I really didn't know what I was getting myself into. I just experimented until I got to this stage. My first try was with a "Clear gelcoat" Turns out it wasn't so clear. Then I did a 2nd layer of fiberglass resin, let it get tacky, then laid the CF material down on that and let it set up. Then I brushed a thin coat of Fg resin over that to stabilize the CF. Next, using a foam roller, I applied the epoxy over the CF. I did 2 coats. Now came the sanding job from hell. The epoxy I used cures to a hardness comparable to steel IMHO. I had to start with 60 grit just to get it to knock down. Then I progressed to 600 grit. Then I switch to a product called Micromesh. I use this when I build humidors, it goes to a 12000 grit and lasts a very long time.
With epoxy, you really can't get the shine it has when first applied plus it has no UV protection. Therefore I applied 5 coats of an automotive clear coat over the epoxy. This is what you see now. I will be doing a few minor cut and buffs in a few places but for the most part it turned out very clear and smooth.
Now that I've worked through my mistakes, I should be able to speed up the process.
My work force use to be 5 employees + myself, now it's just me and one other worker. Big projects like this have to be done as efficiently as possible so it's very important that I develop techniques to speed up the process w/o sacrificing quality or the results. I will say though, I'm thankful that I have clients that will allow me the time and budget to create these projects. They sure are fun. (And educational)
Now my client likes it so much that we are building an over head console, new woofer box, amp racks, door panels, tail gate accents and more. It'll be a helluva lot of work but it should be a real show stopper in the end. He also plans on a 12" lift on 52" tires and upping the Duramax diesel to 1000hp and custom paint. I'm thinking I should be in the computer and accessory business like him.
