Carbon Exhausts... Restoring the surface
Discussion
Excuse the biker chat, but I'm hoping you Guys may be able to help.
I've just got my hands on some old Termignoni exhausts I want to bring back from the dead but the carbon is a bit nailed.
Being exhausts they don't have a nice thick laquer I can sand down (I think) so I'm a bit stuck.
As you can see from where I peeled the stickers off, the carbon hasn't already been sanded as it looks mint underneath but it does have some little ridges running top to bottom already (see pic). I'm just not sure how I clean/ restore the rest of it. I'm fairly sure that many moons ago it was covered in Polish and just left.
Any advice? Would like to tackle myself if possible but can always take to a bodyshop.
Really appreciate any help!
I've just got my hands on some old Termignoni exhausts I want to bring back from the dead but the carbon is a bit nailed.
Being exhausts they don't have a nice thick laquer I can sand down (I think) so I'm a bit stuck.
As you can see from where I peeled the stickers off, the carbon hasn't already been sanded as it looks mint underneath but it does have some little ridges running top to bottom already (see pic). I'm just not sure how I clean/ restore the rest of it. I'm fairly sure that many moons ago it was covered in Polish and just left.
Any advice? Would like to tackle myself if possible but can always take to a bodyshop.
Really appreciate any help!
Hiya matey...it should be a pretty simple process to bring the surface back to a decent finish.
First thing to do is to get the carbon as clean as possible...quick wipe down with acetone rag etc should be fine.
Grab some 1000 wet/dry and soapy water....give the surface a go over. You won't be able to remove the ridges as it looks in the photos they seem to be moulded so if you do try to remove them you'll start distorting the weave.
Dry it all off then using some Farecla G6 or equivalent... with some water either by hand or better with a small compounder give the surface a polish.
Go over it a couple of times then Buff off using clean water to clean the compound from the surface then try a dry BUFF to bring the shine out.
You may have to keep an eye on the finish over time.
First thing to do is to get the carbon as clean as possible...quick wipe down with acetone rag etc should be fine.
Grab some 1000 wet/dry and soapy water....give the surface a go over. You won't be able to remove the ridges as it looks in the photos they seem to be moulded so if you do try to remove them you'll start distorting the weave.
Dry it all off then using some Farecla G6 or equivalent... with some water either by hand or better with a small compounder give the surface a polish.
Go over it a couple of times then Buff off using clean water to clean the compound from the surface then try a dry BUFF to bring the shine out.
You may have to keep an eye on the finish over time.
Well you could try a high temp lacquer if available...you are right in thinking of a coating because the UV in sunlight generally dulls bare carbon finish over time
If you want to try that then it would be a case of 1000 wet flat as before.lacquer.light 1000wet flat then a bit of G6 applied by hand....that should be ok to bring out the shine...
Personslly I would go for the method I outlined yesterday and see how the finish looks over time....you can always try a lacquered finish at a later date if you're not happy with it.
Oh yeah and with the initial 1000 wet flat...you don't need to go too mental with it...it's just to 'clean up' the surface to remove any crap that's found it's way onto the carbon.
Hope this helps matey....
If you want to try that then it would be a case of 1000 wet flat as before.lacquer.light 1000wet flat then a bit of G6 applied by hand....that should be ok to bring out the shine...
Personslly I would go for the method I outlined yesterday and see how the finish looks over time....you can always try a lacquered finish at a later date if you're not happy with it.
Oh yeah and with the initial 1000 wet flat...you don't need to go too mental with it...it's just to 'clean up' the surface to remove any crap that's found it's way onto the carbon.
Hope this helps matey....
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