Lightwave395
Well-Known Member
I'm 'refeshing' my boats carbon bowsprit - I'd like some kind of clear coat, what would be the best finish , would it be varnish or epoxy ?
Thanks
Thanks
Clear coat finish for carbon bowsprit
- Thread starter Lightwave395
- Start date
Bobc
Well-Known Member
UV varnish. I used to use SP Ultravar.
Ceirwan
Well-Known Member
Epoxy is generally not UV stable, so will yellow over time.
If its removable, I'd be tempted to see if a automotive sprayer could give it a few coats of 2k lacquer. That stuff is pretty tough and has great UV resistance.
If its removable, I'd be tempted to see if a automotive sprayer could give it a few coats of 2k lacquer. That stuff is pretty tough and has great UV resistance.
MikeBz
Well-Known Member
I would paint it. I know it hides the bling but it will be far more UV resistant, and obvious if it gets worn or chipped.
William_H
Well-Known Member
The question might be what resin was used in carbon fibre. If polyester or vinyl ester then yes use a 2 pack clear varnish. If it is epoxy then one might imagine that a clear coat will allow UV to damage epoxy. (I may be wrong about UV getting through varnish.) I presume OP wants to show off beautiful pattern of CF and the fact that it is CF. But paint may be longer lasting. ol'will
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Personally .....
1. Never sand CF ... you can end up with micro fibres breathed in ... splinters that eye literally cannot see but waiting for your hands !
2. CF is itself basically weather proof
3. I would apply a wax based polish or other cleaner and not paint / varnish ...
1. Never sand CF ... you can end up with micro fibres breathed in ... splinters that eye literally cannot see but waiting for your hands !
2. CF is itself basically weather proof
3. I would apply a wax based polish or other cleaner and not paint / varnish ...
Lightwave395
Well-Known Member
Hmm, just when I was slowly drifting towards painting it white !
flaming
Well-Known Member
Desty's did mine last winter as part of a larger refit.
4 coats of Duropox, then rubbed down to P400 and then 4 coats of Awlcraft 3000.
It, and the other carbon bits they did the same way, look absolutely 1st class.
PeterV
Well-Known Member
For carbon masts rapidclear is about the easiest and quickest way to do it.
AngusMcDoon
Well-Known Member
I suggest using the proper stuff that is intended for CFRP and has sufficient UV-C protection, like this...
FANTOM CLEAR – High performance clear paint systems for carbon fiber
from here...
Pardon our interruption...
CF is not damaged by UV, but the resin may be. It depends if a UV-C stable resin was used in its construction, which now you will probably never know. If a resin not UV-C stabilised was used then bare CFRP is most certainly not 'basically weather proof'. Eventually sunlight will degrade the resin to the point of structural failure. Those of us with CFRP spars are very careful about this.
Standard wax based polish or other cleaners are unsuitable. They don't have the specific UV-C barrier ingredients that CFRP needs. The right stuff is expensive, but you don't need much, and much less than a new CFRP bowsprit.
FANTOM CLEAR – High performance clear paint systems for carbon fiber
from here...
Pardon our interruption...
CF is not damaged by UV, but the resin may be. It depends if a UV-C stable resin was used in its construction, which now you will probably never know. If a resin not UV-C stabilised was used then bare CFRP is most certainly not 'basically weather proof'. Eventually sunlight will degrade the resin to the point of structural failure. Those of us with CFRP spars are very careful about this.
Standard wax based polish or other cleaners are unsuitable. They don't have the specific UV-C barrier ingredients that CFRP needs. The right stuff is expensive, but you don't need much, and much less than a new CFRP bowsprit.
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MikeBz
Well-Known Member
CF parts should always have UV protection, and spars are always supplied with it in some form of clear coating. If you wander round a dinghy park you can see the colour change on those masts whose clear/varnish coating has gone and left the bare matey unprotected.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Do you not agree that ALL unprotected / uncoated materials display colour surface change - this does not automatocally mean damage.
I'm not saying that some CF items - based on the resin used - are not UV safe ...
Ceirwan
Well-Known Member
Well that other materials will do in UV is kind of irrelevant, what's important is how the CF will react.
CF is almost invariably laid up using an epoxy resin.
So it will yellow & degrade with UV over time, plus the fact that the OP is 'refreshing' the bowsprit, suggests he wants it to look good, which suggests either paint or some kind of clear coat as described above.
Yes its more work than just leaving it raw, but if you want a finish, that's just how it is.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
I have not disagreed with OP's wish to make it look good ... which is basically what they are after ....
I even suggested a way and also 'warned' against sanding CF .... which I notice NO-ONE else has ...
CF Dust is deadly to the lungs as well as any tiny fibres that can easily puncture skin and cannot be found .....
Ian_Edwards
Well-Known Member
I used Inenation 2 pack on my Seden carbon filter mast. 6 coats after scraping the old varnish off.
Still l still looking like new 6 years on.
Still l still looking like new 6 years on.
AngusMcDoon
Well-Known Member
Any colour change of a CFRP spar, whether from UV-C damage or the end of life of the surface coating, is cause for concern and means damage has occurred. As the UV-C tolerance of the resin used in the OP's bowsprit is unknown your suggestions on how to maintain it are incorrect. The correct type of coating is not hard to find.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Discolouration of the CF does NOT automatically mean damage to it ... it can simply be ageing of the original coating ... AND I did not say that damage was impossible ...
So many assume that regulat Epoxy is used in forming the spar ... well as none of use were at the production facility - I would not be so sure about that. There are various formats of Epoxy and other resins - depending on intended use.
So many assume that regulat Epoxy is used in forming the spar ... well as none of use were at the production facility - I would not be so sure about that. There are various formats of Epoxy and other resins - depending on intended use.
AngusMcDoon
Well-Known Member
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MikeBz
Well-Known Member
I’m talking about when the original coating has fallen off - which over time it does.
I agree that sanding CF (and many other things) is a very bad idea health-wise without taking adequate precautions (breathing apparatus, vacuum extraction etc).
