Vinyl Wrap DIY
LOL
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,805
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From: St.Petersburg/Tampa, FL
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 51
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Hi everyone,
ok so I have read this thread and its good. So I decided to start DIY vinyl wrap. The pictures are the results... I will be removing the yellow tint, black sticker fromt he headlamp area. Completely forgot to remove the black sticker. Must have left it on there.. Anyways, The trunk, rear bumper and hood still need to be done. and the rest of the vinyl still needs to be trimmed straight ( as you can see the passenger side lower rocker area is still messy )
Overall I like the super brige white the vinyl exhibts, its virtually brighter than any other manufactured paint on the market. Add to the matte lines give a nice, smooth and sharp look to the angled lines of the car. Hopefully when the car is completely done, I'll take some professional photos and add them to my blog.
I have posted some pictures on my gallary please see those Thanks!
ok so I have read this thread and its good. So I decided to start DIY vinyl wrap. The pictures are the results... I will be removing the yellow tint, black sticker fromt he headlamp area. Completely forgot to remove the black sticker. Must have left it on there.. Anyways, The trunk, rear bumper and hood still need to be done. and the rest of the vinyl still needs to be trimmed straight ( as you can see the passenger side lower rocker area is still messy )
Overall I like the super brige white the vinyl exhibts, its virtually brighter than any other manufactured paint on the market. Add to the matte lines give a nice, smooth and sharp look to the angled lines of the car. Hopefully when the car is completely done, I'll take some professional photos and add them to my blog.
I have posted some pictures on my gallary please see those Thanks!
any update??
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 18
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Thanks dirtykoala,
I was quite inspired by you to undertake the project to wrap my car matt black. Doors and rear panels were generally easy to tackle with some trial and error. Feel that the worse part to wrap is (without a doubt) the front bumper. Its insane because without a helper, it is near impossible to lay the vinyl onto it. Even then, it took my friend and i about 2 hours to get the vinyl properly rested on the bumper itself.
It wasnt a fantastic job but its to see the imperfection until close up. The following is a link to my work in progress. Thanks for the invaluable advice on this thread.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...3&l=7f3cf0b450
I also didnt have the luxury of a hair dryer at ready. Instead, i used a gas lighter for the heating job. Its fairly effective, but cant match a hair dryer.
Ps: for those planning to do this insane job, be mentally prepared to suffer some back aches too. Creases are painful and grostesque, but tears on the vinyl is worse. Always have a few litres of soap water on the ready. You do need the, as and when. A thorough wrap must involve removal of the wing mirrors, front and rear bumpers. I didnt, but i would if i have to do this again and i just might. Laying down the vinyl onto the car is important, but so is the trimming process. Do not start trimming until you are absolutely done. The excess can be very handy in stretching the vinyl to cover slightly larger areas. Clean the car thoroughly. Sand bits do get trapped between vinyl and the car surface. Most important of all, you need to have buckets of patience.
To the fellow singaporeans: if you are keen to join me or to obtain my assistance, feel free to pm me. :-)
I was quite inspired by you to undertake the project to wrap my car matt black. Doors and rear panels were generally easy to tackle with some trial and error. Feel that the worse part to wrap is (without a doubt) the front bumper. Its insane because without a helper, it is near impossible to lay the vinyl onto it. Even then, it took my friend and i about 2 hours to get the vinyl properly rested on the bumper itself.
It wasnt a fantastic job but its to see the imperfection until close up. The following is a link to my work in progress. Thanks for the invaluable advice on this thread.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...3&l=7f3cf0b450
I also didnt have the luxury of a hair dryer at ready. Instead, i used a gas lighter for the heating job. Its fairly effective, but cant match a hair dryer.
Ps: for those planning to do this insane job, be mentally prepared to suffer some back aches too. Creases are painful and grostesque, but tears on the vinyl is worse. Always have a few litres of soap water on the ready. You do need the, as and when. A thorough wrap must involve removal of the wing mirrors, front and rear bumpers. I didnt, but i would if i have to do this again and i just might. Laying down the vinyl onto the car is important, but so is the trimming process. Do not start trimming until you are absolutely done. The excess can be very handy in stretching the vinyl to cover slightly larger areas. Clean the car thoroughly. Sand bits do get trapped between vinyl and the car surface. Most important of all, you need to have buckets of patience.
To the fellow singaporeans: if you are keen to join me or to obtain my assistance, feel free to pm me. :-)
I did the wrap on the Amuse with 3m 1080 satin pearl white. The challenge was quite different. One is that 1080 is not very stretch friendly. It will readily lift along the edges, if its excessively stretched. The upside is that its much easier to achieve bubble free finishing.
Just an advice for the guys trying this diy. Ensure that the surfaces are absolutely clean and dry. Yes, DRY. 1080 doesn't stick, if the surface is slightly wet or moist. Be warned. I was surprised by this, on a few occasions and it was a mighty PITA fixing it. What I did was to use tissue paper and run it over the surface, so that any droplets are immediately dried off. Dun trust your bare hands. They do fail you quite often.
Have fun!
PS: My Amuse wrap job is also within the same FB album. Its not the best wrap job, but its good enough.
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 994
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How much wrap does one need to wrap a front bumper? Also does anyone know which vinyl wrap is closest to Berlina black? And any tips to getting the deep recessed parts like the grill area and brake ducts on an amuse bumper?
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,445
Likes: 8
From: Allentown, PA 18103
i work for a digital print company and we do a lot of vehicle wraps. I have done bits and pieces myself but never a whole wrap.
These things i do know however:
Prepping your car is critical (soap wash, then isopropyl alcohol)
Don't cheap out on the film. 3M is about the best, but we only use IJ180c v3 - this has air channels in the adhesive part of the vinyl to help with install.
Don't stretch - this will only bite you in the end. Keeping things taught is fine, but stretch is not good
Heat is king, but not too much. Heat also helps the adhesive stick to the car. Along with pressure. Working on a warm day is an advantage. Cold days will kill you (and the vinyl)
If you can't do the difficult parts, get in touch with a local signwriter that does car graphics and get them to finish it.
Take as much time as you can, don't panic when you see bubbles etc.
Do try to avoid creasing the vinyl as it may not come out.
i'm waiting delivery on a lip and spoiler and i'll be wrapping these - i'm nervous as i have no patience.
These things i do know however:
Prepping your car is critical (soap wash, then isopropyl alcohol)
Don't cheap out on the film. 3M is about the best, but we only use IJ180c v3 - this has air channels in the adhesive part of the vinyl to help with install.
Don't stretch - this will only bite you in the end. Keeping things taught is fine, but stretch is not good
Heat is king, but not too much. Heat also helps the adhesive stick to the car. Along with pressure. Working on a warm day is an advantage. Cold days will kill you (and the vinyl)
If you can't do the difficult parts, get in touch with a local signwriter that does car graphics and get them to finish it.
Take as much time as you can, don't panic when you see bubbles etc.
Do try to avoid creasing the vinyl as it may not come out.
i'm waiting delivery on a lip and spoiler and i'll be wrapping these - i'm nervous as i have no patience.