Carbon Fiber Hydographing
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 849
Likes: 28
From: Baytown Texas
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Carbon Fiber Hydographing
Several people have ask about all the carbon fiber look hydrographing trim work ive done with my car . It started out after i put a fresh shiny white paint job on " Casper " with me just wanting to do my window trim , then it was my air cleaner , then....... well this is what happened next
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 849
Likes: 28
From: Baytown Texas
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
A friend of mine does it as a side business . Its a pretty neat process , look it up on YouTube . Hes done all kinds of car and bike stuff . Trim , bumpers , grills , intakes ,wheels , etc.
Hes got the last big batch for me right now . My seat buckets, rear package tray trim , gas cap , and a handful of interior pieces.
Hes got the last big batch for me right now . My seat buckets, rear package tray trim , gas cap , and a handful of interior pieces.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 849
Likes: 28
From: Baytown Texas
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
LoL.. just because he was a buddy didn't mean nothing ...it still cost me a pretty penny . Several actually ... Just meant that I didn't have to hunt for a shop to do it .
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Help us get a 'feel' for the costs involved. About how much to do the side vents on the car? Dash cluster?
Parts look good. Post some 'after' photos of the car when you get done.
Not sure I'd want ALL the trim parts done the same way; but they will look good and will get attention at car shows.
P.S. If that is a 'vinyl' product, you will need to keep a coating of Nu-Vinyl or Meguiar's protectant for plastics on all those coated parts. That will keep the UV rays from damaging them. If you don't, they will turn to "crispy critters" in the sun.
Parts look good. Post some 'after' photos of the car when you get done.
Not sure I'd want ALL the trim parts done the same way; but they will look good and will get attention at car shows.
P.S. If that is a 'vinyl' product, you will need to keep a coating of Nu-Vinyl or Meguiar's protectant for plastics on all those coated parts. That will keep the UV rays from damaging them. If you don't, they will turn to "crispy critters" in the sun.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 849
Likes: 28
From: Baytown Texas
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Small side vents 20-25$ , window trim was 100$ , varies on the size and how much prep work is involved ..it's not vinyl , it's a 2 stage painting process . A base color is painted on and then the next ( whichever pattern you choose , in my case Carbon Fiber ) is applied during the dipping process .
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,877
Likes: 3,556
From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
WOW- that turned out great. I dabbled using the drawer liner technique and then clearing it for some parts underneath the car-
Yours has a much more realistic look vs the drawer liner!!
I also tried "covering" or skinning w/ carbon fiber- a lot of work...a lot more expensive- and wouldn't work on complex shapes.
Yours has a much more realistic look vs the drawer liner!!
I also tried "covering" or skinning w/ carbon fiber- a lot of work...a lot more expensive- and wouldn't work on complex shapes.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 849
Likes: 28
From: Baytown Texas
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
WOW- that turned out great. I dabbled using the drawer liner technique and then clearing it for some parts underneath the car-
Yours has a much more realistic look vs the drawer liner!!
I also tried "covering" or skinning w/ carbon fiber- a lot of work...a lot more expensive- and wouldn't work on complex shapes.
Yours has a much more realistic look vs the drawer liner!!
I also tried "covering" or skinning w/ carbon fiber- a lot of work...a lot more expensive- and wouldn't work on complex shapes.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 849
Likes: 28
From: Baytown Texas
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 849
Likes: 28
From: Baytown Texas
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Thanks ...since its painting it all depends on its size and if its a simple flat piece of one with lots of bends , etc . small side vents were 20$.... im picking up my last order on friday then i can finally get it all together .
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 849
Likes: 28
From: Baytown Texas
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Looks Super , I kind of went over board with mine . But it was like a tattoo once i did one piece , i wanted another piece done , lol ......Love the color on your engine . ....Looks about the color of my 70 chevelle , it was GM 341 ( Autumn Maple Firemist ) super color