Crack in CF Bonnet

Due to a faulty bonnet catch, a crack has appeared in my CF bonnet. It's getting bigger with time and I'd really like to stop it if I can! However, I'm not sure if it can be fixed?

The crack isn't in the CF itself, but the clear coating that covers it.

Any ideas?

Ta.

If its cracking then the crack will be in the epoxy that makes up the matrix when they lay up the bonnet. CF can be fixed but you will possibly end up with a patch that will not run in the same direction as the rest of the fibres.

Is the crack through to the CF matting yet or is it superficial, as you may be able to get it filled with aeropoxy or similar and ground back in to look as it should be

That's encouraging!

It's just the top layer at the mo, not the CF; where could I get that sort of fix done?

No idea to be honest, i only know of some of the repairs due to doing comps on Harriers, but i would be wary of taking it to a random bodyshop as they may not see too much CF work.

having had a bit more of a look around it appears that it could possibly be laquered as well, in which case its even easier but i would still make sure whoever does it is au fait with CF

you're a star, cheers for the advice; I know a good bodyshop who won't muck me around, he might know a CF specialist

Looks goosed to me, ready for the scrap heap, I'll take it off your hands

It won't be fixable so the repair doesn't show unless you paint it in an opaque colour. Is it true carbon, or carbon over glassfibre? A properly laid up, vacced panel wouldn't do that.

I would imagine it isn't carbon fibre in the true laid up way as in a matrix of lay up epoxy and CF weave and then bagged vacuumed and cooked. Its more than likely as you say GRP core with a few plys of CF over it then laquered to keep it nice and shiny.

A full CF one would be cracking through if that appeared.

From the picture the crack looks to be deeper than the lacquer.

If its a GRP/Carbon bonnet its most likely to be made using a polyester resin (cheaper than epoxy), in which case as a last ditch attempt before you bin it you could try drilling a hole at either end of the crack (without going deep enough to touch the CF) and then use a dremmel to remove the resin along the crack (again without touching the CF weave) so you'd end up with a trench in your bonnet - which you can then fill with polyester resin and flat back, it will never look like new though.

You'd need the steady hands of a brain surgeon and a lot of luck as the CF weave isnt usually that far from the surface.

If you do attempt to stop drill it you will need to use special drills to prevent tearing it to pieces, i can't remember their names but they are basically a ceramic type drill that look like an elongated triangle. Also if you do any work at all on the CF make sure you wear a mask its really very bad for you to breathe in the dust

Thanks for all the advice, but I won't be attempting this myself; I can't even cut wood straight! If it's mechanical then I'm more than happy to try anything, but if it involves cutting, drilling, grinding or ANYTHING cosmetic, I run a mile!

I'll see if the body shop help.

Cheers for you thoughts though, it has brought me some hope!