[SnowbordrWRX]

I've always wondered why people neglect to paint CF hoods and other parts...for example, the EVO CF wing. I know that certain types of paint do adhere to CF parts since I work in the aerospace industry and a number of the skins on military aircraft are CF composite skins. You never see a Blue Angel with big patches of black all over it! Do automotive paints have problems adhering to CF parts?

 

[Tb311]

I think that most people leave it unpainted to show it off and the point of CF parts is to lose weight and adding paint will add weight, but not to sure how much extra. Well those are my theories anyone else care to comment?

 

[darwood]

I think it's because carbon fiber parts are so pretty. I mean they just look cool. Also after spending all that money on a carbon fiber part, you want people to know it's carbon fiber, mainly so they can look at it and see that it is so pretty.

 

[prost893]

Most carbon Fiber parts are not perfectly straight and level. IT is because of the way they are manufactured. You put them in a big plastic bag and then put them in an oven to cure. A vacuum sucks the air out of the bag as it cures. This process leaves the part somewhat imperfect. It is still very functional. It does not fail at all and does the job quite well. The problem is if you paint the part these imperfections really stand out. I know this is one reason that CF parts werre not painted early on when they came availible several years back. I also agree with the above. It just looks cool now to have a CF part.

 

[CloNeGTS]

CF that is done well is just as perfect as a big piece of sheet metal that is stamped into shape. Different grades and types of CF production give different results, but if what you said is true, we wouldn't have FAA certified composite planes in the air.....the aircraft industry doesn't look upon imperfections highly.

I think it's just to show off....and for the style of it. Heck, if I paid $500 for a CF hood and someone told me I would have another $200 to cover it up so that no one could see it....yeah, I'd leave it unpainted too!

 

[Guest]

The best is, every pre-season in Formula1, reporters manage to get pictures of the cars before they have been painted.

They look frickin sweet with their completely carbon fibe exteriors!

However, I think it looks silly when you see a civic roll up with a mismatched hood.

 

[SnowbordrWRX]

Paint weighs next to nothing. It's not gonna add weight. Otherwise all military aircraft would be left unpainted, and weight is a much greater issue there.

IMO, I don't think it looks cool if it mismatches...especially if it's on a white car. If it did look cool, the Blue Angels would leave all their composite skins unpainted. After all, it would save time and money. If I were gonna show off a carbon fiber hood, I'd lift up the hood and show the inside as being CF. Or, I'd leave a couple of small circles unpainted so that you'd know. But why would you want to show it off? If I got a bigger turbo, I wouldn't get transparent lexan fenders and hood so people could see the turbo! They could "see" the turbo by the performance! The same goes with a CF part...you could "see" it by performance.

I am well aware of imperfections of CF parts. However, there are only so many imperfections (size and number) that are allowed. If done correctly, CF parts come out fairly perfect. I know that paint does in fact adhere to CF parts, but only in the aerospace field. I'm not sure if automotive paints may have a problem. My guess is a coat of primer and a couple of coats of paint would do the trick. Maybe it's just me, but an unpainted CF part gives a car an unfinished look, unless it happens to be on a black car.

Oh well, to each his own. It's definitely not my style :wink:

 

[azninside]

CF looks great an doesn't need to be painted. CF hoods look great on just bout any color car....but CF body kits (like CF front lips) need to be painted....those don't look that great. CF hoods/trunks/wings etc. look good that way...check my sig