Finishing carbon fiber

[andrewfinnie13]

Hello folks!

I've been dabbling with friction folders lately and decided to try dressing my latest with carbon fiber and was wondering how to finish it up (sandpaper grit and such) to bring out the chatoyance of the carbon fiber in a pleasing manner. It's somewhat of a Tatical friction folder so bear that in mind. It's been a little bit of time since I've asked any questions so I will say in advance thanks for the input.

The first pic is the style of friction folder and the next is the scale in question.

 

[Arklan]

i did a few months of classes on fiberglass and carbon fiber a couple years ago. just sand as high as you can and clear coat. even a rattle can of varnish from walmart will be fine, just make sure it's UV protecting. some epoxies/resins used with carbon fiber can break down over time with UV exposure.

 

[JTknives]

All I can add is I HATE working with carbon fiber. Don't breath it in, don't get the dust on you, it's just nasty stuff to work with. In the past when I used it I would sand and then bead blast it which would create a neat texture. Or sand and coat it with super glue and sand and glue and sand. Then after that buff it and it will look like glass.

 

[jdm61]

Almost all "structural" epoxy used for laminating is susceptible to UV from what I have been told. That is why boats that used that use epoxy in their construction ate always either painted with very pricey polyurethane enamel paint or gel coated. You have UV resistant epoxy blends, but they are typically coatings that you would used as a "finish" like on a fancy concrete floor and they are supposedly very expensive.

i did a few months of classes on fiberglass and carbon fiber a couple years ago. just sand as high as you can and clear coat. even a rattle can of varnish from walmart will be fine, just make sure it's UV protecting. some epoxies/resins used with carbon fiber can break down over time with UV exposure.

 

[andrewfinnie13]

i did a few months of classes on fiberglass and carbon fiber a couple years ago. just sand as high as you can and clear coat. even a rattle can of varnish from walmart will be fine, just make sure it's UV protecting. some epoxies/resins used with carbon fiber can break down over time with UV exposure.

All I can add is I HATE working with carbon fiber. Don't breath it in, don't get the dust on you, it's just nasty stuff to work with. In the past when I used it I would sand and then bead blast it which would create a neat texture. Or sand and coat it with super glue and sand and glue and sand. Then after that buff it and it will look like glass.

I did use a respirator but not gloves and my hands itch! Crappin stuff!

Almost all "structural" epoxy used for laminating is susceptible to UV from what I have been told. That is why boats that used that use epoxy in their construction ate always either painted with very pricey polyurethane enamel paint or gel coated. You have UV resistant epoxy blends, but they are typically coatings that you would used as a "finish" like on a fancy concrete floor and they are supposedly very expensive.

Thanks guys!

You have answered my questions. I appreciate it!

 

[kuraki]

It takes varnish well too. I used spar varnish on a carbon fiber canoe paddle I built years ago and that held up really well.