we were originally fiberglassing my bros door panels, but then he found carbon fiber for cheap(raw carbon cloth). so we are doing that instead. WE got the carbon glued down to the panel and it looks really hot. now all we need to do is figure out how to get the shine. Weve got a gallon setup of clear...but i dont think you are supposed to spray a **** load of clear strait on to the raw cloth, im sure it would work but i dont think its proper procdure. is there something i need to spread over all of it first? like fiber resin. how do i apply it and how does it dry, smooth or rough, do i need to sand it. it doesnt look like from other peoples DIY's that there is any top sanding involved except maybe the clear coat. ANY HELP IS THANKFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

your supposed to use resin. i dont think clear would do anything but ruin your cloth

 

im getting that vibe...i just am confused on how to apply it so that is cures smooth. someone said, all i had to do was clear over it after it cures but im like...does it cure up all rough and ****. ive never layed fiberglass resin so its like uhh? to me. I do paint and body but i dont mess with fiberglass to much.

 

if i can spray the fiberglass resin out of a gun, then its all good and i know it will cure smooth. Just like painting a car?????

 

ttt

 

no just brush iton with a paintbrush. make sure whatever you put it on is flat tho or itll run off the edge. and when you mix the resin (you have to mix the resin and a catalyst together) dont stir it too much or itll get a bunch of air bubbles in it.

so you pretty much just paitn it on and itll smooth out as it dries. but if you want even more glassy finish you can wet sand it with 1500 grit and work up to like 2500 or 3000 grit wetsand and itll look like glass.
buy FYI most cf products like hoods etc. arnt sanded. so itll prob look good without having to sand it.

 

post some pics after the workis done

 

do i use to least amount of hardener as possible but as required....everytime ive ever messed with resin, it was so thick that is would dry kinda lumpy...but i think we mave have been using matte in with it. its so thick though, is there any brand and type recommended for this.

 

when my bro was making R/C airplane wings... like 8 foot spans out of carbon fiber, he ALWAYS used molds and vacuum bagged it... the C/F would come out smooth. I've never seen C/F applied on a plug... but I guess you could try it. Usually the part facing out should be INSIDE a mold so as to get that smooth finish.

 

shouldnt dry lump unless your trying to applyit after its too thick.. the catalyst just startes the curing process. i just use what the directions say, you use more/less in extreme weather conditions but it never really apllied to me.. but id wait till its sunny and warm outside or whereever you do it cause i have done it in the cold overnight before and the resin got cloudy..
i like polyurathane resin personally.
good brand is west systems

 

this isnt a flat surface though, its a door panel with up and down areas. what do you use to apply it, does it easily run/sag. its just weird for me to think brushing it on will leave it smooth as glass.

 

go to the fabrication forum they can help u out there

 

when i mean flat i mean lay it flat. like say your doing a door panel. lay it face up on a table or something. dont lean it agaisnt a wall or anything.
and you can bursh it on it is kinda watery itll smooth out as it sits. you can also re apply it so if you want to keep it from filling up in the dips just use enough to soak into the cf at first and then re apply small coats.
thats the only way unless you vacuum bag it

 

what resin should i use...does it look red in the jug?