variety

Since I over-tightened the stem to my Felt F75's fork... well, I damaged it.
Therefore I ordered a new fork ($200 lost), and the LBS would give me a new one that I suspect is faulty.
I'm not 100% convinced that the weave is damaged / badly constructed, though.
The lacquer seems fine all over.

Please see the pics below and let me know what you think: structural OR cosmetic issue ?

https://ibin.co/21TA2GAHoWqZ
https://ibin.co/21TP3bdxOmlJ
https://ibin.co/21TPIanvuCD0
https://ibin.co/21TPUlkPgwek
https://ibin.co/21TPfhGEGvMj
https://ibin.co/21TPqw8D9Xd7
https://ibin.co/21TQ5bw1MI7h

PS: I expected a matte fork and they give me a shiny one. Would probably look like ****, but at least I can ride this bike.

AlmostTrick

Likely as safe as any carbon fork.

Extra fine (000) steel wool will give the matte finish you desire.

IcySmooth52

That's just fine. The "weave" you see on the outside is just an aesthetic, not the actual carbon structure.

variety

I thought the weave is the carbon fiber itself...

https://harrisonsteele.com/wp-content...on-fiber-8.jpg

IcySmooth52

It is carbon fiber, but a waste of it. Not the high tenacity stuff that's actually holding you. Imagine sitting on top of a weave basket?

This is the carbon that holds you, and many manufacturers are just putting a clear coat over this (and the resin holding it) now instead of the silly weave that's on top of car hoods. Look at the more recent Fuji Altamiras and Specialized Tarmacs.

If you were to break that fork, this is the texture you'd see on the inside.

StanSeven

Excellent and informative post IcySmooth!

Stucky

Not likely to pose any danger, but it's definitely a defect/oversight in quality control. If you paid full price for it, I'd want either a good discount, or to exchange it for undamaged one. If nothing else, it may affect the value of the bike if you ever wanted to sell the bike. If you pay for first-quality stuff, you should get first-quality stuff.

gaucho777 

What's the worst that could happen?

I don't know enough about carbon forks to pass any judgements re safety, but that would bother me enough to request another fork, especially if I'm paying for it.

Deontologist

This. The weave you see is mostly non-structural. Carbon fiber loses some of its strength in certain axes when it's all kinked like it is in a weave - going over and under and over and under other strands of carbon fiber.

When I broke my fork, I could see underneath the fancy weave on top. Underneath was just unidirectional layers of carbon fiber oriented at various angles. A bit boring to look at. Hence the rather cool looking weave on top.

IcySmooth52

I've studied composites, and if you look hard enough on any woven thread pattern, you'll find a little spot like that. Not only because of construction (it's under the 'frame fibers' when they're setting it so impossible to check & change without compromising the whole thing), but because the fabric has to overlap at parts because it's not of even shapes at all!

Imagine trying to cover every part of your bike with a patterned fabric without needing a fold or crease somewhere. Every newest mold of Felt Carbon F frames has this where the top tube meets the seat tube if a decal doesn't cover it.