visa_broke

I've seen a few people comment about wrapping cars in vinyl and i'm thinking of going this route soon but just have a few questions

does it damage the paint underneath at all? Mines fine apart from one small rust bubble on the passenger door.

what is the process of applying the wrap? is it as simple as doing something like:

clean panel, spray soapy water on the panel then lay the vinyl on top and use a heatgun while smoothing out the vinyl and getting any bubbles out of it

how do you go about trim like the small pieces normally half way up the doors, do you remove them, wrap them and then refit them?

thanks

furry

it will only damage the paint if the paintwork is not 100% the rust will need sorting and at least priming/flatting before wrapping over

you apply wrap dry with heat not with any fluid.

small items are best removed, wrapped and re fitted


trust me it's not easy to do so be prepared to screw it up if it's the first time you've done it, as there are LOTS of techniques used to get it right.

costina

iTrader: (1)

All the above is correct but remember these points.

Be carefull not to cut into paint when trimming edges as it will corrode.

Also i would top coat any primed surfaces as 90% Of primers are porrous.

bj928

my friend wraps vehicles most days, from cars to coaches, he uses soapy water as it makes it easier to adjust, but as said above its not easy, he is on here but not sure of his profile name, hopefully he will be along to advise shortly

cfoster

I highly doubt that if he is a pro wrapper he would use soap and water to wrap a car. Proper wrap vinyl is repositional (ie - not that sticky) and most now come with an air release system. Once in place you 'activate' it by applying heat (which makes it sticky. He may use soap/water when applying larger graphics onto cars but not wraps (although he should not really be using soap / water, there are particular liquids that are much more efficient).

As said above paint needs to be good otherwise you run the risk of removing laquer / paint when removed. Easiest thing is to youtube it, plenty of guides. I've been wrapping cars for around 6 years now and always find new techniques even now. Always taking care cutting on the car as you will damage if done too heavy. You can buy cut tape which makes it easier.

HTH
Chris

visa_broke

Some very interesting replies guys and all helpful.

I might pick up a spare rust free door since the cars being wrapped so I don't have to worry about the rust now. The rest of the car is fine. I will have a look for some youtube videos, most i've seen have been for dipping cars which doesn't give the best results from what i've seen.

on a scale of 1-10 what would people say it normally is, i'm good with mechanicals and can swap engines etc but this will be a first attempt.

only other thing that I was concerned about is trim, would that need removing and then wrapping and refitting?

cfoster

I would say the more you can take off the better. Depending on the car I aim to remove all headlights, bumper trims, door handles etc where possible. I'm confident enough on some cars not to do this but for a beginner definitely! Prep is the key as well, get yourself some isopropyl and clean all panels etc properly just before applying.

Some people pick up wrapping really easy, although its down to the person. I would have thought that window tinting is similar but I am SH1T at that!! Although I will be going on a tinting course soon!!

imnoteasy

I've been in the trade 22 years. I used to wrap cars well before the air release was around.
Wrapped a mini once in chrome. Not air release and was thick stuff.

And found that easier to do than leaning to window tint. Still find it a ball ache tinting.

BRAMMER

iTrader: (23)

I work for the biggest wrapping company in the UK and done correct using a decent material it's fine, be careful who you use - adhesive technology has come along way so the vinyl can be moved around before heated in - I'm having my BMW wrapped next week in 3M 1080 satin dark grey

furry

wrapped my old 5 a few years ago, first complete car I'd done

JasonPD

plenty of vids to YouTube showing it done but there is no substitute for experience. Glasgow wrapping company regularly use my unit when they have a car to do through this way so I've seen it done many a time. I got them to wrap my van in matte grey a few years ago. Still wouldn't expect to be able to do it myself without lots of practice. Easy(ish) to do the flat panels but it's all the fiddly bits that put me off..

gcfcos

That looks quality mate. Wouldn't have the patience to do a wing mirror let alone a whole car! Anyone know what it would cost to wrap a saph Cossie

ircossie76

Is that Jay your talking about.? If so he wrapped my mk1 focus rs and did a superb job, it completely transformed the way it looked and was a great way to stand out.

visa_broke

Thanks for the replys. I've got a pair of new bumpers coming soon for my car in the next week hopefully so I'll be getting some stuff together and wrapping them before they go on the car and wrapping a spare passenger door thats rust free. If that goes to plan i'll progress onto the rest of the car.

cossynut2

This is of course your call but if I was going to wrap my car I would leave it to the professionals.The guys who do it full time know all the tricks of the trade to get it spot on.

JasonPD

Based on what I paid to have my van done (Ł1400) I'd estimate about a grand

gcfcos

Yeah I was thinking around that amount. May be something to look at, was thinking about a Matt battleship grey kind of colour. Although I'm currently trying to teach myself to paint so may end up painting it

furry

best wrapping the bumpers on the car as it stops them moving when your applying it. you really have to pull the wrap around to get it applied and being loose you will struggle.

cfoster

Exactly as above defo do the bumpers on the car, removing headlights etc can help as it gives you a better angle to pull the vinyl....

gcfcos

How long does a decent wrap last on a car?

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

It is MUCH harder than it looks, I had a few goes at it as I have tinted quite a few windows in the past, but gave up as I just don't have the skill, or the patience!

furry

my wifes tigra turbo has been wrapped 4+ years and still as good as the day it was done

gcfcos

Well I've never liked Tigras before but looks pretty cool. Like the wrap too, lasts well then.

costina

iTrader: (1)

And thats from a guy who run's bodyshops so it must be good....

gcfcos

Somehow I wrote my post completely wrong lol. Just edited it. Meant to say I've never liked Tigras before but that looks cool

JasonPD

I don't have any recent pics of my van (same apart from change of wheels) but this is a pic taken when I collected it after being wrapped 3 years ago. The colour is a matte metallic grey.

gcfcos

Now I do like that!!!!

furry

it's the only tigra twin top turbo in existence that we know of.

produces 262bhp @ 6psi and was 30+ degrees in the workshop the day it was mapped!!

cossynut2

Visabroke. From the replies and photos put up it seems to me if you want it done right and to last its not really a D.I.Y. job. If you can afford it leave it to the professionals.

gcfcos

I think it looks cool. Sounds like it goes bloody well too

Quaver

They look bloody good wrapped, a friend was going to get a it done last year but didn't I've also thought about it but one thing..

They obviously don't do under bonnets, inside doors ect ect cause say the car's red and you want matt black, evertime the doors boot or bonnet's opened it's a giveaway...still look good though..

cfoster

Quaver - inside doors is the normal, in some instances it is possible to remove the door, wrap right across the shuts and refit the door. The inner edges of the doors are normally done as well. If someone wants a cheaper install done you still run the vinyl around the first lip so that the colour cannot be seen.

Below is an S4 I wrapped, was red underneath but did the doorshuts, you couldn't even tell what colour it was previous when it was finished!

imnoteasy

Yanamize is prob the most well known for wrapping. But charges for it. They strip the car right down. And have it on ramps. Always remove the doors. Lights. Bumpers off

Quaver

I see....looks dam good

furry

the mate of mine that wrapped the Tigra is a 3M qualified wrapper and has just done his Astra van.

complete doors off, wings off etc and you'd never know it was originally white. even made the spot welds look original colour

gcfcos

That van looks awesome. I wonder what my Cossie would look like wrapped good thing to think
About

cfoster

Looks good that van, that shape is bit of a fooker to do, those recesses on the side panels are deeper than they seem! I just wrapped one this shape for a customer as well, it was red and he wanted it wrapping, ummm, red (very random!!)

stu20004x4

Any good wrappers in s e London area?

imnoteasy

Yanazmize but dig deep. Their very expensive.

visa_broke

well my bumpers have turned up. I might have a practice on fitting the front to the car and wrapping that and see how i get on