removing paint from carbon fiber

Hey chainlink folks!


I have recetly acquired a second hand Aerospoke wheels. Previous owner decided to paint them black using a bad combination of spray paint and lack of skills, he managed to mess them up pretty bad. I mean they are ugly!

I need to strip that paint off of them. Anyone out there has experience with that kind of work? I am looking for tips on how to safely remove that paint without damaging carbon fiber.

Thanks a lot!

konrad

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Permalink Reply by Casey Carnes on July 23, 2012 at 9:43am

I've heard good reviews of this, but personally it makes me a bit nervous.  Then again it is good enough for Calfee.  Otherwise, a lot of 400, 800, then 1200 grit wet sandpaper.  

http://www.carbolift.com/  

Permalink Reply by konrad sobon on July 23, 2012 at 9:52am

I THINK I WILL GO WITH THE SANDPAPER. I EMAIL AEROSPOKE REP PERSON AND HIS REPLY WAS TO GO WITH SANDPAPER AND JUST TAKE IT EASY. I WILL TRY LACQUER THINNER ON RUG JUST TO SEE IF I CAN WASH OFF SOME OF THE TOP COATS AND THEN I WILL JUST SAND IT OFF.


THANKS A LOT. FOR ALL THE GOOD TIPS.

Permalink Reply by Michael A on July 23, 2012 at 11:06am

do not use thinner, it will eat into the resin and ruin your wheels. Aerospokes are carbon composite, not carbon fiber  HUGE DIFFERENCE  

Your best bet would be to sand em until they are smooth enough to paint over them

Permalink Reply by konrad sobon on July 23, 2012 at 11:31am

thanks for advise mike. theoretically carbon fiber is a composite of carbon fibers and resin, but that's not the point here. I appreciate your comment and thank you for it. I will not use paint thinner. I will go at it with water and sand paper. That seems to be the general consensus whenever I have asked this question.

Permalink Reply by Michael A on July 23, 2012 at 11:37am

I was trying to say that even after you remove all the paint, the wheel will look be a marbled plastic color, there is no carbon fiber weave to expose. So stripping it down to bare will remove the paint, but what are your plans to finish it?

 

Permalink Reply by konrad sobon on July 23, 2012 at 12:00pm

Yes. I understand that. I wanted to repaint it with black matte finish....they are black, but whoever spray painted them did the worst job I have ever seen. I want to clean them and then paint them again.

Permalink Reply by Michael A on July 23, 2012 at 3:39pm

great, all you have to do then is give the surface a good sanding to smooth out any of the old paint job's evils, that will also give it a "key" where the new paint will bond best. I would give it a coat of primer first before the final paint... good luck and post some pics...maybe a before and after

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