I spent a total of $21 wet-sanding and reclearing my CF hood. The results were better than I could have imagined.

I do not have before pictures, but suffice to say it weas really hazy. I can still see the haze a little bit, but the clear really hid it very well.

I started with 1000 grit under a constant stream of water (hose). I knew it was going to be hazy after wetsanding. I then wet-sanded again with spray water and some dish soap. The sanding block slid very well along the hood with the soap.

I then cleaned it off, used a tack cloth to clean the hood, and then cleared the hood inside the house (because of the humidity here in Florida). Shhhhhhhhh. Don't tell my wife. She was away for the weekend.

Anyway, I was surprised because even the clear coat from a rattle can (Duplicolor) went on well, no runny paint. Hardly any overspray. I put eight (8) coats of clearcoat on the hood.

After it dried indoors (this was key) for two days, I took it outdoors to dry even more and bake a little in the Florida sun.

After it dried for a total of four days, I lightly wet-sanded the hood (and I mean lightly) with 3000 grit sandpaper. I got down all of the orange peel so it's all flat. I then buffed it using MeGuier's Ultimate Compound, and then Meguier's polish. I'm going to wait two weeks to wax the hood.

Enjoy the pics.

 

Why is your hood blinging?

 

I would have used an automotive grade clear that you can purchase in a rattle can at an auto paint store. Other than that good work.

 

You forgot to add paint before clear coating it.

 

 

Looks good. I'm not really familiar with paint and body work all that much but I'm pretty sure CF needs a special clear coat because regular clear doesn't adhere to it all that well. This is why you see tons of Evo VIIIs with faded and peeling clear on the factory wings, and why cars like the C6 ZR1 use that special clear that costs $60,000 a gallon or something like that on the roof. Hopefully it holds up.

 

That looks awesome! Even if it doesn't hold up, it only cost you $21. Granted that is a lot of work but still

 

 

Yeah, I'm not sure how expensive they are, but for $21, I can't complain. It looks a MILLION times better than when I started.

 

If not I'll just paint it again or even have it painted. I have not heard anything (and I researched this extensively) about using a special claercoat or anything.

 

Thanks man. You should have seen the first time I tried to paint it outdoors in the humidity. Complete and total clusterfuck. It would have looked better had I taken a nice steamy on the hood and smeared it around.

This time I painted it in my house when the wifey was gone for the weekend. Low humidity. Don't tell her.

 

there is no such thing as 60,000 $ a gallon clear coat. i promise.

it may be 600$ a gallon (which is still unbelievable and unrealistic)

think about it.. your paying that+ for the car itself.

 

Did you get a yellow colored hood? looks gold in the pics.

 

Kinda looks like Carbon Kevlar.

 

From the vette forum:

And from GM:

So not 60k but still freaking expensive.

 

Nice work. Love the DIY.

 

Nice! Next up: fading wiper arms.

 

looks dope

 

oops, my bad. I was going off the top of my head from when I first read a ZR1 press release about the special clearcoat (er, UV-repellent additive) and how it was ridiculously expensive. Didn't really think about that number when I posted it.... At least I remembered the correct number for something

 

Good job!

Don't wax for three months! Use Finish Kare 2180 instead (bodyshop-safe sealant).

 

No. Either it was the lighting, or the sun faded and yellowed the hood over the years. Oh well. Guess I couldn't stop that from happening.

 

Thanks. I wish I had pictures of what the process looked like, but I was afraid that I would FUBAR it again.

 

Where can I get this stuff?

 

looks good man. I never thought that this could be diy.

wanna do mine for me? lol

 

Nice work!!!

 

Thanks.