Carbon Fiber Fender Issue!

[superduner]

oh idk exactly whats wrong with the clear or the fenders. its like this.. i WASH the car. and the carbon fiber looks OPAQUE like its dead no shine. if i WAX it it goes hella shiny like really gorgeous and it makes my car look awsome. in about a week the aftermath of (acumulated) DUST + ( on and off moisture) from the morning MIST the fenders end up with some sort of rugged layer that feels somewhat like SANDPAPER. not only does my car end up dusty throught the week or two weeks... but my fenders look like shit.. and not only do i ahve to WASH my car too make it look good.. but the fenders themselves need to be waxed as well. the cars clear is shiny and it looks great.. but its no good having dull fenders and shiny car. it doesnt add up right :P. and im no lazy person bu tDAMn.. it can take a toll on you having to wax these fenders everytime i wash my car. especially when its a RUSH wash. to get it clean fast.

SO! here i am woundering what it could be. as Big_E-Dog mentioned. perhaps the UV barrier is done for and with the sun the wax coat goes away and sooner or later the fenders get opaque with the sun. if thats the reason .. " how gay" i thought it i could just sptray on a nice clear coat like a normal paintjob and bam i got me a shiny fender. but guess not. so..

WHAT TO DO?

[onehundredoctane]

funny that you have CF fenders, weight savings? NO.

A friend wet sanded and cleared his CF hood. Worked fine. Still looks new. Just be sure to get at least 3 or 4 coats applied. Then wet sanded and buffed for a great shine.

[white92_s13]

my cwest hood does the same shit. i wash and wax the whole car, looks good for like 2 days and then the arizona dust just gets it, my hood looks like ass, i have to wax it like everytime i wash and clean the car, and it seems like it atracts the dust and dirt.

i use either mothers wax in the car, it is a paste stuff works real well, time consuming but works awesome, and then when im feeling just a quick wash and wax job i use ICE wax in a spray and just spray the car and wipe off, works real nice and easy.

[silpena]

you sure they came clear coated? and it not just a gel coat? best idea would be carefully wet sand and spray a couple coats of clear and i mean real automotive clear not rattle can clear.

[slider2828]

Try something called TR-3 from Kragen. Buff it with the TR3 and then go over it with polish then wax. Stuff is unbelieveable...

[superduner]

i am goign to say its GEL coated. because i took the fenders off and the flexibility is stunning and common sence hit me and automotice (normal) clear coating would hace craked by then. NAH no weight saving but i let me know when you find another S13 with REAL carbon fiber 50mm wide body fenders in the rear. take a picture then show it to me ;) hahaha But yeah thats what im in the process of doing and trying out to see if it works. sanded one down pretty good. il try to get as close to the carbon fiber taking most of the OLD clear coat off so if thats the problem itl be replaced with new fresh cleat coat.

[derek_s13]

its no good having dull fenders and shiny car.
that's why everyone painted their carbon fiber in 2005






just hit it with a couple coats of clear, and it'll shine.

[superduner]

haha word up on that bro. anywho. so i take it regular CLEAR for a car works. someone mentioned the UV barrier and the FLOOD COAT OF RESIN. does anyone know the specific link(s) of WEST MARINE because i have no clue wich one is needed. plus. does that UV bararier thing really make a difference ? how so ?

comparing i add coats of clear or regular clear coating. and that UV barrier thing.... what would the difference be?

[coolcatracing]

Just be sure to use good quality automotive clear. If it comes in a spray can it is not good quality. It will shine now but it will start to turn yellow after some time in the sun. Most carbon products come with a very thin gelcoat that will always haze. If you take them to a body shop when you first get it and have them put a few layers of clear on it then it will shine and not turn yellow for years.

[superduner]

AHA! alas an answer to my question on WHAT TO DO.

so i sand it down and apply that layer of gel (is there a SPECIFIC name to this gel,brand? ... then add layers of clear. ( yes no worryes i already have plenty of automotive clear chemicals and stuff ) and it should keep its shine for years eh...... EXELENT.....

[silpena]

just buy an urathane gel coat. I had a site to buy it but i'll dig it up for u later. Make sure u have a huge ass tip to spray the gel coat on ur gun or crank up the pressure if ur compressor can handle it. After the gel coat is done hardneding then u can lay 3-4 coats of clear.

[superduner]

damn bout how much PSI do you think il have to run through my gun to get a nice spray out of the urathane gel ? my gun is TOP FED so gravity should help out ou a tad "hopefuly"

[silpena]

when i spray stuff as stick as gel coat i just use a bigger tip but maybe crank it to about 100 psi at thee regualtor rather than normal 35-45 psi.

[Matej]

Just paint it the color of your car, unpainted cf body parts look goofy, no offense.

[superduner]

when i spray stuff as stick as gel coat i just use a bigger tip but maybe crank it to about 100 psi at thee regualtor rather than normal 35-45 psi.

apologize for the dumb question thi smight sound like BUT. what is the purpose of putting the urethane gel layer on there? is it like a clear coat but flexible ? if so why add an automotive clear coat wich is NOT as flexible ?

just woundering. what the benefit of adding urethane layer is

[Vision Garage]

Well to save you from what you are about to do. If you clean you hood real good. Use some dish washing soap to remove any wax left on it. Then use an orbital buffer and rubbing compound. Wipe that off, follow up with buffing using a polisher. Wipe that off and apply some wax. This should last you a good couple of months. Depending on how much sun the hood gets.

[silpena]

its basically a protective varnish that keeps out moisture and dirt and adds as a protectant from outside nature. No just the urathane is used more for automotive. Creates a better adhesion/ works better with urathane clears and has lower voc levels.

[origin_s135]

clearcoat it, or just say fuck it and get that shit painted.

[superduner]

man at this point i am in the verge of saing F it AND painting it :P lol i already know what it would look like its prety sick. but i wanan be different u know and my car looks nice with cf rear fenders. well ive gotten no negative comments thus far :P so that must be good ;) . il try sanding it down alot and clear coating the hell out of it. if all else fails. il just paint it or SELL THEM :)