Repairing CF body panels

[rikker]

Input please

[yellowss7]

If your question is can you repair a cracked fender/wing, then yes you can patch it, but you will NOT really be able to match the weave. It will look like a patch. Unless you paint it, which defeats the look you are probably going for.

 

Tom

[rikker]

Tom

That is exactly what I meant

I do not see how the weave and look could ever be replicated by repair,so the assumption bring that what would be ainor repair in FG could mean a total new panel in CF.

[pureadrenalin]

Patch the broken one, sand out any imprefections in the current one, buy some CF cloth, and use the broken one as a mold for a replacement.

[jimrankin]

As for making a new part from a mold of the old part...

The greatest problem with "DIY" fiberglass and carbon fiber projects is getting full saturation of the fiber without unabsorbed resin/epoxy being "left over" that just adds weight, not strength. All of the strength is in the fiber but if not fully "wetted" with the binder of resin/epoxy it is just a "bunch of strings". Unless you have access to a good vaccume system it's a bit hard to make the fibers stay tight to the mold and to get the right amount of resin pressed in without overworking the cloth and either breaking strands or seperating the weave.

That said, large "flat" or gently curved pieces can be turned out of a hand worked mold with pretty good end results. With carbon fiber if your looking to keep it "clear" so you can see the weave your also going to see any defect in the mold, fiber wetting, unabsorbed epoxy or broken/uneven weave.

Fiberglass is much easier, just spray gelcoat over the release agent in the mold, let it set and then work in the fiber and resin. You get to sand out or bondo in any defects.

Try this: Think of your patches as "war wounds", proud displays that your not the owner of a "garage queen" or afraid to bump a slower car who is blocking. If you can work up that mind set then "not quite perfect"patches aren't a problem LOL

[MoPho]

Of another kind of repair, the SoCal sun had caused the CF fenders on my car to lose their luster, they had faded and spotted quite bad and the gloss finish was completely gone.

I just had a body shop completely sand them down, refinish, and clear coat them, got the car back today and they look brand new, I am very excited. Cost maybe a third or less of replacing them

 

:party:

 

 

The dashboard will be next.

 

 

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