Help on how to refinish carbon fiber clear coat

bavarian06 · 08-07-2010, 03:56 AM

I picked up a carbon fiber front lip for cheap but it has minor rock chips and just overall dirty.

Anyone have any ideas how I can refinish it and bring back its original luster?

I was thinking of hitting it with 2000 grit and working my way up to 3000 and polish it with some kind of wax?

I really do not want sand down the original coat and re-clear coat the front lip since I have no idea how to do that. However, if this is relatively inexpensive to do this at a paint shop, I can try that if suggested.

If this is the wrong section, moderators please move the thread. Thanks in advance.

Martin_D · 08-07-2010, 08:07 AM

You are correct. Wetsand it and then polish it...

bavarian06 · 08-07-2010, 11:59 AM

Thanks Martin. Do you think 2000 is too fine of a grit to start off with? Guess I can always try it out first and see. Debating if I should wet sand side to side or up and down (thinking up and down since the section is smaller and easier to blend in if I mess up).

Any recommendations for polish or will ordinary car polish suffice?

Psylight · 08-09-2010, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bavarian06

Thanks Martin. Do you think 2000 is too fine of a grit to start off with? Guess I can always try it out first and see. Debating if I should wet sand side to side or up and down (thinking up and down since the section is smaller and easier to blend in if I mess up).

Any recommendations for polish or will ordinary car polish suffice?

Isnt this something youd want to have a shop do for you, bro? It cant be too much...

Kenyon · 08-11-2010, 11:35 AM

I don't think sanding it down and polishing it will do the job. Looks like you might have shoot clear coat over it after the sanding process. It all depends how bad the rock chips are and how thin the clear coat is on the lip right now

bavarian06 · 08-11-2010, 02:18 PM

The process wasnt too difficult nor did the result turn out bad. Wet sanding was pretty straight forward, I actually hit it with 1800 and then polished it out with 2000. I'm glad I did this cause the bottom edge of the lip was sprayed painted back when it had carbon fiber underneath. I stripped off the paint to reveal the carbon, a big bonus.

I didnt remove too much of the existing top-coat since the majority of the lip was still in good condition, just the front edge of the lip was a bit rock chipped and needed work. I polished it with some wax but I had a feeling that would loose its luster once the wax washed off/faded. So I clear coated and it made a world of difference. Instant shine! I was going to buff the clear coat but decided to just install the lip since I was so eager. The surface isnt glass smooth but it will do. I know within a few thousands miles, I'll look like crap again. I'll wet sand it down again and take it to get professional cleared (think that is the key).

For future reference, anyone know how to polish clear coat?

08-07-2010, 03:56 AM	#1
bavarian06 Captain 74 Rep 911 Posts Drives: e46 m3 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: CA iTrader: (6)	Help on how to refinish carbon fiber clear coat I picked up a carbon fiber front lip for cheap but it has minor rock chips and just overall dirty. Anyone have any ideas how I can refinish it and bring back its original luster? I was thinking of hitting it with 2000 grit and working my way up to 3000 and polish it with some kind of wax? I really do not want sand down the original coat and re-clear coat the front lip since I have no idea how to do that. However, if this is relatively inexpensive to do this at a paint shop, I can try that if suggested. If this is the wrong section, moderators please move the thread. Thanks in advance.
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08-07-2010, 08:07 AM	#2
Martin_D Lieutenant Colonel 102 Rep 1,787 Posts Drives: Ford Super Duty Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC iTrader: (34)	You are correct. Wetsand it and then polish it...
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08-07-2010, 11:59 AM	#3
bavarian06 Captain 74 Rep 911 Posts Drives: e46 m3 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: CA iTrader: (6)	Thanks Martin. Do you think 2000 is too fine of a grit to start off with? Guess I can always try it out first and see. Debating if I should wet sand side to side or up and down (thinking up and down since the section is smaller and easier to blend in if I mess up). Any recommendations for polish or will ordinary car polish suffice?
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08-11-2010, 11:35 AM	#5
Kenyon Captain 102 Rep 780 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: LA / NYC iTrader: (20)	I don't think sanding it down and polishing it will do the job. Looks like you might have shoot clear coat over it after the sanding process. It all depends how bad the rock chips are and how thin the clear coat is on the lip right now
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08-11-2010, 02:18 PM	#6
bavarian06 Captain 74 Rep 911 Posts Drives: e46 m3 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: CA iTrader: (6)	The process wasnt too difficult nor did the result turn out bad. Wet sanding was pretty straight forward, I actually hit it with 1800 and then polished it out with 2000. I'm glad I did this cause the bottom edge of the lip was sprayed painted back when it had carbon fiber underneath. I stripped off the paint to reveal the carbon, a big bonus. I didnt remove too much of the existing top-coat since the majority of the lip was still in good condition, just the front edge of the lip was a bit rock chipped and needed work. I polished it with some wax but I had a feeling that would loose its luster once the wax washed off/faded. So I clear coated and it made a world of difference. Instant shine! I was going to buff the clear coat but decided to just install the lip since I was so eager. The surface isnt glass smooth but it will do. I know within a few thousands miles, I'll look like crap again. I'll wet sand it down again and take it to get professional cleared (think that is the key). For future reference, anyone know how to polish clear coat?
	Appreciate 0 Quote