Carbon fiber...who has laid their own?

Subscribe
Jun 11, 2008 | 03:50 PM
  #1  
Planning on laying down some CF on my roof and a few other pieces. Been doing a lot of online research as far as epoxies and what not. Anyone here done their own work? Buddy of mine has decent experience with fiberglass, so he'll be helping me. A couple square yards shouldn't be more than $125 or so, which is way less than a proposed $600-$800 for a premade roof cap which is still in the works.
Reply 0
Jun 11, 2008 | 04:01 PM
  #2  
I have a lot of fiberglass experience and did my own for small CF parts like my strut bar. Doing the roof is a big undertaking to get the resin even. This is not something I would want to do without a practice car.

Have you found a good resin that is resistant to yellowing/fading?
Reply 0
Jun 11, 2008 | 04:06 PM
  #3  
IvoryGT

https://g35driver.com/forums/interior-exterior/146995-look-what-i-got.html

I think Boostedef tried to c/f his roof himself.
Reply 0
Jun 11, 2008 | 04:07 PM
  #4  
The major cost isn't in the supplies, its the fact that you have to pull your windshied and rear glass to do it properly, there is usually a good chance the glass will crack on the way out, so you'll have to replace that as well
Reply 0
Jun 11, 2008 | 04:08 PM
  #5  
going to be laying the roof later this year.

few people I know have hand laid CF roof.
Reply 0
Jun 11, 2008 | 04:09 PM
  #6  
ya it is a pain, I have only done small parts but to make sure the twill is even and not stretched is a pain.
Reply 0
Jul 24, 2008 | 06:23 PM
  #7  
High_Tech G laid his own CF roof and it came out bad@$$...PM him and I'm sure he will give you some good info...GL
Reply 0
Jul 24, 2008 | 06:33 PM
  #8  
i didnt lay it myself, but a body shop did, its really not that hard. juss paint ur shyt black first so u dont see through the cf if ur planning on using one sheet.

shouldnt cost more than 300
Reply 0
Jul 24, 2008 | 08:00 PM
  #9  
Isn't the CF that people put on roofs just a vinyl stickon most of the time?
Reply 0
Jul 24, 2008 | 09:42 PM
  #10  
interesting...
Reply 0
Jul 24, 2008 | 09:47 PM
  #11  
Quote: Isn't the CF that people put on roofs just a vinyl stickon most of the time?
most of the time? probably.
Reply 0
Jul 24, 2008 | 09:49 PM
  #12  
Quote: Isn't the CF that people put on roofs just a vinyl stickon most of the time?
not on this site...CF vinyl does exist but that large of a piece definately doesn't look real...the few members on this board with them actually overlayed real CF, pulled the glass, laid the weave, resined over, the whole 9 yards
Reply 0
Jul 25, 2008 | 04:26 PM
  #13  
ok..

use a good epoxy resin, not polyester resin.

it also needs to be heat cured... at least 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

resins will only holds their modulus up to, but never in access of the temperature they were cured at. in the summertime a carbon roof will reach damn close to 200 degrees and then you will have a lovely wavey de-laminating carbon roof if not cured properly

no matter what type of resin you use UV rays will cause discoloration and compromise structural integrity over time... so after it's fully cured you'll need to take it to a good body shop and have it clear coated.... and you dont want the body shop sanding into the carbon so use one or two layers of very lightweight fiberglass on TOP on the carbon. 1 or 2oz standard weave glass should do the trick
Reply 0
Jul 25, 2008 | 07:18 PM
  #14  
Quote: ok..

use a good epoxy resin, not polyester resin.

it also needs to be heat cured... at least 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

resins will only holds their modulus up to, but never in access of the temperature they were cured at. in the summertime a carbon roof will reach damn close to 200 degrees and then you will have a lovely wavey de-laminating carbon roof if not cured properly

no matter what type of resin you use UV rays will cause discoloration and compromise structural integrity over time... so after it's fully cured you'll need to take it to a good body shop and have it clear coated.... and you dont want the body shop sanding into the carbon so use one or two layers of very lightweight fiberglass on TOP on the carbon. 1 or 2oz standard weave glass should do the trick
Why would you put FG on top of the carbon? Doesn't that defeat the purpose? It never gets fully translucent, just use more layers of resin to build up to avoid sanding down to the carbon
Reply 0
Jul 25, 2008 | 07:40 PM
  #15  
anyone wanting to do their own vacuume bag cf projects this is a prett cool cost effective way i just posted in like 45 min ago
https://g35driver.com/forums/care-detailing/235119-all-you-diyers-vacuum-bagging-extreme.html
Reply 0