Sanding carbon?

[deanh]

I want to remove the red bmc design from my easton forks. Can you guys recommend a step by step guide?

As a noob, can I please recommend you use Search or look in the Road Index (located at the top of the Road page)

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=83500&hilit=sharp+blade

[Martin.F]

Start with a lower grit wet-sanding paper. I started with 400grit. Then work your way up towards around 1200grit for polish. When you see the dust is grey instead of clear you've hit carbon, so stop sanding at that point

[deanh]

Thanks for the tips. I may give it a shot next week if the weather turns pants

[Zigmeister]

As above pretty much. I sanded graphics off on a set of wheels under clear coat. I started with a heavier grit, emory cloth. Then once I got down to the stickers and area, went with finer grit.

If you start to get grey/dark powder, you are getting into the carbon fiber/resin...try to avoid that, and don't breath it.

Otherwise, just sand the clear coat off and hope that the decals aren't into the carbon/resin layer at all.

There was no choice on my wheels to hit some carbon dust since the decals had melted somewhat into the carbon/resin layer. I was real careful and didn't go deep, just enough to get the decals off.

Then, use regular spray clear coat (yes, like from the big box home store), satin/flat/gloss, whatever you want for the finish, and clear coat the carbon once finished to protect it. Once dry, go over it again with a fine grit wet sand. The finish will be silky smooth.

I've had no problems with 2000 miles on my wheels since doing it.

[ttakata73]

Just a warning.
Not all carbon is made with UV stable resins.
Not all clearcoats block UV.
So if you by chance have carbon with no UV inhibitors and it's in the clearcoat.....
You have to ask the manufacturer of your parts about UV stability.

I would hope any name brand stuff is UV stable, but cheap Chinese stuff make me worry.

This an old but good test on carbon, I didn't bother reading it all but start at page 9 and you see the dangers involved.
http://stuff.mit.edu/afs/athena.mit.edu ... 6p2713.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[petepeterson]

There is a substantial thread on this if you search for it.