Ski Builders Forum

is it possible to airbrush or spraypaint under clear topsheet and still get it to bond?

i'd like to try my hand at doing carbon fiber paintjobs using an airbrush or some rattle-cans

My two cents worth?

I've been watching surfboard repair videos lately. Those guy are always spraying waterbase paint under their fiberglass. Now they aren't dealing with the stress related to flexing but they may be a good point of reference.

Additionally, I spray painted the top of the clear sheet on mine with Kylon Fusion and then clear coated to protect. I know that some manufacturers screen print and then top coat.

Tht's exactly what I was wondering, in a couple layup videos I saw people screenprinting their base or topsheet, obviously they apply paint on the "inner" side and I was really wondering if and how it affects the bonding...

We have been doing some layups with a water based ink. The ink is applied to a gelatin plate which the underside of the top sheet is pressed on to. Have found that you have to seal over the ink with a fixative, or not water based sealer. Good results. Had some minor delam issues where the non sealed topsheet sustained impact on the edges. Doing more tests, and will post anything worth sharing.

a while ago I asked this question to the guys at QCM epoxy. He told me that a small stencil graphic on the bonding side of a clear topsheet would not effect bonding. Wile I have not had the opportunity to try this I did research it and had the idea that I would try this, let it dry and then seal it with something that would bond well. let that dry and then proceed with the lay up.

i built a board with a water based stenciled graphic painted straight onto the inside of the base of the board. It covered about 30% of the board and worked without delam until one sidewall let go from doing tree bonks into spins and not using the right epoxy...
never had a problem with the graphic or base tho