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View Full Version : Discussion Clear fill for a scrape in clear coat?


wingbeat
Oct 27, 2007, 11:14 PM
I have a beautiful composite sailplane that I bought used. (Wizard Compact)
It has a large scrape on the bottom of one wing. The wings are clear coat over carbon. I could mask the area, sand, fill with bondo, and add some stripes to hide the scrape, but I really love the all carbon look.

Can anyone suggest a filler that I could sand and polish down to smooth out the scrape and still retain the clear finish over carbon? Perhaps just an epoxy that is particularly clear, not yellow? Often the hardener or resin is tinted.

Any suggestions?

thanks

LOGICAL_PSYCHO
Oct 27, 2007, 11:17 PM
How deep is the scratch? Is it into the paint?

wingbeat
Oct 28, 2007, 10:56 AM
How deep is the scratch? Is it into the paint?


There is no paint. It's clear over carbon fiber.

That's why I want to try to fill it clear, to maintain the look it has now.
It doesn't go all the way down to the carbon, but it isn't so shallow that I can just buff it out without altering the airfoil. Altering the airfoil on this particular ship would be a crime against sailplanes!

LOGICAL_PSYCHO
Oct 28, 2007, 11:10 AM
Auto supply stores sell small bottles of touch-up paint, they also have bottles of clear in the same place.

http://www.automotivetouchup.com/touch_up_paint_clearcoat.aspx

wingbeat
Oct 28, 2007, 12:01 PM
Auto supply stores sell small bottles of touch-up paint, they also have bottles of clear in the same place.

http://www.automotivetouchup.com/touch_up_paint_clearcoat.aspx


Thanks. I could give it a try. I wish I could get a good picture of the divot. It's both a scratch and a bit of an indentation, although the carbon isn't exposed or torn. I will have to do a bit of fill. Maybe a bit of the clearest epoxy I can find, and then a bit of clear coat buffed out over the top.