Has anyone ever painted something like a carbon bonnet or wings? Basically just not sure what to do about the lacquer on the top, obviously it has to stay there to protect the fibre but should I sand it back a bit the prime and paint?
I don't need 25 post saying "why bother" constructive comments only please
maybe a daft question, are they laquered?, or is it just a good finish with the resin out of the mould?.
Eitherway, a rub down with 800 wet & dry and prime should get you on your way as long as it doesn't react with the resin/laquer.
Like he said, I'd just rough it a little and then prime, try just doing a test spot on some of the laquer first maybe.
I for one think painted carbon fibre is one of theOriginally Posted by stew
I don't need 25 post saying "why bother" constructive comments only pleaseest ideas around. Stealth mod! Keep us updated how it goes.
Will do, I have a carbon headlight cover I can test it on 1st so I'll have a go at the weekend and keep y'all updated
i seen a few carbon fibre bonnets painted with the vent in the middle not painted so id say it can be done easy enough.
I did it on our drift car. Just treat it the same way you would treat any normal painted bonnet.
When I had carbon panels painted it was a simple sand, prime, paint, lacquer job, should work fine
Painted carbon is cool, bare carbon is
It's pretty simple to paint, just treat it the same as fibreglass (GRP). Key it for primer- 320ish, then either non-sand or high-build primer it. Obviously, you dont want to sand through the gelcoat/resin, or the weave will "fur up" and keep showing through- not in a good way!
That was my concern, I'll use maybe a 1500 grit 1st then do down gradually then primer and paint. I'm going to be doing my wider front wings but leave the vented part in carbon. I'll practice it on the spare headlight covers 1st just so I get it right 1st time with the wings
1500 is too fine to enable a good key. The finest I would go is 500, or maybe grey scotchbrite- but even thats on the limit.
You only need to "bust the glaze", you havent got to take any material off, just key it properly.
all u need to do is deaden the lacquer by a light sanding then primer and paint away as normal
I have painted my Carbon bonnet also!
Colwell painted his too
I had mine painted aswell, but i let a bodyshop take care of it for me.
Painted Carbon is the nads.
2 Options: Paint it totally. Get an OEM style carbon bonnet and paint it as per a normal panel. No-one knows you have carbon stuff except you. That's just achingly, effortlessly cool. No flash, just function.
Option 2: Get whatever takes your fancy and spray it with a tinted lacquer same colour as the car. From a distance it looks painted, up close you can see the carbon weave through the paint.
Last edited by Si; 12-09-2008 at 19:35.
You people with carbon bits must just have money to burn! I hate you all!
As LK drifter said, its the same process for painting any panel
Carbon will not "fur up". Kevlar does that. Never sand or grind kevlar, only cut it
I work with carbon fibre all day, everyday, and the smoothest grade I use is 80The worst you will do is sand through the top layer of mat, exposing the layer below, which will have a different weave direction, and will look shite, but as you're painting it, it doesn't matter
Obviously sanding through a layer will slightly reduce the structual properties of the mat, but it would be so insignificant dont worry, go nuts
Nothing I make is ever mould finishAlways sanded then clearcoated/painted
And the only thing I've found that reacts to the resin is me
That shows how little carbon-fibre us crash repair guys encounter!
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