Carbon Fibre Headlight housing wrap

lea · Postby **lea** » Sun Aug 14, 2011 12:51 pm

Carbon wrapping the headlights.

I tried something new... it didn't turn out that well but here it is for reference. I'll definately be re-trying this.

This technically could be done in any colour - is not permanent like painting - and is a vinyl material which is very durable.

The good side!

The front!

The bad side... hidden by a sticker. It split here during wrapping.

Steps that I took:

1) Clean the housing with methylated spirits.

2) Cut the carbon wrap to approximate dimensions of the housing. I did this by tracing around the housing and then adding an inch to each side so that it can wrap behind.

3) Start wrapping by starting at one side and smoothing out any creases as you go.

4) You will have to bend the wrap to conform with the bends and depressions of the housing. This is where I came unstuck.
I didn't use any heat to make it more pliable, so it ended up splitting and bubbling.

As I got to the last side it ended up splitting due to the pressure I was applying to it. So when I redo this housing and finish its brother, I will HAVE to use something hot...

I've only done one so far... and I think if I have heat next time it will conform alot better with a better result.

Steampunk · Postby **Steampunk** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 11:48 am

You did a really good job for a first attempt without heat, I reckon. Much better than my efforts. I have another car that has poor paint here and there that I hid with vinyl wrap. I completely gave up on curved surfaces (wing mirror).

If you want to experiment before attempting it again, I have a sheet of blue vinyl (got my order wrong) which you can use and abuse.

spikes · Postby **spikes** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 3:44 pm

Pics installed on car please!

Postby **Okibi** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 5:19 pm

Looks pretty good! Cool Japanese sticker too :JDM:

GP · Postby GP » Mon Aug 22, 2011 3:14 pm

Fake carbon :lol:

-alex · Postby **-alex** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 3:16 pm

Points for doing something creatively different!

WhiteNA6 · Postby **WhiteNA6** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 7:51 pm

What type of vinyl wrap did you use?

lea · Postby **lea** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 1:32 pm

1red5 wrote:You did a really good job for a first attempt without heat, I reckon. Much better than my efforts. I have another car that has poor paint here and there that I hid with vinyl wrap. I completely gave up on curved surfaces (wing mirror).

If you want to experiment before attempting it again, I have a sheet of blue vinyl (got my order wrong) which you can use and abuse.

Thanks red for the offer but I'll be fine =] I've got plenty of carbon wrap left over. ^^

WhiteNA6 wrote:What type of vinyl wrap did you use?

It's just a sheet of carbon wrap that I bought on eBay... Sydney supplier!

-alex wrote:Points for doing something creatively different!

Cheers! Pity it didn't turn out too well.... Yet...

I'm trying again on the weekend.

-alex · Postby **-alex** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 2:20 pm

Well if it only split once, it cant have been that bad, sure it will go better with a second attempt.
If it really epic fails, then I'll let you in on my super secret thoughts for the next detail for my car.. CF goodness :mrgreen:

Bizi · Postby **Bizi** » Sun Sep 04, 2011 10:01 pm

I think a well done CF headlight wrap could look great on a white NA.

There's a minor issue with CF pop up headlight wraps - that it's dark when you're using the lights, so only you will notice the wrap. ;)

I am so looking forward to seeing the Marto-enhanced NA8, since so much thought and effort has gone into some subtle but decent little mods.

There's another mod I can suggest for you, that's weight saving and mood improving. -alex has no doubt already put it on her own list.
It's something I may have suggested previously and it would be easy to do or to reverse.

Carbon Demon · Postby **Carbon Demon** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 10:11 pm

-alex wrote:Well if it only split once, it cant have been that bad, sure it will go better with a second attempt.
If it really epic fails, then I'll let you in on my super secret thoughts for the next detail for my car.. CF goodness

CF goodness (vinyl wrap) like this ? :wink:

Mike

-alex · Postby **-alex** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 1:55 am

Considering that I am up for a respray in the next month, I wont confess how long I have spent looking at http://carbonfibrevinylwrap.net.au/

Was considering the matte white.. but but but being good and keeping the getting the car back on the road costs down.

Bizi · Postby **Bizi** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 8:23 am

I'm still looking forward to seeing the Carbon Demon NC on the streets of Sydney; it looks so good in the pics and the work looks amazing.

Details on a NA like CF wrapped headlight housings are a nice touch if you can get it looking seamless.

However I'd then want to extend the theme into the cabin.

Would love an update if there has been any more success on the wrapping!