Top-coating some CFX carbon fiber grips with either Lumiseal or Permagloss, is there any need to sand these down any further before applying?

Many Thanks!

I do, the material is low build so further smoothing ensures a smooth finish without a half dozen or more applications.

Thanks Spencer - appreciated, will do some sanding. (I should have thought of this before gluing the grips on the blank!)

If you have not dealt with carbon fiber before, keep in mind you DO NOT want to sand through the finish into the carbon fiber cloth. Better to put a coat of epoxy, like Riley's, onto the grip to provide some depth of finish before sanding. Or maybe two coats. Regardless, don't sand through into the cloth.

Sanding into the actual carbon won't cause the same problems as sanding into fiberglass. The former will sand smooth, the latter winds up with sharp edges and ends which are very difficult to overcoat.

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Thanks all. These are the unfinished CFX grips I wish to coat, will probably use the Riley method.

If you want a high gloss use the epoxy, if you want more of a satin finish use Permagloss. I have done it both ways, and like Permagloss better. I think it has a better feel, and seems more durable. For either method, use a scotch brite pad to rough up, wipe down with a clean cloth, and turn the grip while applying the finish. I use a foam brush for the Permagloss. Very easy and looks good.
Norm

Thanks very much Norm, I may give that a try. Just watched Tom's video and it looks easy.

For those that might be interested:

[www.youtube.com]

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I have sanded into the Riley carbon fiber material and it left an unrepairable void, looks sort of frosty gray and different even after another coat of Riley epoxy. Maybe there is something I'm not getting, but the 100% successful method, IMHO, is to not sand into the carbon fiber material.

I agree that sand paper can be a no no. The unfinished cfx grip does have a thin layer of a matte finish and I do not want to get down to the bare carbon fibers.. The scotch brite pad is not sand paper, it just gives enough scuff so the finish can possibly adhere better. In fact, I have put finish on these grips without scuffing with no problems. I just feel that scuffing does not hurt and may help the finish adhere better.
Norm

Riley uses charcoal colored cores. It sounds like you sanded through the carbon skin all the way to into the core.

I am the co-inventor of these grips and have done more of them than most people will ever do. You can get away with sanding into the carbon skin, but you don't want to sand all the way through it.

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I know when refinishing a rod you can certainly get down to the bare graphite with no ill effects. I have done this many times. So I agree with Tom that you can do the same thing on these grips, but I do not think it is necessary to do so. Scuffing should be fine to get a good durable top coat. I followed Tom's instructions on youtube when I top coated my first set of CFX grips and got great results. It was extremely quick and easy. Thanks Tom for coming up with foam core carbon fiber grips. They are great!
Norm

No I did not sand all the way into the core. Just kissed the cloth. I guess it's just a great mystery. I guess it could have been that there was an air bubble there that I hadn't gotten out. An expert at these grips saw it and said the problem was that I had hit the cloth.

I routinely sand into the cloth (not through it) and have been doing these grips longer than anyone else. With the carbon skins, I've not experienced what you mentioned so there is something else going on, although if you didn't go all the way through it I can't imagine what it might be. I'd like to see one that has had that happened and might be able to offer a better explanation or solution if I could see the issue firsthand.

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I'll see if I can find it and photograph it. I think I still have the rod. It's not a show stopper for a rod of mine, but I wouldn't want to have it on a custom rod that I was selling. Thanks for the offer.