Non gel-coat carbon fiber?

[squirley8888]

Does anyone know where I can purchase a carbon fiber hood and hatch for a 2g that is not gel coated? I did some searches but came back with companies that don’t seem to be operating anymore. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[crimsondragon]

What do you mean non-gel coated? You mean clear coat? Or did you mean the actual resin on top of the CF?

 

[gixrman]

ditto on what crimsion said, CF is'nt gel coated. Fiberglass is.

 

[ruben2566]

ditto on what crimsion said, CF is'nt gel coated. Fiberglass is.

Both CF and Fiberglass can have a gel coat or not. The thick clear you see on CF parts most of the time is clear polyester gel coat.

 

[Jeff@Slowboy]

Better question: Why may I ask are you looking for raw carbon parts?


Oliver
[email protected]

 

[gixrman]

Both CF and Fiberglass can have a gel coat or not. The thick clear you see on CF parts most of the time is clear polyester gel coat.

Not really its just extra resin, they can but your just adding weight which is defeating the whole point of using CF. I've made a few CF pieces and never used a gel coat just a UV resistant clear. Did you contact :
Welcome to Hi-Revperformance, your number one source for performance products

They are the last ones that I know of that CF 2g hatches besides ebay

 

[squirley8888]

Carbon fiber that you normally find for our hoods and hatches are gel coated I do not want the gel coat because like you said it defeat the purpose of carbon fiber cause it is extra weight and it will get painted over anyways.

 

[Defiant]

You're concerned about the gel coat because of the weight? Don't be.

 

[squirley8888]

You're concerned about the gel coat because of the weight? Don't be.

I'm not concerned about the weight of the gel coat I find it pointless though to pay 300-400 dollars for a hood that basically just has a three layer skin of carbon fiber and was intended to just show off hence the gel-coating. I'm looking for function not form. The gel coating will have to be sanded in order to be painted so basically I payed for a fiberglass hood with three sheets of actual carbon fiber that wont show anyways. Hopefully that explains more of what I'm looking for.

 

[king_of_HTX]

I'm not concerned about the weight of the gel coat I find it pointless though to pay 300-400 dollars for a hood that basically just has a three layer skin of carbon fiber and was intended to just show off hence the gel-coating. I'm looking for function not form. The gel coating will have to be sanded in order to be painted so basically I payed for a fiberglass hood with three sheets of actual carbon fiber that wont show anyways. Hopefully that explains more of what I'm looking for.

Even if you do find and buy a DRY carbon fiber hood it will still have to be prepped and probably primed before it is painted so there really wouldn't be any difference in getting one that is already cleared and sanding it. Oh yea... FYI a dry carbon fiber hood would probably be more expensive than one that is cleared.

 

[Defiant]

Check the big CF thread on this site, contact some makers, and ask them. The gel coat isn't something they add, it's the first layer that goes into the mold. Besides providing a finished look, it lets them get the product out of the mold without damage to their equipment. I'd doubt you can get one without it, but ask.

 

[gixrman]

Honestly if you want to be specific about a replacement panel than make it yourself, and i'm not trying to be a smart ass about it but these CF pieces (the ones listed on this site) is that they are not TRUE 100% CF construction. And i'm not saying there inferior in anyway. But they are built more for "look" than function. And theres nothing wrong with that way of construction, but its done for a reason to keep costs down. They are a CF outer shell with fiberglass backing and maybe a sandwich core. A "DRY" carbon piece would be twice if not three times as much becuase of the process to make those specific pieces which is called "AUTOCLAVE" uses high pressure and heat to cure the resin. And thats big $$ usally for the F1 guys.

If you want a good tutorial (the best DIY I know of)on making your own CF panels look at this guys project. If I had the room to do it I would. http://www.turbomustangs.com/techarticles/PBcarbonfiber.php

And Defiant the gel coat has nothing to do with part release from the mold. Its the mold release agent which is wax or PVA.

 

[squirley8888]

Honestly if you want to be specific about a replacement panel than make it yourself, and i'm not trying to be a smart ass about it but these CF pieces (the ones listed on this site) is that they are not TRUE 100% CF construction. And i'm not saying there inferior in anyway. But they are built more for "look" than function. And theres nothing wrong with that way of construction, but its done for a reason to keep costs down. They are a CF outer shell with fiberglass backing and maybe a sandwich core. A "DRY" carbon piece would be twice if not three times as much becuase of the process to make those specific pieces which is called "AUTOCLAVE" uses high pressure and heat to cure the resin. And thats big $$ usally for the F1 guys.

If you want a good tutorial (the best DIY I know of)on making your own CF panels look at this guys project. If I had the room to do it I would. http://www.turbomustangs.com/techarticles/PBcarbonfiber.php

And Defiant the gel coat has nothing to do with part release from the mold. Its the mold release agent which is wax or PVA.

That link doesn't work for me.

 

[ja12ke]

Why would you want one with out the gel coat is a really good question. The pointless weight in factory carbon fiber hoods is from to many coats of the base resin. The gel coat is very thin and protects your hood from UV.

 

[squirley8888]

Why would you want one with out the gel coat is a really good question. The pointless weight in factory carbon fiber hoods is from to many coats of the base resin. The gel coat is very thin and protects your hood from UV.

Most vendors that are selling carbon fiber hoods are basically a fiberglass skeleton with a carbon fiber skin on the outside. Gel coat is not needed if the part is being painting which I intend on doing. Why would I spend 500 on two layers of carbon fiber on some fiberglass that's main purpose is to show off when I am going to paint over it? I was looking for function over form something that was intended to be strong and light not show. Basically all the hoods with gel coat are for lack of a better word "show" hoods. So I was looking for an authentic more than likely looks like crap hood but is light and strong.

 

[housegsx]

This is probably the closest you're going to find. Lightest and probably the best quality. It's what I plan to get eventually if they're still for sale.

Mitsubishi

 

[gixrman]

That link doesn't work for me.

Just go under turbomustangs.com click on tech articles and its there.

 

[ja12ke]

Most vendors that are selling carbon fiber hoods are basically a fiberglass skeleton with a carbon fiber skin on the outside. Gel coat is not needed if the part is being painting which I intend on doing. Why would I spend 500 on two layers of carbon fiber on some fiberglass that's main purpose is to show off when I am going to paint over it? I was looking for function over form something that was intended to be strong and light not show. Basically all the hoods with gel coat are for lack of a better word "show" hoods. So I was looking for an authentic more than likely looks like crap hood but is light and strong.

Im right with you on the -too much money for what you get. The reason i commented is because the gel coat is not where the weight comes in. the cause of excessive weight is in the amount of epoxy layers used. factories put these excessive layers on to get glossy looks and sometimes end up with a hood thats actually heavier than stock!!WTF im just saying that by the time you end up with all that plus your paint... you might want to weigh both hoods before you start and then factor in the paint and see which one your better off with

 

[Kastigir]

Actually, if unsprayed that gel coat will yellow over time. Most people have the gel coat sanded off, then sprayed with clear.

 

[95CarbonEclipse]

Honestly if you want to be specific about a replacement panel than make it yourself, and i'm not trying to be a smart ass about it but these CF pieces (the ones listed on this site) is that they are not TRUE 100% CF construction. And i'm not saying there inferior in anyway. But they are built more for "look" than function. And theres nothing wrong with that way of construction, but its done for a reason to keep costs down. They are a CF outer shell with fiberglass backing and maybe a sandwich core. A "DRY" carbon piece would be twice if not three times as much becuase of the process to make those specific pieces which is called "AUTOCLAVE" uses high pressure and heat to cure the resin. And thats big $$ usally for the F1 guys.

Gixrman hit the nail on the head. 99% of the CF hoods out there (even VIS and Siebon) are what is known as WET carbon. This is the traditional (read: cheaper) way of making CF parts. The process is identical to that of making fiberglass parts, except the fiberglass cloth is substituted for a piece of CF cloth.

DRY carbon is much more expensive and uses a completely different process when being made. The CF sheet is actually impregnated with the resin and melts during the autoclave forming process. This allows the makers to use less resin which melts evenly throughout the entire part. The end result is a lighter and much stronger CF piece, but is vastly more expensive.

As to the comment made about all of the extra resin, and then adding paint to the hood could possible cause the CF to weigh as much as, or more then the OEM hood... that's complete nonsense. I personally own a VIS wet carbon fiber hood and it's easily 1/3 the weight of the OEM hood. Of course, I do have the EVO style hood which has 2 vents cut out (that probably saves me a few ounces).

As to the OP, the cheapest CF hood you're going to find will be one of the traditionally made CF hoods with a gel coat (or extra resin topcoat). You're best option would be to purchase one of these hoods and then sand the gel coat down and paint it. You're not going to find a CF hood that's cheaper because it doesn't have the extra epoxy, resin, gel coat, or whatever you want to call it, layer. And going with a DRY carbon hood is going to cost you at least twice as much, most likely more.

 

[ja12ke]

Your right about the autoclave. that is true prepreg tho. a lot of manufactures sell carbon fiber just like the stuff i make which made using a vacuum. do some reading man because i know what im talking about. im trying to help this guy out and telling him to be careful because there are a lot of manfactures ripping people off. NOT ALL OF THEM just enough that people need to be careful