Edwardo
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| posted on 16/12/22 at 11:12 AM |
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Damage to top layer on Carbon Arches - Repair Advice Req'd
Morning all,
Finally got my 'carbon' rear arches from a well known vendor on Ebay.
He stopped replying to me (presumably because I outrageously chased him up on promised things once a fortnight  ) so I had to get my colleague from
work to order them for me so I actually have some to fit when the time comes!
Anyway - as usual, way later than promised they finally arrived. They are the usual dodgy quality with the 'weave' out in many places -
I'm used to that tbh and as there is no alternative supplier for this stuff I put up with it.
A new thing with these though - it seems he has wrapped them in bubble wrap before the top coat was fully set? :-
The bubble wrap that I removed from them wasn't stuck to these arches so I have to assume that he's had these returned or something and has
just sent them out again as my mate was starting to get cheesed off with excuses and delays as usual too.
Anyway - despite only being 47 at the moment, I would potentially be drawing my pension by time I got anywhere with the seller, so have decided to
keep them and try to repair.
Any advice on how to 'fill' the missing areas? Is it just fibreglass resin they use? Could they repaired with maybe clear nail polish for
example? I really don't know? I'm thinking they can maybe be polished flat again once filled - or is that too hopeful do you think?
Any advice gratefully appreciated.
Cheers
Tony
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 16/12/22 at 12:36 PM |
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An annoying thing for sure but easy to fix. Just get some 2000 grade wet & dry and flatten the surface around the marks till they are gone. Then
use some rubbing compound to then polish the surface back up to a shine. Maybe finish with some T-cut to get it super glossy. 30mins should be all
fixed 
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Edwardo
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| posted on 16/12/22 at 12:42 PM |
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Thanks for the advice
So you think I should bring the surrounding area down to the level of the holes rather than trying to build the holes up?
I'll have to check carefully that there is def enough resin at the bottom of the holes before grabbing any wet/dry
Cheers
Tony
[Edited on 16/12/22 by Edwardo]
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snapper
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| posted on 16/12/22 at 01:00 PM |
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You can’t fill the holes as it will just look like you filled the holes.
I eat to survive
I drink to forget
I breath to pi55 my ex wife off (and now my ex partner)
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coyoteboy
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| posted on 16/12/22 at 01:12 PM |
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I'll be honest, I prefer the "weave out" look because it then is obvious it's a real carbon part, not a vinyl.
Sand and polish.
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Neville Jones
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| posted on 17/12/22 at 11:45 PM |
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I've made a number of these in the past, and can make them without pinholes these days. No requests please.
That damaged top coat may well be two pack clear auto paint.
Rub the whole top of the guard with 600~800 wet then resurface.
Clean with alcohol, before spraying, and use an air jet/blower to clean out the pits between the weave.
There's every chance you'll get 'fish eyes' after the first coat. Stop there, and use a small brush to dab clear in these spots.
When the spot fills are cured, flat the whole lot back with 1200 wet then spray another coat.
There's an auto clear coat called 'diamond clear'. Very tough and hard.
Hope this all helps. I feel for you, it's a painful job and may need a few coats and flat backs.
If putting colour on, then a good two pack hibuild primer solves all the problems.
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snapper
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| posted on 18/12/22 at 01:22 PM |
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I have a close friend who is a composite materials specialist at Cranfield University, these are his comments…
Oh h. If it's pre-preg it's not fully cured or lacquer is not cured. If it's clear gell coat same. If it's resin infusion same or
not mixed correctly ( cold ect). As they are shiny it looks more like shiny lacquer not cured. Contact who made them & ask. If not mixed properly
it will never be right ( thermal "oven" cure mY help but will have inferior properties & lower tg. As it's not milky my bet is
paint top coat. - oven run & polish
This is recommendation to polish it out…
Farcel compound
I eat to survive
I drink to forget
I breath to pi55 my ex wife off (and now my ex partner)
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roadrunner
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| posted on 19/12/22 at 07:04 AM |
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It will be probably the same fella I got mine from.
The top coat on mine is chipping very easily and needs cleaning up after only 6 months of use.
It's frustrating because his prices are so good, but I guess we are getting what we paid for.
I'll probably see how bad mine get next year and re spray them next winter.
[Edited on 19/12/22 by roadrunner]
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coyoteboy
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| posted on 19/12/22 at 01:31 PM |
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Im always curious why people don't use UV hard epoxy instead of (or as well as) lacquer.
But anyway, epoxy isn't particularly chip resistant so it's always going to get abuse on the arches.
[Edited on 19/12/22 by coyoteboy]
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