Re Clearing a CF Hood ?

[GSTeclipse]

Well I did a little searching and could not find much on this

What I have is a VIS OEM 2g Hood that I have had for a few years and time has taken it's toll on the clearcoat thats on the hood .

What is the best way to go about Re Clearing this hood ?
What step's do I take ?

Thanks alot guy's

 

[guitarhero14]

Whats wrong with the clear now? Is it flaking off? Discolored?

 

[GSTeclipse]

Whats wrong with the clear now? Is it flaking off? Discolored?

No flaking , it seems that it might be getting discolored but it's hard to tell and there are alot of lights scratches that
are in the clear

 

[calreef18]

Have it wet sanded and buffed and get the whole thing re-coated is the best way to do it.

 

[GSTeclipse]

Have it wet sanded and buffed and get the whole thing re-coated is the best way to do it.

Have you had one done like this?

How would you get the clear to stick if you wet sanded and then buffed and then put clear on ? Don't you have to have a surface to where it can stick ?

 

[jongreene]

I think wet sanding and buffing would come AFTER the clearcoating.

 

[roadrunner2176]

Do you plan on doing it yourself or having a shop do it. THe only reason I ask, is that if the hood is in bad shape, clear degrading its would have to be sanded down to a smooth surface. A shop would charge you about 55+ an hour to paint, so it might cost more to prep and clear than to order a new hood and sell yours or have it painted a solid, or semi transparent color.

If your doing it yourself, wet sand with 400 grit until the marks are gone, than 600. Spray the clear, read the product directions for recoat and final coat applications. They all differ slightly. After everything has cured and you see no need to touch up a few spots, you can wet sand with 1800 or 2000 paper than buff it to a shine.

 

[GSTeclipse]

Do you plan on doing it yourself or having a shop do it. THe only reason I ask, is that if the hood is in bad shape, clear degrading its would have to be sanded down to a smooth surface. A shop would charge you about 55+ an hour to paint, so it might cost more to prep and clear than to order a new hood and sell yours or have it painted a solid, or semi transparent color.

If your doing it yourself, wet sand with 400 grit until the marks are gone, than 600. Spray the clear, read the product directions for recoat and final coat applications. They all differ slightly. After everything has cured and you see no need to touch up a few spots, you can wet sand with 1800 or 2000 paper than buff it to a shine.

My dad own's a body shop so I am not worried about paying for labor only supplys !

Here's what the hood looks like from about 5 foot away and it's not bad looking at all untill you get up on it and look at it

 

[GSTeclipse]

Here's some of it upclose

 

[roadrunner2176]

Its not that bad, if your worried about it, just have you dad scuff and reclear it. Otherwise get some rubbing compund and buff it out.

 

[trackTSIawd]

Not so sure if I would touch that thing with 400 grit paper... I would take it down with 1500 wet, put 3 or 4 coats of clear on it, 1500 it again and then buff it.

 

[guitarhero14]

Its not that bad, if your worried about it, just have you dad scuff and reclear it. Otherwise get some rubbing compund and buff it out.

I agree. All we do at our body shop, as long as the scratches are not too deep, is take a red 3M scuff pad and scuff the entire thing and clear. An aggressive rubbing compound should do just the same and will be cheaper.

 

[elfroggo]

I would try a rubbing compound, polish and then a wax. It might not be necessary to reclear.

 

[GSTeclipse]

I would try a rubbing compound, polish and then a wax. It might not be necessary to reclear.

nah I am going to reclear even if it does not need it ...just becuase I have had the hood for 3 years , and would like it to last me another 3 years ...don't feel like buying a new CF hood when this one is still usable and can clean up

 

[ILLiCliPSE]

I had the same exact problem w/ my cf hood on my 96 GS. It was scratched and flaking just like the pics you posted. Me and my dad sanded it down with I believe 600 grit sand paper on a D.A., then shot it with a few coats of clear. It came out perfect, and that nasty effect never came back. Here are some pics of it after we cleared it. I highly recommend it. Its just like getting a new hood .

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[GSTeclipse]

wow 600grit ? Thats a little rough ....after you sanded it , did you use paint prep to wipe the hood with and then cleared ?

The way you put it is you sanded with 600 grit and then cleared the hood but it does look good and thank you for posting pics this is what I was hopig someone would do ....I would like to see before and after shots thanks alot

 

[ILLiCliPSE]

nah just sanded it w/ 600, wiped it down with some degreaser so nothing would mess up the clear, and whala. be careful tho...you may want to use some "fish-eye remover" in the clear, because we ran into lots of fish-eyes in the clear because of the hood being pourous. we added some of that and put on some heavy coats of clear and it turned out like the pics i posted. unfortunetly, i dont have any before pics that really show you how cloudy and messed up the hood was...i sold the car months ago. only thing i can say is that it looked EXACTLY the way your hood does.


one thing also, it didnt remove any of the deep scratches. it looks like you have some scratches, and as did i. it only got some of them filled in, and the big ones were left there even after blasting it w/ clear coat. it might be different for you tho. pm me if you have any other questions im glad to help.

 

[GSTeclipse]

thanks alot