Many drivers love the look of carbon fibre panels and trims. Sadly, cars with carbon fibre additions can be pretty expensive so many drivers on a budget will have to skip out on the craze, or find a suitable substitute. That said, giving cars a carbon fibre makeover can be a relatively simple procedure. Refinishing prep technicians can perform a quick paint job that can help clients get the look of carbon fibre without having to pay the hefty price tag that comes with the real thing.
Here’s a closer look at how refinishing prep technicians can give parts a carbon fibre look.
Clean the Area You Will Be Working On
Whenever starting a job like this you’ll want to go ahead and clean off the area before you apply any kind of paint. You’ll want to make sure that there isn’t any debris or dirt caked on because it could affect the quality of the paint job and ruin the illusion of the carbon fibre look. There are a number of different cleaners and prep sprays that can get the area clean. Simply apply your cleaner of choice, and then just wipe the part down with a handy microfiber towel. Once the part is properly cleaned of dirt and dust, you’re ready to apply some paint.
Apply a Base Coat of Either Black or Silver
Now it’s time for the base coat, which can be either black or silver. The number of coats may vary—some experts prefer to put a lighter base coat, while others think that two to three coats is just right. Students undertaking refinishing prep training should use their own judgement when applying the base coat, determining how much is appropriate for the car part that they are working on. Once the base coat has dried completely, it’s on to step three.
Grads of Automotive School Cover the Part with Shelf Liner or Mesh
Some companies provide whole kits designed for giving car parts a carbon fibre appearance, but all you really need is shelf liner to create a carbon fibre look. Open weave cloths and wire meshes will sometimes do, but refinishing prep techs need to be careful not to scratch the part with the latter.
Some experts with auto refinishing prep technician training will simply place the shelf liner onto the surface of the part they are painting. However, if recent grads and students are having a bit of trouble, they can always try using masking tape to hold down the liner. In fact, using tape can help to keep the shelf liner nice and close to the part and prevent it from moving, which helps to avoid bleed.
Finish up by Coating the Car Part to Give it That Carbon Fibre Look
Once the liner is secured, auto refinishing prep technicians will have to apply the next coat of paint. If working from a silver base coat, refinishing prep technicians will want to apply a decent amount of black spray paint over the area. If working from a black base coat, a light coat of semi transparent silver will do. After the paint has been applied and has had the time to dry, simply peel off the liner and you’ll notice immediately how the part has that criss-cross weave unique to carbon fibre panels.
You can select a clear coat to add on top of the final design. That clear goal of paint is what is going to give the part a glossy shine and help protect the paint job underneath. Once the clear coat has been added, the part can be reattached to the car.
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