Topic: fiberglass seat help... acceptable finish?

[domer]

so i recieved my seat from good ole carpy, love the seat... but it is going to require a good amount of finish work. seems to be a #$%* gel coat job to me but im not an expert in fiberglass. tons of pinholes that has required a lot of spot putty... and i suck at bodywork. i guess my question here is how much finish work should be considered acceptable for what ended up being a $180 seat? i wasnt expecting it to be ready to paint, but i wasnt expecting this much work for a new part either...
attached a few pics, if its redish its spot putty, and im not done...
should i be #$%*ing? thought id ask some gurus before being a pain in his ass... 

[mystic_1]

I'm not a body guy but I'd expect better than that.

mystic_1

[bucky katt]

my 132 dollar airtech seat was ready to prime and paint.

[steam-powered man]

the gelcoat on the cafe' seat base i received from roccitycafe.com was perfect, and the overall quality was outstanding.  prep for painting was just a matter of a light sand w/400 (iirc) then spray.  i have the roadster cafe bump seat, $105.  the fiberglass is very sturdy, and the symmetry is also perfect.  

i'd expect more from mr carpenter also, maybe you got a dud.  did you call?  

[domer]

havent called yet, it took almost a month to get it in the first place... first paypal fd up, then when he finally got the order he was out of them... so its been a cluster #$%* to begin with... that and ive already cut it up, so im kinda prepared to eat it on this one... 1 day ill put better lights in the garage so i can see little #$%* like this... . i guess ill drop him a line and see whats up.

[Scott S]

 I used a seat from OmarsDTR on my XS650 cafe. It was expensive, but worth every penny. Thick fiberglass, smooth gel-coat and it came with an upholstered seat pad.

[jamesb]

i have both airtech and roccitycafe seats and both of the where ready to paint.just take your time repairing it when you go to paint everything will show if you don't do it right. also it could lift the putty and ruin a good paint job trust me on that one. i thought i had a good coat of primer or give the guy a call and see if you and him can work something out.he should do something about it unless it's stated somewhere in his ads that you need to finish it yourself or needs prepping before paint.

[Alan F.]

Have you spoken to Steve Carpenter about this?  I would get his thoughts on the matter before I spent any time fixing any parts he would sell me. He's a member here you know.... http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?action=profile;u=248
It's my guess that he'd make it right one way or another.

[ksmith0034]

The one I bought from him was basically ready to prime and paint.  I'm guessing you accidentally got one that wasn't supposed to go out.  Contact him, he should make good on it.

[andy750]

... that and ive already cut it up,

Too late. Once you modify it then its all yours. Contact him anyway what do you have to lose at this point.

[nokrome]

i got a carpy seat awhile back and it was pretty much in the same condition as yours, i wasnt too worried about it though because i really dont expect any parts that i buy online to be "ready to paint"
  unless you have some really deep gouges in it i would skip the spot putty and go for a couple of coats of some good high build primer followed by a good sanding

[domer]

ya i tried the filler primer... that was before the spot putty. some of it was pretty bad, 1 gouge in particular about 18" long. but ya, i jumped the gun and modified it... i swear most of it wasnt visible untill i sanded it but cant verify that but im sure he'll make good one way or another... ill keep ya posted... thanks for the advice everyone!

[BLUE71TURBO]

Don't use the out of the tube spot putty, like 3m type.  Use a catalyzed spot putty.  The tube type putty is just a type of acylic primer in a tube that will shrink over time. Catalyzed spot putty has a hardner and flows out real nice.
 Go to a automotive paint store and get EVERCOAT POLY FLEX  if your fiberglass seat flex'es alot. If not any of the other types will do. This stuff works great for other things too. I've used it for filling in cracks on wood window's and the outside and inside wood trim. It sands out real smooth.   

     http://www.evercoat.com/productCategory.aspx?cat=1

[MFP]

Weird.  I ordered a Dunstall from Carpy a year ago and it came ready to prime and paint--nothing like what you have there.

[domer]

ya, i don't know what i was thinking cutting it up like that... the only other time I've ordered glass parts they came already primed (chevelle fenders, good ole year one) and otherwise perfect. i guess i wasn't sure what to expect to begin with... and then comes the whole taking action with out thinking thing, god damn hands think they are smarter than their control module
oh well whats done is done, at least it was never intended to be a show piece... just another rattle can rat!

[sangyo soichiro]

I wasn't exactly thrilled with my Airtech seat (the fit was not good, and others had the same problem (e.g., mrosso)), but it was in a lot better shape than what I see in the pictures above.


 

[The_Crippler]

I know nothing about Mr. Carpy personally - but this is the second thread in as many days taking about a fiberglass product not being delivered as expected.  Given that he had such a good rep before, I'm wondering if he's just switched suppliers, and the product is not as good.  I'm sure feedback would be helpful to him, even if you're in the "You mod it, you bought it" category.

[domer]

ya i sent a gentle, i expect to eat this one, kind of email... with pics. maybe just a bad batch? not sure, almost everyone i have talked to has had a good "ready to paint" experience. but hey nobody is perfect, hence im not gonna hold it against the guy...  but you are right this is something that he needs to know! we'll see how it goes down!
on another note, he did go above and beyond when it came to the paypal f up... so i still give the guy serious credit!!!

[BLUE71TURBO]

 He needs to know ?  He knows, he mailed it didn't he ?  It's his business, he's the quality control person bottom line.   

[domer]

o.k. after a few emails i feel a better about this situation. i can safely say i am a sastisfied customer. on that note, ok one slipped through the cracks... happens. no harm no foul, unless the customer is a complete idiot (me). so i must say that i f'd up and posted here and somewhere... with out first trying to fix this with him. that and i started hacking it before giving it a complete once over.
by posting this i feel as might have stirred some unwanted #$%* that could have been avoided with a phone call.
i expected nothing to come of all this the second i realized i had cut it before i found the issues, that said i got everything i wanted, a "sorry, what would you like me to do"   
i hope i havent detered anyone, but if you do get a dud, DONT #$%* WITH IT... CALL HIM!!! he is a pleasure to deal with, and will do you right one way or another.
this was not endorsed by carpy in any way
D 

[bucky katt]

i'm looking at having to fiberglass some reinforcments on my airtech seat. today i was adjusting the chain tension and i leaned my weight on the rear of the seat cowl and heard a horrendu crrrrack! so i'm thinking i'll get some aluminum bar stock, fiberglass mat and some resin and strengthen it in key areas

[ksmith0034]

o.k. after a few emails i feel a better about this situation. i can safely say i am a sastisfied customer. on that note, ok one slipped through the cracks... happens. no harm no foul, unless the customer is a complete idiot (me). so i must say that i f'd up and posted here and somewhere... with out first trying to fix this with him. that and i started hacking it before giving it a complete once over.
by posting this i feel as might have stirred some unwanted #$%* that could have been avoided with a phone call.
i expected nothing to come of all this the second i realized i had cut it before i found the issues, that said i got everything i wanted, a "sorry, what would you like me to do"   
i hope i havent detered anyone, but if you do get a dud, DONT #$%* WITH IT... CALL HIM!!! he is a pleasure to deal with, and will do you right one way or another.
this was not endorsed by carpy in any way
D 

You, good sir, are to be admired.  Not for your stunning looks (I've never seen you) or your uncanny ability to defy the laws of physics (I've never witnessed your sporting aptitude), but simply for the fact that you are willing to publicly admit the err of your words and ways.  You have taken full responsibility for your words and actions; our children should learn as much!
I now rise and ... well, it's hard to type...  as I applaud... wait, I have to type this...
Thank you for your example!

[jimmiejoe]

I wasn't exactly thrilled with my Airtech seat (the fit was not good, and others had the same problem (e.g., mrosso)), but it was in a lot better shape than what I see in the pictures above.


 
Air tech was pretty good with me... they sent me a wind screen that had a strech in it  for a mock up l was doing with one of there fibbe glass wind screens..They fibberr glass was ready for paint....very happy...later they sent me a perfect smoke glass wind screen...l sent them pics of the finish product
Very sweet these peeps are cool

[bucky katt]

my airtech seat on the k4 750 fit perfectly. the hinges and latch work just like on the stock seat pan. the glass is a bit thin is all, and that will be remedied with some fiberglass mat and some resin along with some aluminum bar stock for stiffening.

[greenjeans]

You can make it work.   Get a good, flexible hi-build catalyzed primer.   Sand that sucker flat & smooth and let the primer dry as long as you can stand it.
Let it sit in the sun for a while...