southernman 73 Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 Hi Team, I have a carbon fibre spinnaker pole. The clear coat on the outside is coming off and every time we use it you end up itching for days afterwards. I'm guessing it will need a sand back to remove remaining clear coat or whatever it is, but I'm wondering what do I use to seal the surface? Cheers Tim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Freedom GBE 27 Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 The clear coat is probably single pot, if it is, start sanding. I used two pot black paint on our prod. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Zozza 293 Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 I have a carbon fibre mast - currently out of the boat during refit. My original clear coat too is fading badly as I have no space to store it but outside, but will look good with a two pot paint. However, I have been told you have to be careful when sanding so you don't start sanding off carbon. I was thinking of a 220 grit hand sand, primer, then the the two pot finish....not sure if this is correct process, so please chip in with anything different to above Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Zozza 293 Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 Oh, the old 'google is your friend' and I find this: https://www.cstcomposites.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/How-to-paint-your-composite-mast.pdf Looks like 80 and 120 grit "emery' sand paper, whatever the hell that is. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
southernman 73 Posted September 27, 2017 Author Share Posted September 27, 2017 Thanks Zozza, perfect, must have been tired last night but all I could see was how to prepare RC Car Carbon parts. I'll try the Porsche front bumber next get rid of those stone chips Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 Do you want the Carbon fibre to be visible? If it is not important in that respect, then I suggest you go for a colured Paint. Clears are never great re UV and you also need to protect the Resin, which is not UV proof at all.Polyurathanes tend to be better wear resistant, as they are a touch more flexible surface. Epoxies are hard, but because they are hard, they are prone to chipping.Resin looses strength very quickly as it's temperature gets toward 60dgC and maybe (because I don't know how hot a pole would get) needs to be considered for something that takes such a huge load and it's colour is black. But black has the best UV resistance. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MartinRF 53 Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 +1 for using pigmented paint. UV is your enemy -- even at N60 (it just takes longer here). /Martin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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