[jcclark]

I have two questions I hope somone will answer.
1. How can I fix small niks in a non painted carbon fiber hood?
Can I fill them with clear urethane and buff them out or should
I try something else like fiberglass resin, (is it clear enough?).
2. This carbon fiber hood buffs out really clear but won't stay that way,
after a couple of months it gets hazy and streaky.
What can I do to maintain its luster? Clearcoat it? Will it stick?
Or is there something else I can apply like a wax or something?

[baddbob]

mix up a small amount of urethane clear and dab them nicks till they are full and above the original surface height of the hood then allow it to dry a few days, then lightly sand the entire hood and level off the nick areas you have filled and apply three good coats of a quality urethane clear. Colorsand and buff to perfection, it should retain a gloss with the urethane clear. Most carbon fiber parts use an epoxy based resin that will break down over time, the Urethane clear is much more durable.

[daimon1054]

I though if you wanted to clear the fiber it had to have some resin floated over it first to make it smooth. CF is bumpy so if you just hit it with clear you are not going to be able to buff it. I am not 100% sure I know some of the CF stuff I used in the past was not smooth and was always asked if I was going to paint it or leave it natural because there was another step involved by them if I was painting it, never painted it so I don't know exactly what that step is. As to the resin breaking down? Not if it is real CF and I mean they heated it to form a carbon carbon bond it will not break down.

[mrcleanr6]

there is carbon fiber that is designed for race applications where the weight is the main concern which is what you are talking about, the dull lumpy stuff. there are also products out there like car hoods that are carbon which are made for looks and there is clear gelcoat or epoxy applied to the mold first then the carbon is layed up on that giving a deep glossy carbon look. as for the nicks do exactly as bob said.