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Tarnac Terror
Guest
We make a lot of Carbon parts for VW's, and know what a pain it is to get the clip system to work. Generally its a no no, unless its a case of a locating metal clip that can be bonded into the actual body of the item being made (like the plastic sill covers)
We also find that cover parts is really the only real option is some cases - for example we carbon cover in plain or twill the internal B, C Pillars on the MK2 Golf, and also the thin plastic headlining strip. These parts all clip in and to remake would be too costly and time consuming to do. Covering sometimes is the only option as you guys have no doubt discovered. We're currently carbon covering a set of MK2 golf bumpers - will try and get some pics up if you guys want to see what they look like when they are done.
If nothing comes of the current ones, and some-one is pretty close to me and as a spare set of mirror panels then I could look at covering them if needs be. Failing that I could price them up and if there is enough interest order a set up and wrap them for all to see.
We also find that cover parts is really the only real option is some cases - for example we carbon cover in plain or twill the internal B, C Pillars on the MK2 Golf, and also the thin plastic headlining strip. These parts all clip in and to remake would be too costly and time consuming to do. Covering sometimes is the only option as you guys have no doubt discovered. We're currently carbon covering a set of MK2 golf bumpers - will try and get some pics up if you guys want to see what they look like when they are done.
If nothing comes of the current ones, and some-one is pretty close to me and as a spare set of mirror panels then I could look at covering them if needs be. Failing that I could price them up and if there is enough interest order a set up and wrap them for all to see.
I have a spare set of mirror covers. So if I send them to you you'd cover them in carbon fibre?
would that be fine.. sounds like it would be easily chipped or scratch if it was stuck over so to speak?
Tarnac Terror
Guest
Yep, cant see why not. At the end of the day its no different to wrapping the interior parts or the Mk2 golf bumpers. There'd need to be an exchange of some green stuff to do it though
The MoffMeister said:
Generally if you build a part from scratch (so a complete replacmenet) you would find that the part would have a one or two layers of Carbon and then it would be backed up by a few layers of std F/G. This gives it some thikness, and also is a lot lot cheaper than doing the whole part in Carbon. If its a covered or wrapped part then you are laying straight on the original part, normally again one or two layers of carbon, and then we generally clear laquer the tops to give a nice shine. They are of course prone to chipping of the laquer of scratching but in essence this is no different to any other painted of laquered part (look at the bonnet of any car and you'll see what I mean re chips), and even if it was a part made from scratch you have the same issue with scratches, chipping etc. Its like most things, a flying object hitting them or even metal work at high speed will cause damage, if its glass it cracks, if its metal it dents and if its plastic / FG it may form cracks.
Phew, sorry for the lengthy responce, hope this helps explain a few things though.
No problem, I can send you a set to cover then along with relative costs. My email address is: [email protected] if you want to arrange it.
But if you mould it on top of the old covers.. the covers fit flush with the plastic frame, now with a couple layers of CF, wont this be "not" flush and have a ridge along the mirror casing? And also if the CF is folded around the edge of the cover to make a neat edge, this will pull the cover away from the flush edge and thus, not allowing the plastic clips on the inside to come into full contact with the holds, and thus back to the start of a cover that doesnt clip on..?
Tarnac Terror
Guest
But if you mould it on top of the old covers.. the covers fit flush with the plastic frame, now with a couple layers of CF, wont this be "not" flush and have a ridge along the mirror casing? And also if the CF is folded around the edge of the cover to make a neat edge, this will pull the cover away from the flush edge and thus, not allowing the plastic clips on the inside to come into full contact with the holds, and thus back to the start of a cover that doesnt clip on..?
If you look closely at the covers, there is an ever so slight difference in height between the outer and inner casing, admitadely not enough to not have some form of difference in height. HOWEVER, the idea would be to blend to the edge therefore minimizing the step.
You would not fold the carbon round the edge of the mirror, it is very very dificult to fold carbon at 90 degress and get it to stay in place whilst it sets - you also runt he risk of air pockets, bubbles etc ect, it also can distort weave etc, so you would finish it flush with the edge of the part.
I've had a look at the covers listed earlier in the posting form vw4sport, and believe that with these they are actually the original covers covered in carbon - if you read the notes on the part it says there is a $40 surcharge untill you return your original core, I assume therefore that the core is the original casing, and hence why they fit using OE fixing method. Look at the other carbon parts they do and they ask for you part first before they can make, again this hints at being wrapped or covered parts.
Anyways, so what I have done is as follows:
I have ordered a set of the std teardrop covers from our local TPS branch - they are cheap enough so no worries with doing this and they woudl fit my car anyway so wont break the bank
. This way I can look at them and see how the fix on etc with a view to see how difficult it is to reproduce the fixing system. I'm a noisey bugger so want to see this without the hasle of dismantling my own car. I then have a few options as below:
Wrap the casing as it is. This is ok if there are not many to do as wrapping / covering can be time consuming to do; if there are more to do then a mold woudl be a better option. this would then mean the best method woudl be a two part mold, one for the outside and one for the internal finish of the carbon cover. This way it means you can get the Carbon as thin as possible and use the mold to radius of you like the finishing edge or blend it slightly int he mold. this would then allow the cover to be bonded to the original casing thus retaining the OE clip system (this is after all what vw4sport appear to be doing ?). I have other work on as well on VW stuff at the mo' so wil ltry and look at this in between jobs when it can.
If things dont come thru for MDS then we have an option this end to look into it further (and at the end of the day if I wrap a set anyway, i could put them on my own car
). This would then allow peeps to see wha they look like fitted etcHi Rob, just wanted to know if you managed to get the carbon wing mirror covers made? I am after a set as well. Regards, Indy
arghh whats happened to this thread? whats the deal with the mirrors? i was getting interested in the carbon covers.
Tarnac Terror
Guest
I still have the original mirror covers here and am trying to find enough time to get round to covering them in Carbon, but like most things paying jobs are unfortunately takig up the time. so I;ve nto forgotten about them, just having probs getting round to them at the moment.
I suppose the other quesiton is: Are people happy with the covers now being covered in Carbon, as this was a big question for people before as most seemed to want a cover reproduced and not covered if that make sense
I suppose the other quesiton is: Are people happy with the covers now being covered in Carbon, as this was a big question for people before as most seemed to want a cover reproduced and not covered if that make sense
I know what you mean. If it is real CF and the end product looks origianl then i am happy to part with a reasonable amount of cash. What i dont want, like most people, is some chav halfrauds plastic sticky tape covering.
If they're covered and look and fit good then I'm sure you'll get lots of interest, lots seem interested in carbon bonnets too.
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