Carbon Fiber

Not sure if anyone has dealt with this. Has anyone tried to repair a scratch on a Carbon Fiber panel? If so can you recommend product and process?

 

I'm not sure of what type of panel and how bad the scratch but here goes.

Most carbon fiber that has a shiny surface and has a cross weave cloth appearance can be sanded and buffed to repair small scratches in the surface of the resin. 600 grit sandpaper (used wet with a drop of dishwashing soap) is about the roughest you can get away with, and then go to 1000 or 1200 grit before using automotive polishing compound with a buffer machine to get the shine back. Wax to finish the deal.

For deeper scratches that go through the top surface of the resin I have tried using epoxy, usually applied with a sharp object (toothpick etc) to wick it into the scratch. Using enough epoxy to just protrude above the surface of the material allows it to be sanded flush when fully cured and then buffed. Funnily enough this always leaves a faint line around the edges and so I have had better luck with cyanoacrylate adhesives (Crazy glues).

You can buy cyanocrylate glues that are very pure in quality from a hobby store or hardware store. Brand names like "Zap" from hobby stores can be bought in a thicker form than the runny crazy glue that most people are used to. This thicker glue is easier to manipulate and apply as with the epoxy into a scratch. You can buy an "accelerator" that you spray on and the glue will harder instantly or just wait for the glue to harden naturally. I then wait a few minutes and sand the glue flush and buff. If you do have a structural crack then the thin CA glue is ideal to use first as it will "wick" into the cracked panel and provide a pretty strong repair once cured.

Be careful with CA glues not to get on your fingers as it will stick to you and anything else it touches too. The hobby store also has "de-bonder" in case things go really wrong.

If you don't have an automotive buffer you can use a foam buffing pad from an auto store and an electric drill on slow speed. If the part is small you can use manual labor but it's going to take longer. Never sand, buff or use compound in circular motions but always go backwards and forwards across the part in as straight a strokes as possible. Circular motions cause swirls which reflect light at all angles which makes them more noticable to the eye than straight lines which only reflect light one way.

Hope this helps.

Mark

 

First can the panel be removed or taped off ? Has the scratch effected the fiber of the part? If its a scratch you can sand the area but don't break past the resin to the fiber. You then can spray the panel with clear and it's as good as new. I did my Porsche Carbon dash like this, the part had some scratches in it and I sanded down the part and sprayed it with clear and it came out beautiful!!!

 

Can you post a picture? maybe we can help you out if we see the problem.

Best regards

JELPSPEED