DIY Forged Carbon Skinning Tutorial - A Complete Guide

In this video I'm gonna run you through to achieve a forged carbon finish by skinning virtually any car part you like with carbon flakes or chopped carbon. This method requires some patience and effort but the result is well worth it!
0:00 - Intro
0:40 - Phase 1: Prep - sanding and primer
2:07 - Phase 2: First coat of epoxy and carbon
3:48 - Phase 3: Second coat of epoxy and carbon
5:27 - Phase 4: Sand and buildup
7:41 - Phase 5: Sand flat and finish
9:10 - Outro
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[@Hyphessobrycon]

i have been searching forever to find a way to bring my old, cracked seibon hood back to life. THis is now my plan!!!

[@hotrodchopsuey]

After putting the release film use a wide rubber roller to roll the surface finish smoother. This will reduce the amount of coats and sanding needed

[@LXGspec]

I will try that, thanks!

[@DavidPerez-fr1hb]

Where can I buy release film?

[@MrKrueger88]

Instant subscribe ❤ love your work and approach to it all . I work with carbon nearly everyday making orthotic devices and you did an awesome job with the bonnet . Looking forward to watching more of your videos . Cheers from Australia 🦘

[@Tzuau78]

This was great! I appreciate the work you put in and the tips. I have a different project, for forged carbon look, but essentially the same process. This likely saved me some hassles. Cheers!

[@NRMotorsports]

The hood came out perfect! Great job

[@hanswurstusbrachialus5213]

Hint: the yellow tint is a prob.. yes. But CLEAR wont do it, as it will also get yellowish over time. You need uv resistant resin which is tinted slightly BLUE to counter this. Cheers.

[@kasuraga]

and don't forget, all resin yellows over time. Tinting it blue will definitely help mask the yellowing imo

[@gatecrasher1970]

@@kasuraga ok then if so why would they make carbon multi million pound boats? how long before goes yellowish?

[@kasuraga]

@@gatecrasher1970 with carbon, the resin layers are so thin that the yellowing isnt going to be as noticed through the carbon fiber. Yellowing is primarily an issue when casting with resin. also, different resins yellow differently, so it depends on the formula

[@eag8999]

Carbon need to be cleared with high quality auto clear or the resin's outer layer will fail, "uv resistant" or not.

[@brudda6343]

Beautiful work❤️

[@baagiiganbayar830]

Great job 🔥

[@AdrianBilladeau]

Looks great! I am planning on doing some pieces on my ride soon. Fantastic video, thanks.

[@JackCashMusic]

looks awesome!

[@thorasguardselectrician2013]

Looks great 👍

[@onceuponasauce8177]

EARNED A SUB! Amazing video and explanation.

[@Dice_weiss]

This is pretty rad!

[@weareallbeingwatched4602]

If you took a metal or 3d printed part, and vacuum bagged it in chopped carbon coating, you could validate exactly how much extra strength it adds white simply - just make some leaf springs and hang weights off them. A skin of carbon and epoxy adds quite a bit of structural rigidity, particularly in the case of foam or balsa wood. This is a common approach in aerospace composite design. For a large part, you could also use a plastic sheet or bag and lots of sand. Pressure is what's required, not vacuum per se. You could also use a bunch of rubber sheeting or chips, and a hydraulic ram or bottle jack, or even a screw press. The options are limitless. Park a car on top of the mould is a good idea for a small part. Rubber tires.

[@addictedtoangling]

Looks amazing

[@simongibbs2986]

Good work Sir. Very impressive!!

[@mauricesparks5709]

That looks awesome... Nice work my friend

[@jcleo7120]

Finally someone put my idea to work!!! Looks so good!

[@krusher74]

your idea was how to make a fake heavy carbon hood?

[@thorasguardselectrician2013]

​@krusher74 omg a kilo, that's sooo heavy brooo 😂 ffs 🤡 lots of things are esthetic in the car world. He isn't racing competitively lol

[@prodipper3562]

Sick work

[@KronicNitron]

I never knew you could do it this way. You learn something new everyday ig

[@RDubMiami]

Algo talk… nice work, looks dope

[@doughboyjoe6518]

Looks badass but the question I have if you do this to other parts do you need to vacuum seal them like you did with your fenders?

[@thomasbaker9787]

It looks good 👍

[@stankrieger3598]

Spper great job and explained your work very well. I am imbarking on my project on a 1978 honda fenders, trying to decide on the carbon look or the forge look. I have a forge shop, making knives, rings and other wiered stuff. So thinking it just might fit my style. What is your thoughts to forge or not?

[@danboyes7477]

Great little guide thanks! I've done some carbon skinning before and was really considering some forged carbon, so this is really useful. Your bonnet looks great too, nice work 👍

[@LXGspec]

Thanks Dan!

[@alexandergstettner9820]

Nice Job ! The next time put peel ply on and it will save you massive time for sanding, if you can also pull a vacuum it will be even better...

[@bagusharitsargaputraharmad1607]

Dude you rock those carbon, looks really really good. Amazing work 🔥

[@mastercricket7626]

i want to make my own separate carbon hood for my project .... but dude this looks radical af i really like it ... you did a great job on this dude and made a very good video from it to ...peace n love bro build on and stay safe

[@harmatkaharmati1884]

Hii. Can you please explain what did you do after the last coat before the sanding when you said you touched up a couple of dry spots so you can cleanly sand it flat? what did you exactly do? Thank you

[@antbymcnair4297]

Great video and a great way to get the look without a ton of tool costs.

[@zzxd7720]

If you are leaving the metal part underneath. Wouldn't be far cheaper to just wrap the piece with something that looks like forged carbon fiber?

[@Kellogz123]

Another project for the Fez! If i wanted to add small fleks of purple into the flakes, can you give any advice what you would use?

[@dwad9162]

What grit would be good for carbon fiber I need to sand mine down again cause of sun damage and don’t know what grit to use.

[@vichope6408]

Hi do you wash them first after sanding before putting another resin?

[@unclassifiedjz6885]

Can u do this on a carbon fiber hood? They dont have a forged option option for my car and really dig the forged version

[@makhoe1]

looks good.

[@1188dale]

Are you able to make a list of everything you used for your project where to buy it and different sandpapers and products?

[@hdmwork3831]

YOU DOIN GREAT! thanks for the knowledge 🤘🏽🔥

[@drrock5356]

The carbon fiber skin will eventually release from the metal hood. CF has a very low rate of thermal expansion, much lower than the metal is bonded to. Ever time the metal heats up, it will grow, but the CF won't. In time, the CF skin will delaminate from the hood. Skinning metal with CF is a short term solution, unless the metal never changes temperature. I skinned the hood scoop on my Subaru with spread tow CF, and a year later the CF is causing wrinkles, and is distorting the scoop. Still, your chopped tow CF skinned hood looks amazing!

[@user-oe9rw6fc6i]

Does the vinyl covering the epoxy not stick to the carbon?

[@scid84]

forged carbon is cool loking. I ve done it myself but its pretty hassle compared to normal carbon weave type. because of the uneven surface of the carbon the amount of epoxy used is subtantially more to get the perfect even surface. But hey it looks cool.

[@kaisumandig7315]

What kind of release film is that and where can I get it? Or can I use just any plastic?

[@cliffordharley4322]

I’m wondering if there isn’t a vinyl wrap available that would be day’s quicker and much lighter! And if you don’t like it you can just peel it off!

[@DingoZed]

Using peel-ply + foam roller versus a release film and hands saves a lot of time from sanding but the end result looks amazing either way. Great work!

[@k9nine2005]

The epoxy is special only for carbor or i can use any epoxy?

[@midnighttutor]

Nice video. So in essence you glass it in the same way that a surfboard is made? Thank you.

[@LXGspec]

Thanks! Unfortunately I'm not quite familiar with how surfboards are treated, sorry 😅

[@cspray5386]

You'd need casting resin or surfboard resin. That resin may not have UV stabilisers. To fix that, before it turns yellow and starts peeling. Try sanding it back with 320 and throw a 2k clear topcoat over in it. But if it's just a shitter to go get milk, don't waste your money.

[@E36_boat]

How hard is this to do as a first timer, I have a carbon fiber hood and I want to do this to it

[@matthewallison6927]

How much carbon fiber did you use for your hood. Trying to replicate it on my Kei Car.

[@Awscheetz]

How much carbon did it take to do a hood, I'm trying to figure out how far 2 lbs would go.

[@sempregigi1115]

I not undestand were i fail.... because when I go with sandpaper i see the carbon under the resin that change color, go clear, maybe i have user not much resin... or i sandpaper in the same point for a too long time... Best guide... very thank Bye from italy (sorry my english)

[@thoughtsfrom3am919]

Can you use any type of plastic?

[@willfarren]

I would never do this but I won’t throw shade. Looks nice and I hope you like it.

[@LXGspec]

Don't worry, I'll never do it again myself 😅

[@zipspeed2866]

Do you provide this service for customers? I have a couple of parts I would be interested in having done. Lmk 🙏 Thank you

[@brickrhymes984]

nice job

[@AngelGarcia-oc6yp]

With smaller parts is the same process?

[@321kitchener8]

take a stock hood and weigh it and then take your finished hood and weigh it . what is the difference in weight ?

[@brandenhaberek]

Can someone convert this to Lbs of carbon and Gal of Epoxy? It seems like I ordered too much of both.

[@pawemichalak9490]

Hallo which expoxybyou use ?

[@leonardovieira3557]

How is the hood today? Is in good conditions?

[@alejandrovargas7605]

Is a beautiful job !!! So where can I get the carbon fiber flakes?

[@LXGspec]

I got these from a local shop but i'd just order on aliexpress really.

[@czarna1120]

What primer u use ? Can u give me link ?

[@whothatdoee1005]

Is it reflective in the sun ?

[@howimade3309]

the large flakes on the lambo forge carbon looks so much gooder

[@andresalexanco7703]

the best of video is the dance jajjaja master

[@begin1ngofend5]

Do you have a materials list and cost?

[@moosehead6147]

Can this be done or has this been done on the whole car?

[@E1337Jerk]

Looks cool u could have cut out a lot of the aluminum hit glued it in place and removed afterwards. Just my thoughts

[@ErtsenPlayGames]

Ps. Real forged carbon is made using designed carbon layup in mold so u have everywhere perfect strenght in every direction and its put in the press for way way more pressure per 1cm2 than u can get in vacuum etc This just looks good 😁

[@krusher74]

this is all show and no go.

[@joscythe556]

Not really, the whole point of forged carbon ist that the short chopped fibers are oriented randomly, but yes, the process is usually done in a compression mould.

[@alecb8509]

He just added a bunch of weight to his hood too. All show and less than no go.

[@kde5fan737]

I am really curious if doing this to the hood adds any structural strength or rigidity. I would think that it would, adding any kind of fiber (carbon or glass) like this would seem to have to increase some of the rigidity and strength. How much, I have no idea, but I would be really interested in seeing some types of tests on this!

[@aztharz5637]

I would assume maybe a little, but it would be negligible, that carbon he put on was super thin, and not compressed.

[@kinanalhawat6753]

I can tell you.. it doesn't. You can add some stiffness by adding the carbon to the hood or even better by replacing the metal with carbon but with another method maybe. Skinning is only done for looks.

[@qos6502]

I saw your gtr fender video too. how many lbs did you get for the hood, fenders, and bumper? amazing work, really inspired me on my brz build

[@LXGspec]

I reckon based on how much I added on the bonnet (1.5 lbs) and its surface area it should be the same amount per fender and a tad more on the front bumper, maybe 2lbs. I know It's not ideal but adding a solid amount of strength as well, especially when adding it onto flimsy frp parts.

[@janzugic6798]

Einhell compressor? we have the same compressor!

[@aaronlehman9549]

Cool man you got my sub. A little clickbaity as far as calling it forged carbon but it’s still cool

[@mikelflips1158]

Where to buy the Carbon flakes?

[@TheBigTank]

Yo lo intentare en una parte del carenado de la moto 😀😀😀

[@Sido7528]

didnt think this is just so "easy" to accomplish, i tought it's some sort of new technology of carbon. i really consider doing this to my motorcycle! do you think the epoxy is gonna get yellow over the years? thats my only fear

[@barrylinkiewich9688]

That looks great, I wish I had the patience for this kind of work because the finished result would look amazing on my car.

[@434volkov2]

what type of epoxy is that?

[@DDeGrasse]

Outstanding. What what release sheet did you use ? My carbon sticks to everything lol

[@LXGspec]

It's a regular unperforated release film used for vacuum bagging, it's super easy to peel off when the epoxy cures!

[@akinbeats7293]

How can i get chopped carbon

[@JL-dz8sj]

Nice up close but from far enough it makes the car look like it hasn’t been washed in a while and got rained on haha, nice job though still better than I’ve done

[@budiprasetyo8287]

5:27 what plastic to use ?

[@danieyzrstudio6420]

It looks great! Thumbs up from Malaysia🇲🇾

[@Supercross254]

Fantastic project! Where did you get the chopped carbon for you bonnet and bumper?

[@LXGspec]

I got em off a guy in Germany who makes carbon parts himself, so I was lucky and didnt have to buy em myself, but if I'd have to place an educated bet I'd say he got em from china himself, there is plenty of offers on like aliexpress!

[@Supercross254]

@@LXGspec thank you very much for pointing me the right direction 💪

[@LXGspec]

@@Supercross254 No probs!

[@mohamadiqram5837]

hey mate,so epoxy resin does bond on paint?

[@LXGspec]

Heya, if you have clear coated paint I would scuff it up first with like 240 grit, if you're doing it on primer it should work just fine as is!

[@themanthelegend7048]

Great job. Should have put a release chemical on the hood to pop this off.

[@andrewsmith-zi7db]

Looking really good nice job

[@jamiedriscoll9781]

Have a vinyl company take a pic of the final hood, make a pattern into a roll and you can vinyl your hood. Same look, waaaaaaaay less weight

[@worthlessdiamonds8198]

Lmfao

[@ScottsGearReviews]

Great video. How much chopped carbon did you use? (Ie pounds). I’m trying to figure out how much to order.

[@kennethelliott5985]

1kg=2.2lbs

[@shaquandavis1884]

Where can I buy the release film? I really want to try this out

[@LXGspec]

It's regular release film you can buy off sites that offer consumables for vaccuum bagging, I got mine from easy composites.

[@niketrip]

Do you have a video of it under the sun?

[@ikakhazho]

love it, also going to do this , can you share with me what epoxy did you use ?

[@kaisumandig7315]

Do you use a table top epoxy?

[@LXGspec]

In this case I did because the specs were very close to infusion resin which I didn't have on hand, infusion resin has a lower viscosity than laminating resin which is important when using a compression moulds!

[@hosseinmohammadali7016]

I saw that you are from Germany from the license plate 😅 is this carbon skinning TÜV free?

[@alexandervoigt5170]

Was ist das für blaue folie

[@WisdomInExperience]

Wow very impressive work. Nice video !!

[@baddab6102]

That is just cosmetic right? Not saving weight right? Am i right or no?

[@LXGspec]

This is purely cosmic, sorry if it seemed different!

[@joebloggs4191]

As a final step I would lacquer the finished bonnet with 2k clear lacquer.

[@hotrodchopsuey]

Another thing you might want to get some sanding blocks to reduce the waves in the surface finish but looks great bro 👌👍

[@LXGspec]

Thanks! I literally just received my Dura-Block kit! They'll probably pop up as well more in the next few vids!

[@socalfritos9452]

They make a vinyl wrap for this. cheaper and much easier IMO.