self painting over Carbon Fiber

[adpeacock]

Everyone,
    First off I would like to thank everyone for all their advice.  Here is my next dillemma, I just bought a windshield for my 620 but it is carbonfiber, although I sometimes like the look of CF I am not sure about it, is there a way to paint over it, or am I just stuck with the look of aftermarket on it?  Thanks for everyone's help again, i dont know what I would do without everyone on this site.

Adam

[Paegelow]

If you paint it, do something cool like leave some pinstripes of bare carbon or something!

[redial]

you may paint over it just like a fiberglass or plastic peice for your bike.

a couple tips

1. use some 80 grit sandpaper to scratch up the area you are painting to give the primer something to hold on to.

2. um painting is a process as they say, so for gods sake take your time!

3. if you leave some of it raw (looks very cool) tape off the sections you want to be raw cf, then do the sanding and painting,
then strip the tape and spray the whole thing in clearcoat (so your CF section isnt 2mm recessed from your painted)

good luck and definitely post pics!

[hypurone]

Paint CF? Sacrilege! You   Must   Resist   

[mojo]

you may paint over it just like a fiberglass or plastic peice for your bike.

a couple tips

1. use some 80 grit sandpaper to scratch up the area you are painting to give the primer something to hold on to.

2. um painting is a process as they say, so for gods sake take your time!

3. if you leave some of it raw (looks very cool) tape off the sections you want to be raw cf, then do the sanding and painting,
then strip the tape and spray the whole thing in clearcoat (so your CF section isnt 2mm recessed from your painted)

good luck and definitely post pics!

80 grit is Way too coarse to paint over.  What I would do is buy a 3M red scuff pad and scuff the part so that there are no shiny spots.  Wash with wax and grease remover and prime with a high build primer to fill in any imperfections (like pinholes in the CF resin).  Sand primer smooth with 320 grit and finish off with 600 wet (or 800 wet if you are painting a metallic color).  Wash again with wax and grease remover,  wipe with a tack cloth (Home Depot) and paint.

[ducpainter]

80 grit is Way too coarse to paint over.  What I would do is buy a 3M red scuff pad and scuff the part so that there are no shiny spots.  Wash with wax and grease remover and prime with a high build primer to fill in any imperfections (like pinholes in the CF resin).  Sand primer smooth with 320 grit and finish off with 600 wet (or 800 wet if you are painting a metallic color).  Wash again with wax and grease remover,  wipe with a tack cloth (Home Depot) and paint.

Dood...

back off the wax and grease remover.

There are better choices for post sanding/pre-top coat cleaners.

You are absolutely right about the 80 grit...

...but a red scuff pad alone isn't adequate prep for primer.

...but what do I know.

[ducrider45]

I painted all of my CF   

[mojo]

Dood...

back off the wax and grease remover.

There are better choices for post sanding/pre-top coat cleaners.

You are absolutely right about the 80 grit...

...but a red scuff pad alone isn't adequate prep for primer.

...but what do I know.

Different strokes for different folks, i guess.  There is more than one way to do repair work and still have good results, "dood"

[ducpainter]

Different strokes for different folks, i guess.  There is more than one way to do repair work and still have good results, "dood"

Results are more than appearance IMO.

Whatever works for ya.

[Raux]

PAINT FIGHT

[Big Troubled Bear]

I have painted numerous carbon parts and I sand the parts down with 600 waterpaper, just to get the shine of the clearcoat, then paint with Kandy color of choice and clearcoat.

This way you can still see the carbon underneath the paint.

Cracked or damaged carbon is a different matter altogether and needs some decent repair first

Thanx

[pennyrobber]

PAINT FIGHT

 

[fouramdesigns]

My rear hugger and front fender have lost the CF shine, just to try something different, I may just repaint a high gloss black. DucPainter, what tips for a newb with just a garage but plenty of time to take? What materials and steps?

[ducpainter]

My rear hugger and front fender have lost the CF shine, just to try something different, I may just repaint a high gloss black. DucPainter, what tips for a newb with just a garage but plenty of time to take? What materials and steps?

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=29.0

Ask away if it hasn't already been answered.

[adpeacock]

Everyone,
    Thanks for all the great advice.  I think I have a plan to attack it, Ducpainter I have read your other thread sounds like some great ideas.  Can I see some pictures of painted CF.  Thanks again for everything.