A skinning problem

Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

Back

A skinning problem

Author	Message
Treasure	Treasure posted 8 Years Ago HOT Topic Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 1, Visits: 11	Hi I recently bought the skinning kit in an attempt to skin a front splitter that had some minor damage on it on my Lotus Exige. I treated the whole attempt as a project and anticipated only middling results as it was my first attempt and a fairly complicated piece All went as well as could be expected with some blemishes etc but nothing too bad. That was until I put on the final clear layer. Once it was cured it looked pretty good with a deep shine to it albeit in need of some smoothing. I worked through the 400 to 800 grit and finished with the polish. It immediately took on a matt 'flat' looking lustre and frankly looked like a wrap rather than a skin. Any ideas where I went wrong as all was good up to that point? I intend to wet sand at 400 and apply another final clear layer and then wet sand and polish again but thought I would ask if anyone had any ideas before doing that. Thanks Tags Skinning
	Reply Like 5
Warren (Staff)	Warren (Staff) posted 8 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Administrators Posts: 2.5K, Visits: 8.5K	Hi Treasure, 800 grit is far too coarse to get a good gloss finish from. You need to as a very minimum bring the lacquer up to a 1200 grit wet or even better 1500 grit wet finish before you can use a polishing compound. The polishing compounds only have a very fine cutting ability so with 800 grit it simply cannot cut out the coarse scratches hence it still looks matt. With 1500 grit, the scratches are minute and within the capability of the polish to remove to bring it to a gloss. Assuming you haven't gone right through the lacquer, you should be able to start again at 800 grit then work back to 1500 grit and polish to a high gloss. Warren Penalver Easy Composites / Carbon Mods - Technical Support Assistant Tags coarse fine polish wet sand
	Reply Like 5