I have been wanting to switch my interior trim to CF for a while now. I didn't want to shell out the ridiculous prices that places like MAcarbon were asking for. After some research I found a method of "laying" or "skinning" the CF. The process involves "laying" the CF material directly over the part and adding several layers of resin/hardener then sanding.

I bought my first kit off eBay (what a mistake). My first attempt was on the ashtray cover. I figured it would be easy because it's small and doesn't have too many curves to it. Boy was I wrong! I couldn't get the fabric to stay in one place while I was taping the back of it. Long story short I had to stop after one layer of resin. The smudge is from me placing it down face first for some stupid reason before it dried. lol..Don't laugh...Had to buy another ashtray cover and will be trying again with the new method below.







I found a real good supplier that provided me with an easier method to "skin". Their kit includes everything mentioned above but also comes with a black base coat/hardener that you apply after sanding the part. This combo becomes sticky after a couple hours allowing you to apply the material without it moving all over the place. My second go around came out a 100 times better using the part that goes around the shifter. I finished all the coats of resin/hardener and now I have to wait 24 hours to start sanding through all the different grits and finish with a good polishing or clear coat. I have to say I am happy with the results.


1. AFTER THE BLACK BASE COAT/HARDENER


2. AFTER APPLYING THE CF MATERIAL


3. AFTER APPLYING THE FIRST COAT OF RESIN/HARDENER


4. AFTER 2ND AND 3RD COATS





Will be posting the finished product in a couple days along with all the other trim as I do it.

 

Thanks for the nice writeup, but I think vinyl would look much cleaner.

 

Wait til it's finished.

 

Nicely done for a fist stab at it pal! I'm impressed. I'm personally going to cover my parts with 3M DI-NOC carbon vinyl - won't have 'real carbon' bragging rights like you though

Keep the pics coming!

 

im always have troubles to understand that words ?

Andy

 

Thanks, the iphone pics don't do any justice to the piece. It looks much better in person. Once I sand it and get all the bumps out it will look much smoother and cleaner.

 

DI-NOC is a very high quality 3M vinyl that is increbibly adhesive even after being heated and stretched around almost anything. The carbon print is also very, very lifelike from as close as a few feet away. It's certainly not the real deal and guys like Dyno that take the time to DIY with real carbon deserve credit where it's due but for what I'm after (silver carbon), DI-NOC is just fine

 

Very nice! Got a link to the site that sells the kit?

 

Thanks, here is the link. They have a couple vids on there also

http://carbonmods.com/

 

awesome, thanks!

 

NP

 

looking to see the finished products

GL with the final steps wes

 

Wow... that is a very ballsy project/ Looking good so far... keep us posted.

After you finish practicing on yours you can do mine

 

Thanks guys. Once I have some more pieces under my belt I want to try making some molds to make it easier to reproduce..