How to get this color on carbon fiber

ksungela

ksungela

Member
I'd like to incorporate some carbon fiber in my interiors and like the hexagon, or similar, pattern weave. I'd also like to make it some color other than black and have seen pics online of all different colors. From what I've learned, a candy is added to a clear base (same as Intercoat?) to change the color of the carbon. I'm aiming for silver, so is it a simple as adding silver candy to Intercoat and spraying it on the carbon fiber? How should I prep the carbon fiber? I'd ultimately like a semi-gloss or satin finish, so would I finish with a matte clear over the candy?
silver carbon.JPG
 
You need to use the metalized fabrics. For at least the face lay up. If you want the weave/fabric to show. As the base color for candys

You won't be able to change the color of traditional Carbon Fiber. There is no silver candy.

The candy is only the purple, red, orange. In the above example.

I would prep the pieces you want to candy. As if you are doing a re-flow coat, 600g wet & scotchbrite with sanding paste, for the more difficult areas.
 
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I've done candy over carbon, but to get that look you see in that pic you posted, just like Rich said you need to start with a fabric that has the appearance of what you are seeing in the center.

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What kind of layup technique are you using? You don't have to go into detail if you don't want, I've just always wanted to learn glassing. Some of the bagging techniques seem to be a good way to go these days. Biggest thing holding me back from getting into it much is the making of forms and subsequent space required to store forms, lol. My garage is packed already... But I do love that CF look.
 
Edgecrusher said:
What kind of layup technique are you using? You don't have to go into detail if you don't want, I've just always wanted to learn glassing. Some of the bagging techniques seem to be a good way to go these days. Biggest thing holding me back from getting into it much is the making of forms and subsequent space required to store forms, lol. My garage is packed already... But I do love that CF look.
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In the past I’ve made some parts with epoxy and fibre glass. Mostly on mahogany plywood. So after the glass you trowel on extra epoxy and lay a thin layer of Mylar over. You roll out the bubbles and let it cure. When you pull off the Mylar you’re left with a perfectly flat bubble free finish. The mahogany looked awesome. Nice gloss. Just needed uv protection after.
The Mylar was about .035 thick maybe? I can’t remember. But the same could be done with carbon fibre as long as the pieces are relatively flat or 2d in shape.
 
and interior pieces just have to look good, strength isn't a concern so much which makes it a little easier. I've been wanting to design a new dash using aluminum but cover it with CF.
 
wait, are you talking about covering existing trim pieces? sorry, it just dawned on me. I hit my head too many times.
 
OK, I see. I've only seen black and some colors interwoven in the black weave, but searching for metalized carbon fiber brings up a bunch of hits. This is pretty cool. https://gzmakers.com/products/3k-220gsm-diamond-pattern-electroplated-fiberglass-fabric-in-silver
I have a section of door panel which is typically covered in an aluminum sheet with a pattern stamped on it and I guess painted, but that is from 60+ years ago so looking for something more contemporary. My door panel base is a 1/8" ABS sheeting, so need to figure out how to build up from there. The aluminum panel wraps around the edge of the door panel and goes behind it, so need to figure out how to handle the edge with carbon.
 
If you decide to try something, post up some pics. I have some ideas on things I'd like to do and seeing how someone else does it would be very interesting and motivating.
 
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