Graphite Chassis Tarnish Removal.

[bortpbyz]

I'm looking to start building my Graphite WOIN and my graphite chassis has a yellowish tint to it I'd like to get rid of. It's tinted or tarnished as if it spent years in a smokers house. My 10L chassis is 16 and has not tarnished at all. Does anybody have any recommendations to remove this?

[integra22t]

first i would try something like tretment finish restore .. if it didnt come up with it i would wet sand with 1000 grit sand paper and buff it back with a polish compound

[limestang]

The yellow tint may be normal, I think one of mine is very similar in color and was not exposed to smoke. The look of graphite has changed over the years as processes advanced and evolved. I would try cleaning with a mild soap only, nothing with abrasives. If you scratch the surface, it will never be the same. If the color remains yellow, I would leave it as is.

Hope this helps.

- Limestang

[jwscab]

it could very well be something related to UV light. unless the thing reeks of smoke, then that's also a very suspect cause.

you may not be able to do much with it, but also, carbon fiber can also have a huge variation in matrix color, so it would not look out of place with it having a yellow tinge.

the other thing that might have happened is where you had the pieces bolted on, it could be microscopically scratched or fretted, causing the lower layer to be exposed. in that case, as mentioned a 1000 or 1500 grit wetsand and follow up buff could make it look uniform.

[DMAT]

when I spruced up my graphite, I did 1k, 3k, 5k wet sands on mine to get the difference in look out. add a bead of CA glue all around the edges too. I also clear coated mine but that is optional for you.

http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=34072&start=15

[harvey]

My vote would be that the yellowing is the epoxy aging, aided by sunlight. I have seen old epoxy turn yellow, so I don't know how much you'd have to remove to get a clear finnish.

[bully]

Yeah same thing on one I rebuilt,just sand like others have said.. My opinion if you go fine enough grit you don't need to clear coat but it's up to you..

[RC10th]

I would use automotive polish with a cotton cloth. Meguiars 105 should be enough. If you need a little more cut use a buff wheel/disk.

[bortpbyz]

I appreciate everybody's help. Bully, do it have any before pics? That chassis looks really good and I'd be happy to end up there.

I'm researching some sand paper and polish right now. I think I remember harbor freight having a nice selection of variety packs?

[RC10th]

I appreciate everybody's help. Bully, do it have any before pics? That chassis looks really good and I'd be happy to end up there.

I'm researching some sand paper and polish right now. I think I remember harbor freight having a nice selection of variety packs?

I wouldn't sand if you didn't have to, only sand to remove scratches, otherwise polish essentially does the same thing.

[bully]

Mine looked exactly like yours mate, I tried wax and grease remover and polish without luck.. The uv staining tends to be more than just on top of the surface it's slightly under it also.. Still takes ages to get out with fine paper and you don't remove much. Mine still has a couple of scratches... We used to get a similar uv damage to some veneers. Will try and find a pic of original chassis condition for you..

[bully]

Hard to see but there is a light section in front of bulkhead, the rest looked exactly like yours...

[bortpbyz]

Thanks Bully. I used a little never dull or something like it to polish the chassis. It comes in like wool wads in a can is just slightly abrasive. I polished it by hand and then used my Dremel to buff it off. It made enough of a difference for me to move forward. I was just Leary of sanding it. Thanks again everybody. Once I get a few more parts I may start to build it.