
Luckily my cousin was over so he mixed the first clear and i brushed it on.
Now I'm waiting till tomorrow to wet sand the piece and apply additional clear coats. Then
laquar it the next day.
Finally it was pretty fun to do, but dont think your first piece will be the
greatest piece ever made. Be ready to spend a lot of time making your
carbon fiber pieces.
P.s. make sure your cousin screws the lid on the the hardener before you
move it to avoid spilling half the bottle on the floor - only then tell you that
he put all the cap on tight.