carbon fiber wrapping

[Tribal_RS_96]

I got a dash bezel with the two gauge pod inserts in it. I want to wrap it with carbon fiber vinyl. What is the best size wrap i should look for? i also want to wrap my radio housing bezel... they kinda..... dont blend well at the moment... (ones blue, black and the other is orange..... I got them that way >.<)

 

[H@xtGSX]

Just wrapping them is going to add a lot of material and they may not fit back in place if it's done. Personally, I'd recommend just repainting them. If the bezel isn't already CF, the wrap will more than likely look very fake because the pattern will not be consistent, CF is set in an epoxy resin and looks clear coated, and the surface texture will look wrong. Why try faking CF if it isn't? I've yet to see a fake CF that was really believable, and there's not much point in fuax CF other than making it look like you spent the money but didn't... because that's what it'll look like. I actually paint over my CF. It's there for function, and the paint is prettier and blends with the vehicle better anyway...
Just my opinion tho.

If you're dead set on doing it, get the widest wrap possible, lay it on from the lowest inside point outwards, smooth it out real well and ensure the bubbles are all out from under it, then use a razor to cut away the gauge openings just inside the outer most exposed lip. That way there's no gaps and it looks like one continuous piece, like CF.

 

[Nasty Dream]

I imagine vinyl would be very difficult, and impossible to make look right because of all the different curves. You could probably get it done pretty well on the stereo bezel though. EDIT: Sorry, I figured you had a pillar mount gauge pod, but yours might be easier.

Anyway, painting is a great idea. There is interior paint and rubber and plastic coatings that come in a rattle can. There is dye, if you search threads 'interior dye' you can find out more.

 

[zcoh2gdsm]

a lot of body shops do part wrapping, not cheap though, around me a local vdub owner had his front left fender wrapped (weird german hobbies) and he said he got it discounted for $200. its not impossible, you just need to be skilled at it.

 

[knochgoon24]

You may have better luck just wrapping them with real carbon fiber and epoxy. If all you're doing is wrapping small stuff, you can buy scrap pieces off eBay for pretty cheap. Get some good UV stable 2-part epoxy and you're set.

 

[RoryBarron]

Have you looked at the carbon fiber like this? Looks good, you just have to measure out how much you need!

 

[EDM95]

Has anyone wrapped something with red carbon fiber and do you have pictures?

 

[knochgoon24]

FYI, colored carbon fiber usually called Texalium. It's made by Hexcel. It's an aluminum coated, glass strand. The aluminum can then be colored in ways similar to anodizing.

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[EDM95]

So no one has wrapped a part or something with that red or white?

 

[phunny]

Have you looked at the carbon fiber like this? Looks good, you just have to measure out how much you need!

This stuff is garbage, I did a writeup on in it when it first came out. Wouldn't waste my money.

So no one has wrapped a part or something with that red or white?

Yes I've wrapped many things using real cf, it's not all that hard as long as you have a vacuum pump.

 

[Tribal_RS_96]

This stuff is garbage, I did a writeup on in it when it first came out. Wouldn't waste my money.



Yes I've wrapped many things using real cf, it's not all that hard as long as you have a vacuum pump.

I gotta try doing that, do you have a quick step by step write up on this? Could you PM it to me or post it here?

These are the two things i want to wrap, The gauge bezel and the center of this steering wheel.

 

[mndizzum]

not that im a fan of this idea, but if you dont have other carbon accents in the interior its going to appear tacky.

 

[Tribal_RS_96]

Well, yeah it kinda will at first, but depending on how it goes... I will add CF to other peices, like the E-brake handle and maybe some more spots... but i gotta start small to get use to the process.

 

[turbotalon31]

CARBON FIBER WRAP, FABRIC, CLOTH FOR INTERIOR TRIM | eBay
check out this link its not a sticker its cloth material that really looks like carbon fiber i just bought some of this and looks really close to carbon fiber and easy to work with

 

[Tribal_RS_96]

CARBON FIBER WRAP, FABRIC, CLOTH FOR INTERIOR TRIM | eBay
check out this link its not a sticker its cloth material that really looks like carbon fiber i just bought some of this and looks really close to carbon fiber and easy to work with

That looks pretty good, I'll try that and see if i like it

 

[Corse]

That looks pretty good, I'll try that and see if i like it

Generally speaking that cloth looks pretty good. I've seen a few people even wrap spoilers and other parts in it. At a distance it can be hard to tell if it's real unless you've got a picky eye. Even close up it looks pretty decent.

I'm not sure if you have worked with carbon fiber before.. but essentially, the resin will pretty much stick to anything and can be VERY hard to remove from a part unless you've got wax or something underneath to act as a barrier to pull it.

So while you /could/ wrap them in real carbon fiber, the problem is that if you are simply overlaying the carbon fiber on it then it is going to be a challenge to finish them without a lot of prep.

That and only 1 layer of carbon fiber and you'll probably see through it some. So you'd need at least a few layers. It's also fairly messy.

Once you've done an overlay, to make it look good you'll probably want to wetsand it till it's smooth and then buff it so it's nice and smooth and polished.

Or...

You can use that cloth wrap that looks very very close to real carbon fiber for a fraction of the cost and trim it easily and be done in one simple process

The other benefit is that you won't be itching all day from working with it!