Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

Skinning Question

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic9808.aspx

By wozza - 2/21/2014 9:00:49 AM

I don't normally take on skinning work but this was a request from a friend. He has a Fiesta ST and want's various parts skinning in CF the first being the wing mirror covers. These are not the easiest of shapes with some quite tight compound curves. I decide to make the skins removable so I covered the originals with cling film and wet laid 3 layers of 200grm and then vac bagged it. Then came the bit I hate about skinning 4 coats of coating resin with much flatting between coats. Eventually I had two skins with an acceptable surface finish. The plan is now to pull moulds from these skins and reproduce two layer skins using infusion or possible pre-preg. In total there is over 10 hours work in the two skins. In order to cover my overheads and take a wage my hourly rate is £25/hour so £250 plus materials. I am sure that someone doing skinning regularly could shave some time of that but even so I can't see people wanting to pay £250 plus for a couple of wing mirror skins. I see companies offering skinning but I can't see how they make it pay.
Is anyone on here managing to run a business doing skinning, and if so how?

Warren
By wozza - 2/21/2014 8:15:22 PM

ajb100 (21/02/2014)
Similar to you, the labour costs always make people run a mile when quoting a skinning job for me.

I don't do much skinning, but I know of someone who makes a living out of just skinning, and has done some impressive jobs, including a piece for red bull, but I don't know how much he charges.

I think it's more a case building the right reputation with the right crowd and they will come. These show cars have some serious money thrown at them and as with Motorsport, if you charge more and have the rep, they think they are getting something better.


I will do this job as its for a mate but I will be sticking with infusion once its done Smile If anyone is looking for skinning work I would be happy to pass work on as I get people regularly asking.