Carbon Fiber Scratch

[mzrsq]

Scratched my real carbon tank protector tonight, was trial fitting it, turned around and bumped it and watched it slide across the gravel driveway. Anyways, put a few scratches on it. Supposedly the carbon is clear coated, but have no idea if that's the same as a painted car. The scratches aren't serious, but are noticable. Is there anyway to remove scratched from carbon?

 

[monsterspeedfreak]

Might wanna ask (Warbaby)....he has polished CF before.
I've taken light swirl marks outta CF cans before with Meguire's dual action cleaner polish, on a multi speed buffer, but a deep scratch would be different!!

 

[fusion04]

true carbon fiber is clear coated similar to car paints, any fine swirl or scratch remover or rubbing compound should do the trick if the scratches arent too deep.....

 

[BulletTrain]

Yep, the others are right. Also, if the scratches are deeper than what you can remove with some polishing compound you could have a GOOD painter carefully wetsand the damage out, or almost out depending on the depth, and re-clearcoat it with automotive grade urethane clear.

If the scratches are not too deep (as in too close to bein' through the clear) and you can't get it with polishing compound, let me know. If you want to send it to me I could see what I could do with it for ya. I may be clearcoating some stuff before too long and it would be no problem to do that piece while I've got clear mixed up. Just let me know...

 

[mzrsq]

Hey BT

Thanks for your professional opinion, I know you are the resident specialist.

Anyways, here's the deal, I don't know how deep the scratches are, not really sure how thick the clear coat is. My guess is the scratches are probably not through the clear coat, but what do I know. As I said, it just fell off the bike and slid, there's not a lot of scratches, but 1 scratch is more than it had before it fell.

As of yet I have not touched it, I'm actually afraid that if I tried to buff it out I'd put more scratches in it, and yes, I know that from experience.

So some might be asking whats the big deal, its just a carbon tank cover, it's gonna get scratched anyways. Well the deal is I payed $110 for it with shipping. When we ride my wife likes to ride with one hand on tank so she's not leaning her weight on me, so I was looking for a cover large enough that would keep me from biatching at her about her hands on the paint. My previous bike I had a second-look tank bra on so there was no problem, but I haven't seen a bra that I like the fit on, or color of for the busa.

So I seen this and laid out the big $$$$$$$ for it. Now after placing it on the bike, I'm not sure I even like it. Ok, that's not entirely true, I like it, But without any other carbon on the bike yet besides the windscreen, I thinks it a little much. So I think I want to wait till I get some levers, bar ends, and hopefully someday inner-panels, then this cover would be sweet.

So my deal is, I'm afraid of further ruining my expensive cover by putting compound to it and buffing it cause if I scratch it more.................well...............you know. As of this moment I'm in no hurry for it as I'm loking for a temporary cover till I get the other things I want to make this cover look good. Till then, I'm open and listening to all ideas.

Hey BT, also, with the shape of it and all, how do you buff on it without actually putting it against a tank for support?

Thanks

 

[BulletTrain]

Hey BT

Thanks for your professional opinion, I know you are the resident specialist.

Anyways, here's the deal,  I don't know how deep the scratches are, not really sure how thick the clear coat is.  My guess is the scratches are probably not through the clear coat, but what do I know.  As I said, it just fell off the bike and slid, there's not a lot of scratches, but 1 scratch is more than it had before it fell.

As of yet I have not touched it, I'm actually afraid that if I tried to buff it out I'd put more scratches in it, and yes, I know that from experience.  

So some might be asking whats the big deal, its just a carbon tank cover, it's gonna get scratched anyways.  Well the deal is I payed $110 for it with shipping.  When we ride my wife likes to ride with one hand on tank so she's not leaning her weight on me, so I was looking for a cover large enough that would keep me from biatching at her about her hands on the paint.  My previous bike I had a second-look tank bra on so there was no problem, but I haven't seen a bra that I like the fit on, or color of for the busa.

So I seen this and laid out the big $$$$$$$ for it.  Now after placing it on the bike, I'm not sure I even like it.  Ok, that's not entirely true, I like it, But without any other carbon on the bike yet besides the windscreen, I thinks it a little much.  So I think I want to wait till I get some levers, bar ends, and hopefully someday inner-panels, then this cover would be sweet.

So my deal is, I'm afraid of further ruining my expensive cover by putting compound to it and buffing it cause if I scratch it more.................well...............you know.  As of this moment I'm in no hurry for it as I'm loking for a temporary cover till I get the other things I want to make this cover look good.  Till then, I'm open and listening to all ideas.

Hey BT, also, with the shape of it and all, how do you buff on it without actually putting it against a tank for support?

Thanks

No problem. As for how I'd buff it, I'd polish it by hand and prolly use my leg or a folded up towel for support. I have a few different self devised hand buffing tools that I developed over the years to do what I needed to do.

If you want me to give it a shot all it would cost you for me to look at it and see what I can do with it would be shippin' both ways. Just let me know.

 

[jfksmith]

well the rule of thumb is that if you can catch a finger nail in the scratch , it is probably too deep to buff out. I have reconditioned cars for years and just finished an old lamborghini that was scratched like it just spent a night with jenna jameson and got most of them out. try the finger nail thing and good luck...