Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

BMW Carbon Fiber Roof with damaged gelcoat. Can it get worse?

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic32852.aspx

By jvictormp - 5/15/2019 9:24:01 PM

Hi there.

I kindly ask you to take a look at this carbon fiber roof of my car, because I don't have enough knowledge about CF and need some advice to make a decision. The gelcoat is damaged, and now the CF is exposed.



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/VnbM6h_sRv2O_bYmapGShuZ-p5kp1wi-bwTGoyWNoLPgeY_8nFVaRdClLiwsMUeYNhPerIteuwkVzV-TnhJzswm4AVdNFtMwkB1HCNOWb8p44IH_dQECDaHk1_Jo1yRkHkhwuXK7EZ00Tzv2sx3PygpucPVXbM_XLhnxEYFUGfLHjBPw2xiUTbHOdFkyFhAbIEVfdZ3A4cf2Lz_aaBvNzOAafOisDn9t_xW_R0aUKLRNRrwO4QZOyo7gnIcDQza2UTNDe16WYWZmIUNMRpQbeoLXNVz15V0ZjiSE8o-fX6yK7Ul0HY6PBm09eM4Rc0EodB4adMHJ7M6IjbUNZCDE1mloTJhZXwgBMe5kCTclEv87rI8APUl4n6IAbnFxNRLp9GG6c_2ilSvMK-TyGmIWzUPGp8zOKylwtAHuTImKBslWHLBflGdf0v286s0qOCZmnRVQAcgnhJM-hz6qYL_oZzyIPC9AyKo5DtrX-J4lz2jShGC9FldqTpxmcz0k81jgKazr6BpOUqfgAxJM7YN1yy7sRz2szzd_XhKFYqO_CFaVesAG91MSi3All7792enuUoijw_NNWoYMoojyYGlcw3zh7bBitlW95Lxu7npZjh_vx9SHSJPg6iDyC6PomS-SqMAoo_f3AXFQ_Qa-EsgL9HWI0w=w1292-h970-no

I don't run this car too often, something like once a week. When I do, it is exposed to moisture of the day or night, sometimes the sun, sometimes water in a rain or a wash. When not, it is kept in the garage, without rain and sun, only moisture.

I was advised to peel off the gel coat and apply clear coat (with about 7 layers), but since that would a little expensive, I'd like to wait about 7 months to do that.

My question is: is there a hurry to do that, as the carbon fiber may get damaged by those agents (sun, water, moisture), which would make do it ASAP, or it is very resistant to them so that I can wait the 7 months?


Thanks!
By jvictormp - 5/19/2019 2:35:23 PM

 
Hanaldo - 5/16/2019 4:31:23 AM
Yeh as above, just do a local repair, there's no need to remove the surrounding gelcoat. Just mask off a square around the damaged section (so you don't sand the surrounding area), and then feather out the damaged gelcoat with 120 grit sandpaper until it is nearly flat with the exposed carbon. Apply some clear coat, let cure, flat down with 800 then 1200, then polish. Less than an hours work in it.

Hanaldo, thank you so much!

As you guys helped me, I'm going to wait until next year to do the job, because, even if it doesn't need much specialized work, something can go wrong, and I won't have the money to undo the mess.

Thanks alot!