Carbon skinning anyone?
Carbon skinning anyone?
If anyone's done this before, give me a shout!
el_bandido
18-10-2018, 11:07 AM #1I've just bought myself a starter kit for carbon skinning, has anyone got any experience of this? If it turns out well, I'll have a go at making some carbon fibre parts so watch this space!
If anyone's done this before, give me a shout!
![[Image: FB_IMG_1474048273787_zpsnbfq6a3s.jpg]](http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee440/davis5835/Mobile%20Uploads/FB_IMG_1474048273787_zpsnbfq6a3s.jpg)
This is putting actual carbon fibre over the top of whatever you've got. I couldn't be arsed waiting for a spare pair of front light inserts to show up, so I'm going to skin them myself.
Edit: No offence intended with the 3M tape comment, it just peeled itself off the light when I tried wrapping.
el_bandido
18-10-2018, 11:12 AM #3No mate, that's 3M vinyl tape I think, which I have some of and will not be using again!
This is putting actual carbon fibre over the top of whatever you've got. I couldn't be arsed waiting for a spare pair of front light inserts to show up, so I'm going to skin them myself.
Edit: No offence intended with the 3M tape comment, it just peeled itself off the light when I tried wrapping.
All I can say is good luck with it and can't wait to see the results
jay_russell
18-10-2018, 11:25 AM #5sorry mate, have been off work with my back. still off 2 more weeks, and the stuff is burried in the bottom of the shed with loads of stuff on it.
If it does go well, I'll start trying some carbon fibre fabrication. I fancy some carbon door sills with lights behind them.
el_bandido
18-10-2018, 11:26 AM #6I've picked a stupidly difficult shape to skin for the first try, but I'll be posting up any results. Could end up being £90 down the pan but if I don't try, I won't know!
If it does go well, I'll start trying some carbon fibre fabrication. I fancy some carbon door sills with lights behind them.
I could still use a spare set though, give me a shout if you find them.
el_bandido
18-10-2018, 11:28 AM #7Jay - no problem mate! It will cost me a LOT more than £90 to get them replicated in carbon anyway, I could get them dipped but at £80 for the set I'd rather get a proper carbon look and have a bash myself.
I could still use a spare set though, give me a shout if you find them.
I have a roll of black carbon fibre that is partially impregnated with resin so it doesn't pull the strands out of place when moulding around curves etc. Also have a roll of aluminium coloured carbon fibre cloth that doesn't have the impregnation and that's what I found to be more difficult. I had a spare back seat filler for the IS-F and experimented with the aluminium cloth to match the OEM trim as follows:![[Image: pic0213n.jpg]](http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/713/pic0213n.jpg/)
Centre panel prepared with coarse wet and dry paper then coated in white resin before laying on the cloth:
![[Image: pic0217o.jpg]](http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/525/pic0217o.jpg/)
Edges wrapped and taped to hold while resin is applied:
![[Image: pic0219.jpg]](http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/542/pic0219.jpg/)
First coat of clear resin applied:
![[Image: pic0221.jpg]](http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/507/pic0221.jpg/)
Wasn't happy with the lay of the weave around the edges, so ripped it off before it hardened completely :thumbdown:
![[Image: pic0223d.jpg]](http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/834/pic0223d.jpg/)
All not lost as used the centre of the skinned panel like this on the replacement seat filler:
![[Image: isfcarboninsertforrearc.jpg]](http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/546/isfcarboninsertforrearc.jpg/)
Still not happy with it, but am going to try skinning the foglight surrounds with the black carbon fibre cloth.
IS 200 Sport with a few mods, Standardish IS-F. The IS250 SE-L with a few mods has gone to a new home.[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
I've tried it and it's more difficult than it looks on the videos I have a roll of black carbon fibre that is partially impregnated with resin so it doesn't pull the strands out of place when moulding around curves etc. Also have a roll of aluminium coloured carbon fibre cloth that doesn't have the impregnation and that's what I found to be more difficult. I had a spare back seat filler for the IS-F and experimented with the aluminium cloth to match the OEM trim as follows:
Centre panel prepared with coarse wet and dry paper then coated in white resin before laying on the cloth:
Edges wrapped and taped to hold while resin is applied:
First coat of clear resin applied:
Wasn't happy with the lay of the weave around the edges, so ripped it off before it hardened completely :thumbdown:
All not lost as used the centre of the skinned panel like this on the replacement seat filler:
Still not happy with it, but am going to try skinning the foglight surrounds with the black carbon fibre cloth.
IS 200 Sport with a few mods, Standardish IS-F. The IS250 SE-L with a few mods has gone to a new home.[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Carbon fibre is much easier to work with (fibreglass is horrible stuff, gets all in your clothes and stuck in your skin) although you have to be more careful as it's as much of a visual component and it is structural.
But take your time and just make sure you give everything proper curing times.
Maybe start with something small enough to fit in the oven so you can guarantee it's cured properly.
Also when you say skinning, do you mean wrap the carbon over a part and then leave the part inside the wrap?
Because you won't be able to do that for things like door sills which have a specific size hole to go in, you'll need to mould it, then lay-up the carbon inside the mould. i.e. re-create the original part.
But skinning is fine for things like fuse box covers etc. where the external size doesn't matter.
sprinter2012
18-10-2018, 01:03 PM #10I've done both carbon fibre, and fibre glass fabrication before.
Carbon fibre is much easier to work with (fibreglass is horrible stuff, gets all in your clothes and stuck in your skin) although you have to be more careful as it's as much of a visual component and it is structural.
But take your time and just make sure you give everything proper curing times.
Maybe start with something small enough to fit in the oven so you can guarantee it's cured properly.
Also when you say skinning, do you mean wrap the carbon over a part and then leave the part inside the wrap?
Because you won't be able to do that for things like door sills which have a specific size hole to go in, you'll need to mould it, then lay-up the carbon inside the mould. i.e. re-create the original part.
But skinning is fine for things like fuse box covers etc. where the external size doesn't matter.
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