How to Care for carbon Fiber hoods - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Webb26 · 10-19-2006, 10:30 AM

Can i take the same steps to taking out swirls with regular car paint on carbon fiber hoods. Is there somehting i need to watch out for or is it completely safe and act as car paint?

Webb26 · 10-20-2006, 10:07 AM

Bump...anyone!

RedPhoenix · 10-20-2006, 02:33 PM

My friend has one. If i had one I would do the same. Basically he cares for it like paint, because thats all it really is, a clear coat paint over some CF.

Pb · 10-21-2006, 12:24 AM

I think that some CF hoods have a gel coat, which is different from paint. I wouldn't polish it until you can get solid info on how to care for the hood. You can probably wax it though. Call the manufacturer and see what they say.

Webb26 · 10-21-2006, 03:20 PM

HMMM, well i don't have one yet, but the only company that makes one for mine is VIS So i gotta find out if they are clear coated(which i'm sure they are). IF it were to be clear coated, then i would be okay to use the same processes i use on regular clear coat paint?

TokyoRacer · 10-21-2006, 07:49 PM

Yes. I treat my Proteges CF exactly like it's paint.

atobe · 10-22-2006, 12:49 AM

i'm 100% sure it's clear gel coat just keep it clean and waxed.. if you'r really worried about it fading ect... sand it paint it with automotive clear coat.. color sand and buff the thing.. that'll make it even last longer

Webb26 · 10-22-2006, 02:18 AM

What i am more concerned of is that if there are swirls in the clear coat, so if i need to buff down to make the surface smooth and swirl free.

ryanmartini · 10-22-2006, 09:13 AM

They usually have a gelcoat over them. I use collinite waxes on CF, bonds perfectly

Webb26 · 10-22-2006, 10:13 AM

Well i heard from others who had the vis hood and they said that it was sprayed with clear coat no a gel coat. SO i'm not really sure. I guess i better find out what they used to coat it before i go and do work on it.

RichieRichJP · 10-22-2006, 02:37 PM

I heard that waxing will fuck up your carbon fiber real good

Pb · 10-22-2006, 02:39 PM

The only way to be sure is to ask the manufacturer. Wax might mess up bare CF, but I don't see how it could hurt gel coat or clear coat.

RichieRichJP · 10-22-2006, 02:43 PM

Well I heard that the gel coat isn't a smooth finish and contains very small "holes" in it. So when under heat, the wax melts into the holes and staying there causing a haze or yellowing. Thats what I heard

Pb · 10-22-2006, 10:03 PM

I don't understand why they don't just clearcoat it? Does CF flex a lot?

RichieRichJP · 10-22-2006, 10:12 PM

Yes it does. My hood flexes up and down due to the updraft of the wind from driving. Even bumps on the road cause it to shake