Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Carbon Fibre Wrap / Dip Coat

  1. #1
    ***Euro-Nova Supporter***
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    London
    Posts
    2,138
    Blog Entries
    1

    Carbon Fibre Wrap / Dip Coat

    Quote Originally Posted by Peter View Post
    Did mine it black carbon fiber wrap, looks good. Well, I think so.
    Attachment 4149

    Nice. Is that the same type of Wrap that Phill used on his car?
    i.e. warm up with a heat gun and stretch over the panel.
    I have seen carbon fibre 'look' parts at shows, is that how they are done?

    Semi-related question, has anyone used dip-coating on parts or panels? Pros-Cons?

  2. #2
    Senior Member Phill's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Livingston (Scotland)
    Posts
    2,202
    Quote Originally Posted by steve View Post
    Nice. Is that the same type of Wrap that Phill used on his car?
    i.e. warm up with a heat gun and stretch over the panel.
    I have seen carbon fibre 'look' parts at shows, is that how they are done?

    Semi-related question, has anyone used dip-coating on parts or panels? Pros-Cons?
    The Carbon fibre films are not true wrapping films, they have a tendency to shrink which means they are more likely to pull out of recesses than a true wrapping film would, but they do have a purpose and that is to produce a carbon fibre look to any surface they are applied onto. Providing the surface is reasonably flat you shouldn't have a problem.

    Dip coating is much cheaper and easier to apply than a wrap but does not have anything like the same durability. A wrap will last for many years whereas anything that is dip coated will invariably peel off in no time at all. You can put a wrapped car though a car wash - but try it with a dip coated car and it's likely to come out the other end a different colour. Wrapping is fairly skilled work particularly when you are dealing with compound curves. Personally I have never actually tried dip coating myself but I have have a lot of negative criticism of the procedure. However, I have wrapped quite a few vehicles in my time both commercially and for myself and it's a great way to get a quick colour change on a vehicle without spending a fortune or destroying the cars originality since the wrap can be removed to revert back to the original colour.
    "The most beautiful kit car in the world - Motor"

    http://stores.lulu.com/rightsigns


  3. #3
    ***Euro-Nova Supporter***
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    London
    Posts
    2,138
    Blog Entries
    1
    Thanks Phill, I saw the dip coating on one of the car TV shows... where the wheels of the car were done, but it was not DIY, a specialist company did it.
    Interesting to hear of the relative longevity of the two processes, given what you've said I would certainly consider Carbon wrap for simple shapes, maybe my rear spoiler. I like the depth of the colour.

    From the work on your car you have opened our eyes to the advantages of wrapping, I would think that the Nova shape is challenging to wrap, but I reckon you are onto something and wrapping is a great option for our cars.

  4. #4
    ***Euro-Nova Supporter*** Mikemrb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2020
    Location
    Upper Hartfield, E Sussex
    Posts
    651
    Quote Originally Posted by Phill View Post
    The Carbon fibre films are not true wrapping films, they have a tendency to shrink which means they are more likely to pull out of recesses than a true wrapping film would, but they do have a purpose and that is to produce a carbon fibre look to any surface they are applied onto. Providing the surface is reasonably flat you shouldn't have a problem.

    Dip coating is much cheaper and easier to apply than a wrap but does not have anything like the same durability. A wrap will last for many years whereas anything that is dip coated will invariably peel off in no time at all. You can put a wrapped car though a car wash - but try it with a dip coated car and it's likely to come out the other end a different colour. Wrapping is fairly skilled work particularly when you are dealing with compound curves. Personally I have never actually tried dip coating myself but I have have a lot of negative criticism of the procedure. However, I have wrapped quite a few vehicles in my time both commercially and for myself and it's a great way to get a quick colour change on a vehicle without spending a fortune or destroying the cars originality since the wrap can be removed to revert back to the original colour.
    To get the durability with dip coat it needs to be finished with several coats 2k lacquer which should make it last longer than a wrap which has a life of 3 to 5 years

  5. #5
    Senior Member Phill's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Livingston (Scotland)
    Posts
    2,202
    Quote Originally Posted by Mikemrb View Post
    To get the durability with dip coat it needs to be finished with several coats 2k lacquer which should make it last longer than a wrap which has a life of 3 to 5 years
    You could argue that you could do the same with a wrap? But it would be a bit pointless given that a good cast wrapping vinyl has more like a 10 year lifespan. Cheaper monomeric vinyls are more like 3-5 years and are much cheaper but are so much more difficult to apply that it becomes a false economy as the application takes much longer and the vinyl is liable to shrink back and fail.
    "The most beautiful kit car in the world - Motor"

    http://stores.lulu.com/rightsigns


  6. #6
    Senior Member Phill's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Livingston (Scotland)
    Posts
    2,202
    A quick pictorial on wrapping a Nova -

    20160518_192323.jpg

    IMG_5815.jpg

    Deep recesses mean the vinyl is deeply stretched in some places. These areas need to be heated to ensure the vinyl stays in place and doesn't shrink back

    IMG_5874.jpg

    IMG_5876.jpg

    The headlamp recess was very challenging and the vinyl was stretched to the limit here
    IMG_5802.jpg

    Wrapping vinyls come in widths up to 1500mm wide so not quite wide enough to wrap the entire body or even the roof section in one piece. Hence a series of joins were needed and these were hidden by the centre stripe which was another good reason for choosing the Gulf colour scheme.
    "The most beautiful kit car in the world - Motor"

    http://stores.lulu.com/rightsigns


  7. #7
    Senior Member Phill's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Livingston (Scotland)
    Posts
    2,202
    "The most beautiful kit car in the world - Motor"

    http://stores.lulu.com/rightsigns


  8. #8
    ***Euro-Nova Supporter*** Mikemrb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2020
    Location
    Upper Hartfield, E Sussex
    Posts
    651
    Quote Originally Posted by Phill View Post
    You could argue that you could do the same with a wrap? But it would be a bit pointless given that a good cast wrapping vinyl has more like a 10 year lifespan. Cheaper monomeric vinyls are more like 3-5 years and are much cheaper but are so much more difficult to apply that it becomes a false economy as the application takes much longer and the vinyl is liable to shrink back and fail.

    I wouldn't like to lacquer a wrap it moves to much and you'd be lucky to get 10 years with vinyl unless you kept it in dark out of the sunlight, I agree the nova is an awkward shape to wrap, did think about it on mine but didn't want to join it, works well with your scheme though

  9. #9
    ***Euro-Nova Supporter*** Peter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Estepona, Spain
    Posts
    4,483
    The little I have seen of wrapping here is the sun ruins it very quickly, at 40+ degree not surprising it get soft and shrinks away from recesses and pulls away from edges. I tried carbon wrap on Corsa mirrors but just shrunk and shrivelled. I was concerning it on the SS but unless they come up with something heat resistant I don't think I'll bother.
    The opinions expressed in my posts may not be made in a sound mind and should be taken in the spirit intended, Jack Daniels is fine. Autism isn't something you get or can be 'cured of', it is the way we are wired, differently.

    http://ukhozi.page.tl

  10. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Nr New Quay, Ceredigion
    Posts
    1,948
    Just seen this post.
    I hydro dipped parts on my car.
    The rear spoiler, front air intake grilles, steering column cover and a bonnet lock cover.
    Found a local company. Did all of my parts in carbon fibre, looked great and quite cheap to get done.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •