Taking the shine off carbon fibre

[tonk]

I have a very shiny ilmberger carbon fibre hugger from an old bike, which fits a new bike. So that's nice. 

However, the high gloss doesn't really suit the look I'm after so I was thinking of making it matter/matterer/unshiny/dull. 

How would a mungbean like me achieve that? I have zero experience painting or prepping but I'm guessing fine grade wet'n'wild is involved? My concern is that it will be patchy (based on my sanding woodwork or cleaning the casserole dish).

Thank you and night-night for now. 

[fastfreddybikes]

39 minutes ago, tonk said:

I have a very shiny ilmberger carbon fibre hugger from an old bike, which fits a new bike. So that's nice. 

However, the high gloss doesn't really suit the look I'm after so I was thinking of making it matter/matterer/unshiny/dull. 

How would a mungbean like me achieve that? I have zero experience painting or prepping but I'm guessing fine grade wet'n'wild is involved? My concern is that it will be patchy (based on my sanding woodwork or cleaning the casserole dish).

Thank you and night-night for now. 

As a complete nobber with no experience whatsoever I’d suggest painting it the desired shade. Rubbing it Mat sounds like a terrible idea. Jolly giant to the rubbing Matt phone (again...)

[jollygiant]

Never wanted to or taken the shine of carbon.
Fine wet and dry will sort it, start with 2000 or even 2500 and lots and lots of elbow grease. Once you start you will have to carry on until its flat as the lacquer will be lots of very fine bumps/ ripples and you'll need to flatten it all down.
 

[tonk]

2 hours ago, fastfreddybikes said:

As a complete nobber with no experience whatsoever I’d suggest painting it the desired shade. Rubbing it Mat sounds like a terrible idea. Jolly giant to the rubbing Matt phone (again...)

But I've seen lots of carbon fibre that isn't shiny? Is that done with a matt or satin resin? 

I've asked about vinyl wrapping but it has too many tight curves. Thought about spraying it matt or satin black but then I thought that if I'm keying the surface anyway, leave it matt carbon. Just needs to be more inconspicuous 🤔

[tonk]

1 hour ago, jollygiant said:

Never wanted to or taken the shine of carbon.
Fine wet and dry will sort it, start with 2000 or even 2500 and lots and lots of elbow grease. Once you start you will have to carry on until its flat as the lacquer will be lots of very fine bumps/ ripples and you'll need to flatten it all down.
 

Seem to have plenty of time at the moment, don't know why... 

I don't mind the work, I'm just wanting to avoid it being patchy. 

Thanks for the technical advice 👍

[Richy]

A very fine scotch brite pad, gray I think they are.

[TLRS]

Blasting it with something very fine?

Blasted some painted (car) calipers and got a pretty neat matt effect.

Maybe tape an area so you don’t have to do the whole thing at once.

[involute]

Vaopur blasting will sort this out, I just turn the presure down a bit

Edited March 26, 2020 by involute

[Superdunc]

Or blast with walnut shells.

[fastfreddybikes]

13 minutes ago, Superdunc said:

Or blast with walnut shells.

Ooh can I have the nuts?

[Superdunc]

7 minutes ago, fastfreddybikes said:

Ooh can I have the nuts?

Yes. Yes you can.

[tonk]

Not sure about vapour blasting but I've got a hairdryer and some chocolate brazils. Would that work? 

[Thunderbolt]

4 hours ago, tonk said:

Not sure about vapour blasting but I've got a hairdryer and some chocolate brazils. Would that work? 

Yes

[tootall]

If you can wait till next week I'll do a test on a shiny bit of carbon with my vapour blaster and ping you some pictures. If happy with the results you can send it to me to blast. 

[Evilchicken0]

Send it to a sprayer and get a coat of satin lacquer on it. If you rub it down you can expose the carbon and get pinholes in the lacquer  

[tonk]

2 hours ago, tootall said:

If you can wait till next week I'll do a test on a shiny bit of carbon with my vapour blaster and ping you some pictures. If happy with the results you can send it to me to blast. 

You're tookindtootall, but there's really no need. 

I've had the bike out in the sunshine and tried it all back on quickly and it doesn't look that bad at all, better than it did in the gloomy shed. And the high level exhaust completely obscures it on one side. 

I didn't realise it would be so much faff, maybe something I'll leave for next winter. 

[fastfreddybikes]

The spirit of pb it’ll do since 1984 love it. Now about those chocolate Brazil’s...

[tonk]

The chocolate brazils were one of those happy accidents that happen several months after Christmas. 

We hid some stuff away in a little-used cupboard to prevent premature mastication. There were M&S chocolate cherries too *drool*

[marvin]

On 26 March 2020 at 8:55 PM, tonk said:

You're tookindtootall, but there's really no need. 

I've had the bike out in the sunshine and tried it all back on quickly and it doesn't look that bad at all, better than it did in the gloomy shed. And the high level exhaust completely obscures it on one side. 

I didn't realise it would be so much faff, maybe something I'll leave for next winter. 

What's the current bike it's gone on?

[outkast]

The price always takes the shine off for me.