Carbon glovebox skin
Discussion
Thought I'd post this before we bugger off to Euro Disney...
I decided to have a play with a carbon skinning kit on a spare late spec glovebox lid I have, the plan being to make 2 (this is the prototype) and use one on the car before moving on to other parts (thanks Geoff!)
For a first run it's turned out quite well, I've learned a few things for the next one. All in all a time consuming business especially as I didn't want to 'skin' the lid (some parts would be unavoidable), I wanted to mould from the lid as the lid is designed to be a few mm out all round to account for the leather.
I started with wrapping the lid in cling film to give an easy base for removal
Then applying the black epoxy to give an opaque base for the carbon
Next up was the carbon cloth, taped on to the tacky epoxy
Then the clear resin is painted on in layers
After much sanding from 240 to 1200, the lid is smooth and ready to be pulled
The lid is cut from the mould
And on its back I added 4 layers of glass cloth to add rigidity and a layer of black epoxy for neatness
5 coats of clear lacquer later and here it is...a few finishing touches but not bad in all...
Will do the second one next week then tackle the rear shelves, then it's door handles and possibly the binnacle if I don't run out of talent.
I decided to have a play with a carbon skinning kit on a spare late spec glovebox lid I have, the plan being to make 2 (this is the prototype) and use one on the car before moving on to other parts (thanks Geoff!)
For a first run it's turned out quite well, I've learned a few things for the next one. All in all a time consuming business especially as I didn't want to 'skin' the lid (some parts would be unavoidable), I wanted to mould from the lid as the lid is designed to be a few mm out all round to account for the leather.
I started with wrapping the lid in cling film to give an easy base for removal
Then applying the black epoxy to give an opaque base for the carbon
Next up was the carbon cloth, taped on to the tacky epoxy
Then the clear resin is painted on in layers
After much sanding from 240 to 1200, the lid is smooth and ready to be pulled
The lid is cut from the mould
And on its back I added 4 layers of glass cloth to add rigidity and a layer of black epoxy for neatness
5 coats of clear lacquer later and here it is...a few finishing touches but not bad in all...
Will do the second one next week then tackle the rear shelves, then it's door handles and possibly the binnacle if I don't run out of talent.
Edited by nightSpirit on Sunday 10th April 00:34
t.
I went for the bog standard kit, didn't notice the resin preg cloth. When I need more I will buy that instead as it'll be easier to cut and when doing tricky areas (the recess on the glovebox) the cloth won't fray when you make bend snips.
I'm going to buy the kevlar carbon sheeting for the rear shelf pieces and try that out as my door cards are carbon/kevlar and would look odd on their own.
If you're making something that needs to fit tightly already I wouldn't skin it...take a mould from the stock item and then layer it up that way. I'd do that if I were making more than a few pieces.
I'm going to buy the kevlar carbon sheeting for the rear shelf pieces and try that out as my door cards are carbon/kevlar and would look odd on their own.
If you're making something that needs to fit tightly already I wouldn't skin it...take a mould from the stock item and then layer it up that way. I'd do that if I were making more than a few pieces.
A little update!
I've now made 4 of these...the first one I sold on Ebay, the second one (actually 'skinning' my original lid) failed miserably on the back side where it joined the TVR lid so it got binned (along with my lid), the 3rd one came out well and I'll sell that or keep it to mess with, but the 4th one finally so far, using the RG glovebox lids in FRP looks like a winner.
I removed the rear parcel shelf bits and skinned one in kevlar (pics if anyone cares) but I'm not happy with it so might try and make something more custom in frp first.
Has anyone else who enquired about the skinning kits had any more success?
I've now made 4 of these...the first one I sold on Ebay, the second one (actually 'skinning' my original lid) failed miserably on the back side where it joined the TVR lid so it got binned (along with my lid), the 3rd one came out well and I'll sell that or keep it to mess with, but the 4th one finally so far, using the RG glovebox lids in FRP looks like a winner.
I removed the rear parcel shelf bits and skinned one in kevlar (pics if anyone cares) but I'm not happy with it so might try and make something more custom in frp first.
Has anyone else who enquired about the skinning kits had any more success?
Will get some pics of the 3rd and 4th lid...also the rear shelf bits (just laid the fabric as the weave went a little out when it stuck so I'm not happy with it).
No sign of baby v2.0 yet Geoff, I'm trying to cram in all the tinkering I can, had the wife digging carbon shards out of my finger earlier on
Dash pod, I have Geoff's, all stripped down. The way I see it, you can't skin it in one cut, you'd have to skin the top of the pod (as per original) and following the leather cut/stitches skin the bottom seperately as the bend is odd. I was thinking you could do the pod top in carbon and the underside in kevlar/carbon mix? hope you get it nailed Basil!
No sign of baby v2.0 yet Geoff, I'm trying to cram in all the tinkering I can, had the wife digging carbon shards out of my finger earlier on
Dash pod, I have Geoff's, all stripped down. The way I see it, you can't skin it in one cut, you'd have to skin the top of the pod (as per original) and following the leather cut/stitches skin the bottom seperately as the bend is odd. I was thinking you could do the pod top in carbon and the underside in kevlar/carbon mix? hope you get it nailed Basil!
Piccys!
version 4.0 skinned on a Racing Green FRP lid (best option imo).
shot of the back with the rough carbon and tape showing...this should get cleaned up and a coat of black gelcoat added.
Shot of v3.0 that was moulded from an early lid (Geoff's) I carved out the later spec recess for easy opening. This version was a mould so removed from the lid itself when set.
I added 4 layers of FRP again and black gelcoat to finish off the back.
This is the first attempt with the kevlar/carbon cloth on the parcel shelf...not happy with it as the weave is off in places due to sticking too early. Going to make an FRP mould of one and then skin over that more simply.
version 4.0 skinned on a Racing Green FRP lid (best option imo).
shot of the back with the rough carbon and tape showing...this should get cleaned up and a coat of black gelcoat added.
Shot of v3.0 that was moulded from an early lid (Geoff's) I carved out the later spec recess for easy opening. This version was a mould so removed from the lid itself when set.
I added 4 layers of FRP again and black gelcoat to finish off the back.
This is the first attempt with the kevlar/carbon cloth on the parcel shelf...not happy with it as the weave is off in places due to sticking too early. Going to make an FRP mould of one and then skin over that more simply.
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