How To: Resurface an 8G Carbon Fiber Hood
Here is my tutorial on how to resurface your Carbon Fiber Hood. I did it on my car which is an 8G, but you can do this touch-up to just about any car with a carbon fiber hood.
Here are the supplies you need.
12mm socket wrench
Garden Hose
Sponge
Tape
350 Grit Sandpaper
2000 Grit Sandpaper
4 cans of Clear-Coat Paint (i used Dupli-Color)
Polishing Compound
Polishing Cloth or Buffer (i got both)
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...0623091854.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...0623092004.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...623092005a.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...0623092008.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...623092007b.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...623092007a.jpg
Onto the job....
First, tape up the sides of the front quarter panels with tape, so you don't scratch up the rest of the car accidentally.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...0623091942.jpg
Next, clean off the hood of any dirt and dust particles, a nice rinse off with water would be ok.
Now, using the 350 Grit Sandpaper, rub the sandpaper on the hood while constantly having the area wet with water. This is called "wet-sanding". Rub hard enough so the surface feels rough. This will remove the old clear-coat off the hood.
Rub the sand sideways to the car. (left to right)
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...0621091734.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...0621091735.jpg
be sure to rinse off the wet dust from the sandpaper every now and then....
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...0621091827.jpg
Continue to wet-sand until the whole hood feels rough and the old clear-coat is removed.
Should look alot like this picture.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...0621091815.jpg
Try to rub the whole hood evenly.
Now rinse off the hood with soap and water. Make sure the hood is clean.
At this point, you wanna take the hood off the car. Here's where the 12mm wrenches come in. There are two bolts on each side of the hood.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...0623092011.jpg
(Don't forget to disconnect the window-shield wiper fluid hose from the hood.)
Now, you apply the first and second clear-coat. Using one of the clear-coat cans, spray the paint up and down inline with the car (top to bottom).
After the 1st coat, wait ten (10) minutes, then apply the 2nd coat of paint. You should go through two cans of paint after the first coat. I bought an extra can just in case.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...0621091905.jpg
After the second coat, with one hour for the paint to dry, use a fan so the process speeds up a lil bit.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...0621091927.jpg
while the hood's off the car, cover it up if the weather calls for rain
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...0623092021.jpg
After the 2nd coat dries, put the hood back on the car and "wet-sand" the hood again, but with the 2000 Grit Sandpaper this time. This will get rid of all the smaller deposits and scratch out the imperfections that may happen when spraying the first coats.
Rub the sand inline with the car (straight up and down this time).
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...0623092002.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...623092004a.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...0623092005.jpg
Wash off the remaining dust and grit from the sandpaper with more soap and water.
Next, apply the third coat of clear-coat on the hood. As before, spray inline with the hood.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...0623092052.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...623092052a.jpg
Wait ten (10) minutes, then apply the fourth and final coat.
Now, wait for another hour or so.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...0623092322.jpg
Now, wet the car and clean off any more dust to prepare the hood for polishing and buffering.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...0623092323.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...623092323a.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...0623092326.jpg
Now, time for polishing and buffering!
With the buffer, put the liquid polishing compound onto the buffer and apply the buffer onto the car.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...0623092335.jpg
(The buffer i got shut off after a few seconds and we couldn't get it back on afterward, never trust Auto-zone for buffers. We did the rest the good ol' fashion way, a lil elbow grease.)
Rub the compound onto the entire hood, then rub off (with a lil more force) with the polishing cloth.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...0623092344.jpg
Do this until you feel the surface is a lil bit smoother.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...0624090007.jpg
End Result:
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...0624090008.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...0624090009.jpg
Nice shiny hood! :orangesmile:
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...624090009a.jpg
Shot how it looks during the day...
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...0624090900.jpg
Looks 1000 times better than before! :thumb:
Once again, big thanks to Jared for helping me with this project, was greatly needed and saved me well over $300! :thumb:
Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any damages or mistakes you do to your own car. You do these touch-ups and modifications at your own risk. Depending on the condition of the hood prior to this touch-up, results may vary.
