Has anyone had any experience of removing paint, laqure, stickers etc from carbon fibre? I've acquired a part that's been painted and I want to clean the old graphics off without damaging the carbon. I've tried petrol but that doesn't get through the clear coat. So, I was thinking of something like cellulose thinners, would this affect the resin in't carbon?
that is a good question and I have no answer but came to the same conclusion re: removing paint from older flexible Cagiva fairings. If exposed for the minimum time (around 5 -10 mins if ladled on thick Nitromorse) the surface did not appear damaged (i.e. lumpy/undulating) but there was a dull 'blooming' change to the colour despite washing with water immediately afterwards. I think you will contaminate the panels but hard to say how much harm re: strength/integrity will come of it.
Thanks Chris, I've found a solution that seems to be working. I've peeled the stickers off and then lightly sanded through the clear coat and top layer of paint. Then with a lot of elbow grease, I've used the cellulose thinners to rub down to the carbon/resin layer. It's coming off and doesn't seem to have affected the finish of the carbon as long as the sanding doesn't go too deep.
Mike over a rage designs cleaned up a couple of MS production carbon items for me during a paint job. Maybe give him a call Paul.
Hi. A few years ago i painted my carbon mudguard, didn't like it after finishing and lacquering so got some really aggressive degreaser/thinner from somewhere definatly not work. Ate through everything but didn't affect the epoxy on the carbon at all. Sounds like your pretty much done now, but after my experiment, i'd put anything on it to strip paint now and trust it not to damage anything.
