Ok im looking to do a ton of body work. thinking of picking up a few carbon fiber body parts, but i hate the look, but want the strength and light weight of carbon fiber.

can you please post pictures of any painted carbon fiber.
would love to see it painted red or gray

 

Carbon top secret hood painted red -

 

I would post My prelude CF hood painted, but it looks weird. Very wavy from being CF, and the paint soaked into the fibers so you can see the weaves.

 

Poly primer will make it smooth, or so I would think.

 

No, no. Poly primer is not thick enough to fill and smooth the waves that come with parts made of CF. Maybe it would of got rid of me being able to see the weaves. But idk. I used a primer and the paint soaked right into it.

 

how did your paint soak into the weaves? if your carbon fiber was finished with a gel coat, or clear coat, then that is the surface you spray on top of... just like any regular hood. you can scuff and spray it.

i can understand if your hood is wavy because it was a POS hood that was poorly made... but as far as weaves, they're all covered and hardened over by the epoxy/gelcoat and/or clearcoat. (the weaves become hardened and locked into a "sheet" from the epoxy)

the red supra is an example of what im talking about... regular carbon fiber hood, that was more than likely sanded, sealed, based then cleared.

 

If I understood the process I would describe it to you. But I am telling you, you can see the weave pattern clear as day.

And no, the waves are not caused by buying a shitty POS poorly built cf hood. Mine is a seibon, look at any CF hood. Then get a microfiber towel. Lay it flat on the hood and run your hand over the hood. You will feel the waves. Its just because its CF and something that is molded, its the same thing with corvette bodies made out of fiberglass.

 

Have you ever used poly primer? I have to shoot with a 2.2 tip on my gun. No way it would "soak" into the weave. If you block it correctly, it shouldn't be wavy.

 

I blocked it numerous times. Yes I have used poly primer, I know how thick it is. But not thick enough to make the whole hood flat and smooth. I mean maybe, but I would have to spray, then block, then spray, then block, and do that over and over and over until it built up enough to fill all the waves in. And again I dont understand how but legit you can see the CF pattern in the paint. It is wacky. That I cant explain how or what its doing. My best explanation was by saying it soaked in, idk of any other ways that you would be able to see the weaves of the CF so clearly.

 

Mind posting a highres pic of your hood? I want to see this.

 

If I had money, I would fly you out to come and see it. I cant get a picture. Its difficult. I will try, I have tried to get the pic for others. But I have been unsuccessful. Let me look back and see if I maybe accidentally caught a pic, If I dont I will try and take one for you! +1

 

treat it like any other wavy panel... and bondo the whole thing, and block it straight... then primer it and block it again


if you know what you're doing, there shouldnt be that much bondo at all, thinner then the thickness of a quarter. just enough to straighten it all out.

if its actually worse than that, then your hood is crap and u should just toss it

 

Looks like I did take pics. Just try and look very very close. look at the edge lines of the lights. I can see it clear as day if I go out there and look at it from a casual standing position. But cant get a pic. Here are some pics.










I really dont want my own words to make me look dumb when I claim this. I am about to break out the canon. This is a PnS nikon. lol

 

Ya that is the proper way to do it. We were cut short on time, and at that point to this point I am still thinking about even running a hood. It will be more of a show car.

The rest of the paint is great, just the hood bothers me. I almost want to get a Oem one lol.