Well i had an Evo VIII wing come into my possession. I was planing on getting another Evo IX wing but while comparing the two MY SELF the VIII wing is of MUCH higher quality and a lot stiffer and more sturdy than the IX wing. So I decided to keep the VIII wing. Only issue with it was that the clear coat/gel coat had peeled and yellowed fairly badly. Not as bad as i have seen on some but still way to bad looking for my taste. I did my research on the internet and calling around and found a lot of people saying to sand it down and than re clear. i figured this would take forever and that there had to be a better way. I do not mind taking my time and being patient if its the only way but like i said i felt there was a better way. So since i had a broken Evo IX wing i started doing some testing. I sanded with 400 grit wet/dry and it got to the CF but left an un even finish. Was it noticeable after i test cleared it, not to much, unless you knew it was there. So from there i moved onto a graffiti remover. This did NOTHING! Not even after 48hrs of soaking and replenishing after it evaporated! This was a total waste. So i moved up to the 15min Klean Strip paint remover. Put this on and something started happening! After about 5min it was all bubbled up and i scraped it off. Than i applied some more and used a stiff brush to get it all off. Than i test cleared this section and it looked AWESOME! And it went quick to! But now i wanted to make sure it didn't damage the Carbon Fiber. So i used this paint stripper to strip another section down to bare Carbon Fiber. This time instead of re clear coating it i took some more stripper and put it on there. After evaporation occurred i replenished it. I did this for 24hrs and it appeared to do NOTHING to the Carbon Fiber itself. GREAT! This stuff will work perfect!

Now i disassemble the Evo VIII wing (a how to on this will come later!). I had heard that the Evo VIII wing was 100% carbon fiber and after disassemble i was positive all my sources were correct. Evo VIII Wings are 100% Carbon Fiber! The side pieces have a foam core but both sides is coated with real Carbon Fiber! Now i decided i wanted to make all this nice carbon fiber show! So i take some stripper and apply it to the painted outside sections! Paint peels in like 30sec and i scrape it off. What do i see? A layer of white! What is this i think, some hard stuff! I second guess myself about these being full CF but i quickly apply more paint remover and let it sit for 5-10min. Now i scrape again even tho it looked like nothing had happened. My plastic scraper hardly did a thing! So i got a metal one (not to sharp) and used that. Now i got through the white layer of primer theres now a grey layer. THIS IS NUTS i think to myself! But i apply some more paint stripper! This layer does NOT come off easy! And i would recommend you leave your side panels PAINTED! But i did get them down to CF. This CF though has a thick layer of some kinda clear coat or gel coat. Much thicker than the actual wing. I have yet to decide weather i will try to remove this or not. That comes later!

Now i get the wing and slap some paint remover on that! The center starts to peel as soon as i touch the stripper to it! This is going to be easy i think! But the front and back of the wing wasn't peeling (dident have as much sun damage for some reason). So i put more paint remover on and grab a bite to eat. 15-20min later i go back out and realize i wasent down to the CF even where i thought i was in the center of the wing. As this section had started to show small bubbles underneath! So i scrape and scrape and scrape! Than i re apply and scrape some more! This is taking forever! But theres no going back now! I finally get to actual CF in one small spot and keep moving from there. The problem is there is still some Clear stuck in the weave of the CF. So i try the brush with the paint remover and this dident work. Now im screwed! What do i do? All this time and effort just to see that i could have possibly ruined the more desirable and out of production Evo VIII wing. I am so disappointed that i say theres no making it worse now! So what i am going to try is to get some stronger stripper and try that. Hopefully it doesent eat away at the carbon fiber bonder! If you have any helpful tips please advise! Also keep the BS outta hear please! I dont wanna hear "you shoulda asked first" and such things. If it were for people like me we would never learn! Thanks

 

Interesting. I've never been brave enough to deal with working carbon fiber. I'm to afraid to F it up. Well you live and you learn I guess.

 

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...many-pics.html

Someone beat you to it at least 3 years ago, but i'm glad to see someone else with the cojones to take an VIII wing apart. I've taken mine apart twice. It's funny that you will still get people on here arguing with you saying that it can't be done.

 

I need to do this asap

 

You say you are down to the fiber but with a little clear left, at least that is how I understand it.


Have you tried cleaning it and wet sanding the wing? I would not have used chemicals on it myslef but if it is still good (that is my understanding) I would just finish it with a wet sand of really fine grit sand paper.


My old wing got redone but it had damage on the fiber itself from the sun so I bought another 8 wing and had a guy repaint and clear it. For the small price I paid it was worth letting someone else deal with this headache

 

I remember about a year ago people argued that the wing was not held together with velcro until I showed them that thread.


To bad the 8 wing does not fully come apart though like the 9 wing. At least the 8 wing is better though

 

this is nothing new but hopefully someone can help you with your specific issue

 

i have an 03 wing i am going through this same process with. i have found that wet sanding the top with 600 grit and a damp cloth soaked in acetone. you will get the same effect of the bubble but acetone is only alchocol based not acid, like paint remover. my question for you is, the inside CF panels on mine are pealed as well, how did you strip those down?

 

Awesome! I am actually about to try this wing deal myself. Hopefully I will be able to use your learned lessons as insight and heads up. Good Luck Bro!!!

 

I have not determined if the paint stripper has actually deteriorated the CF yet. I actually got some stronger stuff and will try this. What i was getting into was the GEL COAT. This coat is put on CF to keep it shiny but is not made for sun. The clear they used on top also had bad bonding to the gel coat and was also not made for sun. So i have gotten to the bare CF but i dont want to leave the stripper on to long. Im not sure what it will do to the CF resin. I will try the stronger stuff and leave it on longer and let you guys know what i find. Also to make sure it works i will than need to clear it and make sure it ad-hears well to the Bare CF. After that only time will tell if it falls apart! I will keep you all updated!

 

I took all the pictures to make this thread. And in the end the paint stripper DID work! But I just keep getting shop down by the Moderators so Im not gunna try an go outta my way to help anyone anymore around here. We need more people like that! Than this place would be filled with good people!

 

hey guys i know this is an old thread, i was wondering since only the top part of my 8 wing is really messed up , can i just flip it over ??

 

nooooooooo

 

So, I'm going to sand an strip the top and sides of my wing. I plan on getting an epoxy clear coat that won't yellow or strip from the CF. Hopefully it works.

 

Wash wing with soap and then use degreaser
800/1000/1200 Wet sand Not to rough in an even manner
Apply some from of universal cleaner
Let dry
Apply 3-4 even clear coats of automotive clear via a gun
If you have to resort to using a can clear, then apply like 6-8 coats