what's the right way to wetsand my VIS carbon fiber hood? I have the machine, 1,500 grits sand paper, gold class wax. is there anything else i need?

 

i'm actually in the process of wet sanding my vis hood right now lol. It was so bad that it just looked really dirty but when you washed it and it dried it went back to how it was lol. this is my process

1. wash the hood.

depending on how bad the hood was
start with 800 grit for bad - like mine
or 1000 grit.

2. Wet sand whole hood. (warm water with dish washing soap. Some people splash water onto the hood, but i like to dip the sand paper into the water.)

3. give it a wash and dry it.
you should be able to see parts you missed and go over the missed areas

4. Wet sand using 1000 grit and repeat step 3

5. Wet sand using 1200 grit and repeat step 3

6. Wet sand using 1500 grit and repeat step 3

7. I used turtles rubbing compound i buffed it on then buffed it off. I used this to remove the sanding marks.

8. if sanding marks are clearly visible you'd have to hit it with a higher grit
then compound it again

9. after that i used Meguire's step 2 polish

10. Then wax and your done.

If you don't believe me you can come check it out tomorrow. I stay in the LA area. LMK and good luck

EDIT:: NVM, you live way to far lol haha but if you have an oxidized hood use these steps. if its not that bad, just start out with a higher grit.

 

oh ok, well my hood looks like there's spots that r fading, like clouds. Ummm, is it necessary that i start at low grits then make my way up or can i just stay at the 1,500 grits?

 

i would at least start with 1000 my hood was pretty bad. bad enough with Oxidation (fading) that you wouldn't be able to tell there was CF under there. lol It wouldn't hurt to start with 1500 but if you still see fading start over with a lower grit and work from there. You need some type of compound or treatment to remove most of the sanding marks. Most compounds are able to remove 1500grit. I'll take pictures tomorrow for you with my hood with 800 grit then the finished product.

EDIT:: oh yeah. if it's really Mild fading then just try to buff it out with compound.

 

Pics when done!

 

Before pics too. This might even be able to be solved with compound or polish.

 

alright, i'll take pics tomorrow, c how it turns out. I'll probably end up going to Kragen n getting some of that turtle compund n 1,000 grit sand paper.

 

i did somewhat of the same DIY... I got impatient and it turned out like ****... I clearcoated it, didnt buff enough..had a rough surface... Then i got superglue on it putting my nozzles back in and went to clean it totally ******* up my whole job on it...


yay for me huh! LOL

goodluck bro!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Thateguhate &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i did somewhat of the same DIY... I got impatient and it turned out like ****... I clearcoated it, didnt buff enough..had a rough surface... Then i got superglue on it putting my nozzles back in and went to clean it totally ******* up my whole job on it...


yay for me huh! LOL

goodluck bro! </TD></TR></TABLE>

LOL! hahah dam bro! i've spend a few hours on this already. thats because i was testing out what grit to start out with and all kinds of different compounds and polish/treatments.

edit:: i wish i took some before pics... but i don't like taking pics of unfinished things. lol

 

3/4 still with 800 grit and finished 1/4

800 grit

800, 1000, 1500, 2000, compound and then polish. Still see swirl marks...

another view


the oxidation was way worse than the 800 grit look lol

 

Is that hood clearcoated or gelcoated???

My Fiber Images hood is showing its age, so this is something I think I should give a shot. The gelcoat is cloudy in some spots.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gamby &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is that hood clearcoated or gelcoated???

My Fiber Images hood is showing its age, so this is something I think I should give a shot. The gelcoat is cloudy in some spots. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't know... but i know its a VIS though lol. Maybe doing some research will help. I'm not sure at all its pretty thick....

 

Well thing's didn't turn out the way I expected.

Before:


After:


Problem might either be that i need to go to 800 grits or that it's hopeless if it's close to the design. My dad's gonna get a better buffer since this one is a cheap one that i got at Walmart last night.



here's a close up on the fading that remains:

 

BTW, this were the steps I took:

1) clean carbon fiber hood
2)wetsand w/ 1000
3)Wetsand w/1,500
4)Hand dry it
5)Add Compund polisher
6)Let it dry then add Meguiar's wax

 

800 grit! lol what do you think of mine?

EDIT:: i bought the cheap orange on at walmart lol hahah

 

Your's turned out great. Whas ur oxidation just like mine or less?

 

it was worse. the whole hood was oxidized to the point where u can't see the CF.

 

how lond did you had that cf hood for?

 

my hood is goin down hill too...here are some pics of mine....



did anyones look as bad as mine does? ill be tying out the wet sand as well i post some pics once im done.

 

what about after wet sanding going and getting it clear coated

 

again, how lond did you guys had the CF hood before it starts fading and shyt?

 

i only had mine a couple of months. but then again i bought it used for dirt cheap, too.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by crx_si-r &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">did anyones look as bad as mine does? ill be tying out the wet sand as well i post some pics once im done. </TD></TR></TABLE>
mine was just as bad if not worse. yours looks fixable.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ShinotakuX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">again, how lond did you guys had the CF hood before it starts fading and shyt?</TD></TR></TABLE>
mine came with my car for free. I had alot of faith that i could fix it and i was right.

 

thx

 

Smear peanut butter all over the hood to rid it of oxidation. See if it needs sanding after that. If you sand, I hope you reclear.