Recommendation: Small chips in carbon fiber clear coat - what to do?
05-06-10, 10:40 AM
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Recommendation: Small chips in carbon fiber clear coat - what to do?
Is there any recommended way to deal with small chips in the clear coat of a carbon fiber bike? I recently purchased a used road bike with 5 or 6 small chips and was wondering if there was a way to touch them up with clear epoxy and sand smooth? I imagine i can get a frame builder who works with carbon to do this (cost is my only concern). Has anyone attempted this on their own. Or i should just leave them?
fyi, none of these chips are serious... the structural integrity of the frame is not in question. It is just an aesthetic thing...
fyi, none of these chips are serious... the structural integrity of the frame is not in question. It is just an aesthetic thing...
05-06-10, 10:43 AM
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My wife put some chips in her CF bike and I just used clear nail polish on them. I wasn't trying to match anything, just seal out moisture.
Dean
Dean
05-06-10, 11:10 AM
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Anyone tried to seal with epoxy and sand it smooth? I might attempt this when i have time. If i do, i'll definitely post pictures (if it turns out, ha!).
05-06-10, 11:18 AM
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It looks okay... I could have been more careful when I applied it, I just sort of slathered it on... 
A couple years ago I was involved in a crash at a race and ended up with a chip taken out of my Tarmac, my LBS had some red nail polish and he put that on it (after inspecting everything). It looks pretty good. You can still see it because it doesn't fill the chip. I race that bike though, so as long as it's structurally sound, I'm good. I'd say the epoxy/sand is the way to go of you want it to be level and smooth with the rest of the paint. I'm not sure if you did any searches, but I seem to recall posts about repairing carbon and painting.
Dean
A couple years ago I was involved in a crash at a race and ended up with a chip taken out of my Tarmac, my LBS had some red nail polish and he put that on it (after inspecting everything). It looks pretty good. You can still see it because it doesn't fill the chip. I race that bike though, so as long as it's structurally sound, I'm good. I'd say the epoxy/sand is the way to go of you want it to be level and smooth with the rest of the paint. I'm not sure if you did any searches, but I seem to recall posts about repairing carbon and painting.Dean
05-06-10, 11:49 AM
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"When you are chewing the bars at the business end of a 90 mile road race you really dont care what gear you have hanging from your bike so long as it works."
ΛΧΑ ΔΞ179 - 15% off your first Hammer Nutrition order!
"When you are chewing the bars at the business end of a 90 mile road race you really dont care what gear you have hanging from your bike so long as it works."
ΛΧΑ ΔΞ179 - 15% off your first Hammer Nutrition order!
05-06-10, 12:34 PM
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RIP Billy Mays
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"When you are chewing the bars at the business end of a 90 mile road race you really dont care what gear you have hanging from your bike so long as it works."
ΛΧΑ ΔΞ179 - 15% off your first Hammer Nutrition order!
"When you are chewing the bars at the business end of a 90 mile road race you really dont care what gear you have hanging from your bike so long as it works."
ΛΧΑ ΔΞ179 - 15% off your first Hammer Nutrition order!
