Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 3:49 pm
A few more things before I keep forgetting its something to look into before you buy either a CF or FG bonnet.
1. Ask the company what resin they use. The two resins are below and what happens if they are used:
Polyester Resin
You can tell if poly resin has been used mainly from the price (much cheaper, usually half the price of an equivalent product). Polyester resin can leave a blueish tint in some circumstances but apart from being cheap there are a few reasons to avoid a CF product in this resin. During the cure process it will shrink slightly and over time it will shrink more. This resin is also not very flexible and cracks easily. Signs to look for if you do have a CF or FG part in this resin are small spider cracks in the finish. Another issue with this resin is weight. Its weighs more than the epoxy resin. In smaller parts you can get away with using the poly resin but in larger parts where your paying good money it pays to look into what a company's methods are.
Epoxy Resin
CF parts should be in epoxy resin as it is much stronger and durable. During the cure process and over time the product will either not shrink or shrink slightly. Cost is much more expensive as the product is of higher quality. Epoxy resin is lighter than the cheaper poly resin but signs you should look out for are joins and bonding (with regards to CF layers). If it looks as if there has been some fraying it most likely comes down to the workers skimping on the cure times to get the product out faster or they havent put enough catalyst in when mixing the resin or too much.
2. Carbon Fiber
Ask a company how many layers of CF they use in their products and how they use it. CF should ideally be triple layered for exterior panels and double layered for internal parts. Engine parts should be triple layered with no exceptions. Check to see if companies put a black coat down to give the appearance of more layers. Its dodgy but there are companies out there that do this and most wont know until someone points it out to them. Also ask is their CF product full CF or just skinned in CF. If they are offering their products for a high amount of money and they are just skinning a composite then take your business elsewhere. Another thing to check is to see if they use Di-Noc as the final layer. Some companies are starting to do this process to give that perfect weave look; CF the chances of you getting a perfect weave are extremely rare. Plus if you have parts that are in Di-Noc when a company has sold it off as actual CF when you do buy proper CF parts you can spot the difference pretty easily.
With carbon fiber, you can easily be conned and ripped off in thinking you have brought a quality product.
1. Ask the company what resin they use. The two resins are below and what happens if they are used:
Polyester Resin
You can tell if poly resin has been used mainly from the price (much cheaper, usually half the price of an equivalent product). Polyester resin can leave a blueish tint in some circumstances but apart from being cheap there are a few reasons to avoid a CF product in this resin. During the cure process it will shrink slightly and over time it will shrink more. This resin is also not very flexible and cracks easily. Signs to look for if you do have a CF or FG part in this resin are small spider cracks in the finish. Another issue with this resin is weight. Its weighs more than the epoxy resin. In smaller parts you can get away with using the poly resin but in larger parts where your paying good money it pays to look into what a company's methods are.
Epoxy Resin
CF parts should be in epoxy resin as it is much stronger and durable. During the cure process and over time the product will either not shrink or shrink slightly. Cost is much more expensive as the product is of higher quality. Epoxy resin is lighter than the cheaper poly resin but signs you should look out for are joins and bonding (with regards to CF layers). If it looks as if there has been some fraying it most likely comes down to the workers skimping on the cure times to get the product out faster or they havent put enough catalyst in when mixing the resin or too much.
2. Carbon Fiber
Ask a company how many layers of CF they use in their products and how they use it. CF should ideally be triple layered for exterior panels and double layered for internal parts. Engine parts should be triple layered with no exceptions. Check to see if companies put a black coat down to give the appearance of more layers. Its dodgy but there are companies out there that do this and most wont know until someone points it out to them. Also ask is their CF product full CF or just skinned in CF. If they are offering their products for a high amount of money and they are just skinning a composite then take your business elsewhere. Another thing to check is to see if they use Di-Noc as the final layer. Some companies are starting to do this process to give that perfect weave look; CF the chances of you getting a perfect weave are extremely rare. Plus if you have parts that are in Di-Noc when a company has sold it off as actual CF when you do buy proper CF parts you can spot the difference pretty easily.
With carbon fiber, you can easily be conned and ripped off in thinking you have brought a quality product.