Carbon Fiber crack repairs

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PostPosted: Sun Dec 05, 2021 7:54 pm
Im new to the site, hello everyone. I need some help, recently bought a used VIS carbon fiber hood for my g37. I did notice 1 Imperfection before i bought it, didn’t think much of it because i was going to color match it anyways till I installed on car. Well after getting it all cleaned up i notice few more cracks in the hood, mostly where the vents are. Did some research. Just wanna know if any clear Epoxy from lowes/Home Depot well work? I do have experience with auto body work in the past just nothing on carbon fiber. Few pics
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 05, 2021 10:52 pm
So this is probably going to be moved over to our Plastics section..... So I'm not to crazy about the "big box store" epoxy products. Something you should consider about a carbon fiber piece that has such "quick" angles in it. ... It needs to have the ability for some flex in it. For about $27 on Amazon you will find a small kit of the West Systems G-Flex epoxy. It is designed to flex more than standard epoxy. I think it would stand the best chance of these not coming back on you.....
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:38 am
Okay, yah I wasn’t sure were to post it. And what would be the proper way to fixing those cracks?



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PostPosted: Mon Dec 06, 2021 10:58 am
Fixing the cracks isn't too hard. Having the repair look good IS! You'll have a super difficult time trying to get the carbon pattern to match and look undetectable with the repair. It will almost always stand out, unless you paint the hood.
SImilar to repairing fiberglass, grind out the cracks completely, feathering out the repair area, lay in some carbon fiber material, using epoxy resin. Do one side, let it cure, then do the other, making sure to remove any cracking, so you have new carbon meeting itself in the cracked area. Layer the cloth so it gradually fills the ground out area. That is, build up the repair by using thinner sections in the center, gradually getting larger as you go out from the center.
Finish by sanding and painting the carbon with a UV protecting clearcoat.
Fiberglass repair sites often have better repair explanations, and pictures to help. Just use carbon and epoxy instead of fiberglass and poly resin.

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PostPosted: Mon Dec 06, 2021 11:14 am
Yeah,^^^^^^^^^^^, did you catch all that? If you don't really have much experience in dealing with this stuff....it is not easy because it is not like a painted surface where you can hide your work. Just trying to simply fill the areas in with the epoxy itself will probably not work.....
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 06, 2021 1:24 pm
Do your research and use the proper materials the first time. Stay out of HD unless you are buying a garbage disposal.

Clear your hood and run it for awhile like that. If you don't like the look spray some type of black (flat?) graphics to hide the repairs over the clear.
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 07, 2021 8:26 am
Ninered_G37 wrote:IJust wanna know if any clear Epoxy from lowes/Home Depot well work?



NO!!!!! You need quality stuff you wont find at Home depot or lowes lol They sell stuff got houses NOT cars.
This also cannot be repaired with out seeing repair, So if you wanted to keep that Bare Carbon fiber look forget it you will need to Paint the hood after repairs are made.
Or forever see the repair under clear that will stand out worse than the cracks you have now.

I have a Carbon fiber panel on my M6 that needs repair, I am just gonna replace the panel rather than attempt repair and paint because I want to keep the Bare carbon fiber look.
Dennis B.
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 07, 2021 8:07 pm
Okay thanks for all the feed back. Im just leave it alone then. If I decide to fix it ill color match it.

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