Gemini R/C Carbon Fiber hood cloudy!

[drivethruecp]

I have a Gemini composites R/C hood for about 2 years now and around January this year I started to notice cloudiness (white discoloration) right over where the engine would be. It was buffed out with 3M compound. And I waxed it 3+ times a year with Carnauba wax (was recommended once a year with the included instructions, so I didn't think to do it much more). It came back 3 months after buffing it and keeps getting worse (whiter and more dense) and also is in different areas. It looks like shitt! You can't see it really when its wet, and gets slightly better when I wax it. Any suggestions would really help! I really love the clean look of this hood and would be a shame to just paint it...after all we are paying for the cf look. If pictures are needed I will take them.

[L8R]

1. Get it re-clear coated, good as new. Waxing won't do much, you have to get it re-cleared.
2. Shrink your signature size please.

[redrims]

Like L8R said, you need to get it re-clear coated

[drivethruecp]

Really? Because the body shop said they didn't think it was the clear coat.
1. How can I prevent this in the future?
2. How much would it typically cost?
3. What is the best way possible to make it most durable?
4. Thanks!

[CrazyCaker]

Really? Because the body shop said they didn't think it was the clear coat.


That's because it was never cleared in the first place. There's no clear coat to "re-clear". It's simply a shiny gel coat surface, and it's that gel coat that is clouding. As I said in the other thread, clearing will slow it down a lot but not get rid of it for good.

[redrims]

Really? Because the body shop said they didn't think it was the clear coat.
1. How can I prevent this in the future?
2. How much would it typically cost?
3. What is the best way possible to make it most durable?
4. Thanks!

1. Keep doing what you were doing. I don't think they put a good coat on it in the first place.
2. It can cost anywhere from $150-$300, but when I was going around getting quotes for my hood, the median was around $250.
3. Get a good brand of clear coat and have a few coats laid on evenly.
4. Your welcome :)

[kudakev615]

i recleared my vis hood and it looks great. they sanded down the gel coat to almost the bare fiber weave and it looks better then new

[crashkelly]

1. Get it re-clear coated, good as new. Waxing won't do much, you have to get it re-cleared.
2. Shrink your signature size please.

dude youre sig is just as big, if not bigger than his sig...

[CitizenPro]

^ it was much larger a few minutes ago.

[crashkelly]

That's because it was never cleared in the first place. There's no clear coat to "re-clear". It's simply a shiny gel coat surface, and it's that gel coat that is clouding. As I said in the other thread, clearing will slow it down a lot but not get rid of it for good.

See this is why I am glad I got my hood from Joe (indirectly)...XC takes care of their hoods in a way no other company does and I know that my hood(which is the same reverse cowl type as yours) will never get that sun damage shit because XC takes the time and effort to PPG and uv protect their products!

[crashkelly]

^ it was much larger a few minutes ago.

ah i see, my bad L8ter I was unaware of the situation...disregard previous post

[drivethruecp]

Thanks for the experience! I will have to get a quote then. And is there an additive they use for UV protect-ant or its a property of the clear coat its self? I love this hood; it will be like I just got it new again, being I've become disgusted wit it...

My bad on the big sig. The picture was intended to be small but photobucket would blow it up and just didn't want to bother after the initial many attempts. I re-uploaded it and this time it took...must have been an update on the site..

[CrazyCaker]

is there an additive they use for UV protect-ant or its a property of the clear coat its self?

Like I said many times, it's the gel coat. Clear coating will help slow it down a lot, but not prevent it from happening again. There's also a very good chance that not all of the clouding can be removed even with a wet sand, it's in the gel coat!

[daedalus]

Get it wet sanded and re-gel coated.

Then this time around apply a good sealant like Zaino that is 100% UV resistant unlike any carnuba based wax to prevent it from yellowing in the future.

[blkspdfreak]

sounds dumn, put tire shine on it. im guessing the oils in it soak in and fix it some what.

[drivethruecp]

Like I said many times, it's the gel coat. Clear coating will help slow it down a lot, but not prevent it from happening again. There's also a very good chance that not all of the clouding can be removed even with a wet sand, it's in the gel coat!


I understand its in the gel coat! I'm only trying trying to make the best decision, not cheapest. Can the gel coat be removed fully or is that not possible without ruining the weave...

[ForceFed]

No..The coat cannot be removed fully nor is it reccomended.
You do need to wet sand the hood to rid your Gel coat of the discoloration and then have a body shop reclear the hood...I gaurantee it will look better than it ever did even new.
Clear coat does AMAZING things for CF.
I paint myself..and trust me...a new CF part next to an identical part thats been cleared is a night and day part.
Just go to a shop and have them wet sand it with 1200 and shoot it with a clear coat. Should run between $200 and $300...But it will look better than ever.
End of story..Period.

If you were closer ,I would do it for about $100.

[crashkelly]

No..The coat cannot be removed fully nor is it reccomended.
You do need to wet sand the hood to rid your Gel coat of the discoloration and then have a body shop reclear the hood...I gaurantee it will look better than it ever did even new.
Clear coat does AMAZING things for CF.
I paint myself..and trust me...a new CF part next to an identical part thats been cleared is a night and day part.
Just go to a shop and have them wet sand it with 1200 and shoot it with a clear coat. Should run between $200 and $300...But it will look better than ever.
End of story..Period.

If you were closer ,I would do it for about $100.



Totally agree with Forcefed. My brother is a painter/body guy and I have seen the differences between uncleared CF and CF with a nice UV protected clear. The difference is staggering.

[drivethruecp]

No..The coat cannot be removed fully nor is it reccomended.
You do need to wet sand the hood to rid your Gel coat of the discoloration and then have a body shop reclear the hood...I gaurantee it will look better than it ever did even new.
Clear coat does AMAZING things for CF.
I paint myself..and trust me...a new CF part next to an identical part thats been cleared is a night and day part.
Just go to a shop and have them wet sand it with 1200 and shoot it with a clear coat. Should run between $200 and $300...But it will look better than ever.
End of story..Period.

If you were closer ,I would do it for about $100.

Thanks! But like I said, after wet sanding the gel coat to get rid of the discoloration, does it need another NEW gel coat before getting the clear, or just what is left of the gel coat...