Carbon Fiber Dipping. Anyone tried it?

[slitherv10]

I am looking at doing some carbon fiber accents to my center console/stereo area inside and splitter canards, cowel and my Wheels.

Anyone dipped their items before or know of any cons in relation to doing this ?

[The_Greg]

Carbon fiber dip, to me, looks very fake and I would stay away. At minimum, I would suggest wrapping it in 3M Di-noc. I have a roll of this stuff at home and like its texture and look, though I have never used it.

CF 'dip'


3M Di-noc


Real CF

[slitherv10]

Carbon fiber dip, to me, looks very fake and I would stay away. At minimum, I would suggest wrapping it in 3M Di-noc. I have a roll of this stuff at home and like its texture and look, though I have never used it.

CF 'dip'


3M Di-noc


Real CF

Wow....Ok then.

I would have thought that the dip would have been very close to real as it is dipped and not some film which everyone usually can tell when they touch it.

I am trying to accomplish the 3D affect with the glossy finish that real CF gives off and looking at some wraps, it did not give off that affect.

Oh well. I guess I will check out some shops and their work and go from there.

I am looking at doing the wheels as well and know that it is hell trying to wrap those so I thought dipping them would be easier and more life like.

maybe I m wrong.

[Fatboy 18]

Well first off I have my front window cowl Carbon dipped, finished off with Gloss clear coat. It looks the Nuts

I also have my dash Carbon Dipped finished in Satin Clear coat. There are lots and lots of different patterns so get some samples done first so you are happy with the finish.

Now as for Gregs comments, well it depends if you want the raw carbon texture feel or not? (bumpy to the finger tips), many carbon parts are deeply lacquered so feel smooth, but a lightly lacquered piece of carbon matt would give you the rough (bumpy) effect.

If you do get your dash or centre console dipped, the process involves sanding the texture off the dash to make it smooth, so there's no going back

Another thing to consider is the size of the dipping tank, (make sure its big enough to dip the whole part in one go, otherwise you find a join mark where half of the dash has been dipped then the other half is dipped, the join line was very hard to see on my friends car, but once you knew it was there it detracted from the look.

If you do remove the whole dash (as I did) make sure you mask up the windscreen pillars and front dash top, you can scratch the black windscreen pillar paint really easy Sadly I found that out!

Here's a couple of pictures, I can tell you the pics don't do it justice, they were taken on an Ipod touch without flash in my garage.









It has lifted the interior 1000% and the window cowl is awesome.

My friend had his interior finished in the Gloss lacquer, but it reflected a lot of sunlight, this is why I went with the satin finish.

Hope that helps
Mark.

[TowDawg]

There are a TON of different cf films out there. Some look like complete shit and some look pretty damn close to the real thing. Do some digging through the shop's past work and see if they've done any that look good to you. Not only are there a million patterns, you can change up the look depending on the glossiness of the clear used and also adding tint to the clear.

I don't have any parts done yet, but I've found the local guy I plan on using for some stuff very soon. I'm thinking possibly the wheels (Different guy who uses a pc base coat, then the dip, then clear PC, so it's more durable.), all emblems except the front snake head, and the cowl area. I'll post up some pics of whichever parts I do first.

[slitherv10]

Well first off I have my front window cowl Carbon dipped, finished off with Gloss clear coat. It looks the Nuts

I also have my dash Carbon Dipped finished in Satin Clear coat. There are lots and lots of different patterns so get some samples done first so you are happy with the finish.

Now as for Gregs comments, well it depends if you want the raw carbon texture feel or not? (bumpy to the finger tips), many carbon parts are deeply lacquered so feel smooth, but a lightly lacquered piece of carbon matt would give you the rough (bumpy) effect.

If you do get your dash or centre console dipped, the process involves sanding the texture off the dash to make it smooth, so there's no going back

Another thing to consider is the size of the dipping tank, (make sure its big enough to dip the whole part in one go, otherwise you find a join mark where half of the dash has been dipped then the other half is dipped, the join line was very hard to see on my friends car, but once you knew it was there it detracted from the look.

If you do remove the whole dash (as I did) make sure you mask up the windscreen pillars and front dash top, you can scratch the black windscreen pillar paint really easy Sadly I found that out!

Here's a couple of pictures, I can tell you the pics don't do it justice, they were taken on an Ipod touch without flash in my garage.









It has lifted the interior 1000% and the window cowl is awesome.

My friend had his interior finished in the Gloss lacquer, but it reflected a lot of sunlight, this is why I went with the satin finish.

Hope that helps
Mark.

That cowl finish looks like the real thing Mark. Wow !! very nice. that is exactly what I would mine to look like. I like the glossy finish as it looks very close to the real thing. the bumpy flat finish does not look as real in my opinion. I seen the CF finish on a buddies TA and want the exact same finish as that. They are bringing me a live sample tomorrow of some work for me to see. thanks for posting those pictures as they are something I can show them when I see them.

There are a TON of different cf films out there. Some look like complete shit and some look pretty damn close to the real thing. Do some digging through the shop's past work and see if they've done any that look good to you. Not only are there a million patterns, you can change up the look depending on the glossiness of the clear used and also adding tint to the clear.

I don't have any parts done yet, but I've found the local guy I plan on using for some stuff very soon. I'm thinking possibly the wheels (Different guy who uses a pc base coat, then the dip, then clear PC, so it's more durable.), all emblems except the front snake head, and the cowl area. I'll post up some pics of whichever parts I do first.

Please post pictures of your finish as well. I will be posting my stuff when it is done and detailing what model, style etc carbon finish I am doing so if anyone likes the look they will have the details and be able to purchase or show an installer what they want as well, as Mark has done above.

Thanks guys for your input, that realy helps.

[Junkman2008]

There are a TON of different cf films out there. Some look like complete shit and some look pretty damn close to the real thing.

And some are not pattered after the basic looking carbon fiber at all. I had mine dipped to look like oak.

[Fatboy 18]

And some are not pattered after the basic looking carbon fiber at all. I had mine dipped to look like oak.

That looks fantastic

[Fatboy 18]

Here's a link to a couple of companies in the UK, check out the Gallery for different styles

http://www.hydro-graffix.co.uk/car-h...bon-fibre.html

I used this lot I must have had at least 10 different samples sent to me before I decided to choose the pattern I liked
http://www.wickedcoatings.co.uk/

[slitherv10]

And some are not pattered after the basic looking carbon fiber at all. I had mine dipped to look like oak.

WOW !!...That looks fantastic ! Not sure if I would go the wood look but I have to say they did an excellent job.

Here's a link to a couple of companies in the UK, check out the Gallery for different styles

http://www.hydro-graffix.co.uk/car-h...bon-fibre.html

I used this lot I must have had at least 10 different samples sent to me before I decided to choose the pattern I liked
http://www.wickedcoatings.co.uk/

This is exactly what I am looking for here in Toronto Canada, but, I have not found anyone yet. Although I am on it and have a 3m installer looking into it for me this week as the car is getting a refresh as we speak. Just in time for prime time spring summer outings. Would like to do the wheels, cowl, front splitter, canards , rear 4 blade diffuser, and the console piece that the radio and shifter are surrounded by. I am going to stay away from doing the whole dash. I think its too much.Might consider doing the black polished piece where the outside door button is sitting on, just like the Gen 5 has.

[Uranium235]

Mark,
What year is your car? What kind of surface prep did you have to do prior to dipping? My dash is textured, and I imagine that it would have to be sanded smooth at a minimum to get a good result. LOVE the cowl...I think I will be stealing that idea.

Matt

[Fatboy 18]

Mark,
What year is your car? What kind of surface prep did you have to do prior to dipping? My dash is textured, and I imagine that it would have to be sanded smooth at a minimum to get a good result. LOVE the cowl...I think I will be stealing that idea.

Matt

My car is a 2000 Creampuff The textured dash and airbag cover had to ne sanded back and primed smooth prior to dipping, this was done by the company performing the dipping I'm very pleased with the result I also took off the door handle surrounds and had them dipped to match the whole dash so that it flowed.

[No hemi]

I dipped mine and looks really good, the color is almost the same color of my car , it spruced up the interior 100%!!