carbon fiber wrap gone bad!

[joshuagranger]

So.....I goofed up and got the mixing ratio wrong for my resin and hardener, it's not curing and is just staying tacky. Does anybody know if this is reversable? I only put two thin coats down, so I was thinking I could continue with the CORRECT ratio and keep my fingers crossed that the new layers will cure and harden.....what are your thoughts? Please be gentle with the bashing, this was my first time using carbon fiber and I already feel like an idiot for messing it up I'm just looking for some advice on how to fix my mess up.

[Chimpo]

(1) What are you wrapping specifically?
(2) Rookie mistake I guess, but what would later layers stick to if the base layers were crap?
(3) No practice first?
(4) Google is always a good place to start looking for answers. Everything on the internet is true.
(5) Is it still tacky? Can you begin removing? I'd rather start getting it off than let it dry screwed up, but I'm no wrap expert.

[SubieNate]

If it's not fully cured, you may be able to dissolve it with acetone. What did you wrap, and define "tacky."

If you can't undo it, I would mix up something right and recoat. Any chance of cooking the part at say 150 degrees for a while? Again what you wrapped would matter here. But heat could help it get a bit more cured.

Boats use polyester resin and in some situations the laminating resin remains purposefully tacky so that you can do multiple layers without sanding. They put a finish coat over that and it works fine. You should be able to do the same with epoxy, the key though would be to get even coverage and not sand through into the tacky stuff when doing finish work.

I would probably try to redo it completely myself.

[joshuagranger]

Originally Posted by Chimpo

(1) What are you wrapping specifically?
(2) Rookie mistake I guess, but what would later layers stick to if the base layers were crap?
(3) No practice first?
(4) Google is always a good place to start looking for answers. Everything on the internet is true.
(5) Is it still tacky? Can you begin removing? I'd rather start getting it off than let it dry screwed up, but I'm no wrap expert.

1) dash pieces
2) true, it was just a suggestion
3) no sir, my mistake, lesson well learned
4) I've tried using google I haven't had much luck. I even called the company I purchased the kit from and they were no help.
5) Yes, it is still tacky but nothing comes off on your finger. I haven't tried that yet, I was going to leave that for a last resort. I'm no wrap expert either thats why I'm asking I was just hoping someone on here would be kind enough to help a fellow FRS owner out on a mistake made.

[joshuagranger]

Originally Posted by SubieNate

If it's not fully cured, you may be able to dissolve it with acetone. What did you wrap, and define "tacky."

If you can't undo it, I would mix up something right and recoat. Any chance of cooking the part at say 150 degrees for a while? Again what you wrapped would matter here. But heat could help it get a bit more cured.

Boats use polyester resin and in some situations the laminating resin remains purposefully tacky so that you can do multiple layers without sanding. They put a finish coat over that and it works fine. You should be able to do the same with epoxy, the key though would be to get even coverage and not sand through into the tacky stuff when doing finish work.

I would probably try to redo it completely myself.

I didn't think about the acetone, but that sounds like a very aggressive resolution but maybe one that is needed. I wrapped the cheesy carbon fiber dash pieces, silver plastic piece around the gear shifter, and the silver trim pieces on the inside door handles. "Tacky" is my finger will stick to it but nothing comes off on my finger. Moving forward with the correct ratio is what I'm really wanting to do but I fear of making it worse. In theory I would think that you could correct the ratio 2:1 epoxy hardener and thin epoxy resin contine to lay down 3 to 4 layers, let it cure then sand it back but not to far to where you start hitting the tacky layer, but that is just my theory. I think i'm going to keep pushing forward with the ratio corrected and it that doesn't work then I may try to rip the carbon fiber off (if thats possible) if not then it looks like I will be buying all new trim pieces and learn from my mistake.

[SubieNate]

Did you unwrap the fake carbon before doing the wrap? It's a vinyl from what I've heard. Could save your bacon if you wrapped right over it.

If nothing comes off on your finger putting another coat that cures properly should take care of it, but there will be no guarantee that it's going to come out crystal clear. Even if you sand down, if that junction between tacky/good resin has fingerprints and other imperfections in it they're still going to show.

Nathan

[joshuagranger]

Originally Posted by SubieNate

Did you unwrap the fake carbon before doing the wrap? It's a vinyl from what I've heard. Could save your bacon if you wrapped right over it.

If nothing comes off on your finger putting another coat that cures properly should take care of it, but there will be no guarantee that it's going to come out crystal clear. Even if you sand down, if that junction between tacky/good resin has fingerprints and other imperfections in it they're still going to show.

Nathan

Yes sir, I went right over the vinyl carbon fiber. I sure hope it saves my "bacon"! Thank you Nathan you've been a tremendous help, I appreciate your kindness and your help

[slicktop]

You know, sometimes people just need to be told they aren't good at something.

You're not good at this whole "custom modifying" thing. Maybe let someone else do it?

[lazyluka]

Originally Posted by slicktop

You're not good at this whole "custom modifying" thing. Maybe let someone else do it?

Why?

You will never learn anything if you always get someone else to do everything for you.

That someone else must have started somewhere as well.

I say good job for having the gut's to do this. Personally I would have done a few practice runs on other objects of less value, but still good on you for doing it!

Kind of jealous because I want to start playing with composites but never got around to it.

The one time I did try, I made a gauge cluster for my old car, I too got the mix wrong, and in direct sunlight the epoxy kind of went gooey, when it was cold it was fine :P

[Splat]

Originally Posted by slicktop

You know, sometimes people just need to be told they aren't good at something.

You're not good at this whole "custom modifying" thing. Maybe let someone else do it?

That doesn't really help the OP with his question, or his solution for now.
Are you just spamming for some reason?
You know, sometimes people just need to be told they aren't good at something.
You're not good at this whole "helping with problems" thing. Maybe let someone else do it?
Splat

[FRSTRM]

How long did you wait after it dried to a tack? How much did you screw up the ratio?

[TRD-X]

Your not funny don't quit your day job.

Really if you have nothing to contribute to this thread then don't click on the reply button.

Originally Posted by slicktop

You know, sometimes people just need to be told they aren't good at something.

You're not good at this whole "custom modifying" thing. Maybe let someone else do it?

@Splat..!!

Originally Posted by Splat

That doesn't really help the OP with his question, or his solution for now.
Are you just spamming for some reason?
You know, sometimes people just need to be told they aren't good at something.
You're not good at this whole "helping with problems" thing. Maybe let someone else do it?
Splat

[marky]

Originally Posted by slicktop

You're not good at this whole "custom modifying" thing. Maybe let someone else do it?

you won't learn anything if your not failing.

[TylerLieberman]

Originally Posted by marky

you won't learn anything if your not failing.

You're*

Now you'll learn grammar from that failure