red carbon fiber cop's

[ahicks70]

Just thought i would share my latest experiment, its simulated red carbon fiber done with immersion printing. (the best pics i could get using my phone)

 

[chargerxr]

Looks good Alan. I need to call you tonight.

 

[LaserSVT]

Is that the printing where they float the pattern on water and spray with an activator then you put the part "in" the pattern? Thats pretty cool. Wonder if a place out here does that. I would love to do the valve covers and blower case in it.

 

[ahicks70]

Yeah, thats it. Its also called hydrographics or camo dipping.

If you have some done, make sure they put an automotive grade clearcoat on it so it will hold up.

 

[Frogman]

If I were to do something like that, I would do it with actual cloth. It may look similar to cloth, but... Carbon Fiber it aint. But, if it works for you...

 

[BAD97LSC]

the guy who is stripping my valve covers, Ernie owns The Metal Shop in Port Richey FL he just bought one of those machines that does that immersion stuff, he is also doing annodizing and electro-polishing as well. pretty cool stuff.

 

[danny_holtermann]

i agree with frog, don't call it a chicken sandwich if its made from pigeon

 

[Frogman]

Hydrographic "Carbon Fiber" is like drinking non-alcoholic beer. It may taste good, but it's useless.

And maybe I'm missing something, but the only red I see is on that stool.

This is what red CF looks like. Actually, that's a Kevlar reinforced CF piece.

 

[MediumD]

I don't see the red either, but real carbon fiber COP covers would be just as useless as fake.

 

[ahicks70]

The red does show alot more in person, as i said, all i have available to take pictures with is my phone.
I think its a huge improvement over the worn out black, and didnt cost a terrible amount to do.

 

[Frogman]

It would look better if you masked off the letters so they can still show, instead of covering them up and making them look like ugly duckling bumps.

 

[MediumD]

I'd say painting the letters would make it look nicer. The red probably isn't showing up in the pics because the COP covers are sitting on a big red stool.

 

[ahicks70]

I was thinking of trying to stencil the letters back, they were pretty worn so saving the old ones was not a good option.

 

[Mark8Murder]

I like it man, keep up the good work!

 

[danny_holtermann]

are yiou just covering the old peice in this stuff? or is this some sort of mold??? it looks good for the beuty aspect

 

[Frogman]

Yup. Just an overlay job. Known as the "Poor Man's CF overlay".

Immersion printing is strictly for bling. It does not add strength to the part. Honestly, I don't even know how well it does at higher temps, like the ones found in an engine compartment, as I've never used the stuff.

I have to admit, just for little bling here and there (like on the inside of a car), this stuff is nice. Very little work involved as opposed to a CF overlay.

Molds are easier to work with once the mold is done, but realistically, they are used to make bigger CF stuff that needs to be strong. Suspension parts, wheels, drive shafts, intake components, body panels, reinforcing supports, stuff like that.

 

[ahicks70]

Its actually kind of like an ink transfer that is then clearcoated. Its very common for camo on guns, bows, etc. and there are hundreds of different pattens. It should hold up the same as anything with clear on it.
I do alot of airbrush and custom paint work and this is just another way to personalize.