Project: MKSinister
- Thread starter Joleat
- Start date
I'll add those items to my list! The felt squeegee also has a Teflon side, so that may eliminate the need for the thin squeegee.
On another note, I just placed an order for a Plasti Dip anthracite grey wheel kit with glossifier. Many projects are to be completed soon! I have PTU oil on hand, but it has been on the back burner.
On another note, I just placed an order for a Plasti Dip anthracite grey wheel kit with glossifier. Many projects are to be completed soon! I have PTU oil on hand, but it has been on the back burner.
Joleat said:
I'd recommend getting the thin teflon squeegee. It will allow you to work around the corners of the trim pieces more easily "tucking the edges under" the sides of the pieces and working any bubbles out while installing.
If you should scratch the film just hit it with a small hand held torch (like you can get at Home Depot with disposable bottle) with rapid swings for 1-2 seconds ata time and the film will "heal" the scratches... if you need this just go slow... it's quick enough the paint should not really even get warm. My neighbor (a pro wrapper) showed me this trick.
Exciting!!
I used 3m gloss vinyl. Best tools for smoothing it out were my thumbs and a heat gun. Like BMc said, just take your time. Also, if you do use a heat gun, make sure there's no tension / stretch near any of your cuts. If there is, when the sun cooks it, it trends to shrink a couple mm and it will pull your cuts back slightly. Trends to not shrink at all when there's no stretch in it.
I used 3m gloss vinyl. Best tools for smoothing it out were my thumbs and a heat gun. Like BMc said, just take your time. Also, if you do use a heat gun, make sure there's no tension / stretch near any of your cuts. If there is, when the sun cooks it, it trends to shrink a couple mm and it will pull your cuts back slightly. Trends to not shrink at all when there's no stretch in it.
Don't make me take you into a smackdown!I started on the vinyl yesterday evening. The key to successful application is definitely to take it slow. I initially rushed and will have to recover one of the beltline pieces. I have tons of material, so I can take comfort in that regard. I haven't started on the pieces that travel from hood, over the roof, to the trunk, but I anticipate those to be a challenge if for no other reason than length (insert joke here).
jo:
if you are doing it on the roof where the roof slopes from front to back, which i tried using some pin stripping material. there are 2 main issues, first the slope doesn't go all the way from front to back about 6-8" front & back no slope. 2nd the slope is not straight, it's kind of curved. after i tried serveral times & it ended up bowing out in the middle of the roof i gave up. but i'm an amateur maybe you have more experience.
mikev
if you are doing it on the roof where the roof slopes from front to back, which i tried using some pin stripping material. there are 2 main issues, first the slope doesn't go all the way from front to back about 6-8" front & back no slope. 2nd the slope is not straight, it's kind of curved. after i tried serveral times & it ended up bowing out in the middle of the roof i gave up. but i'm an amateur maybe you have more experience.
mikev
My experience with vinyl is only in the area of decal installation. This is my first attempt at wrapping trim pieces. I guess the same principles apply though. I watched a few videos this morning and the pros reposition the vinyl quite a bit while they're working with it. I need to keep that in mind. Yesterday, I was scared that if I removed and reapplied that I wouldn't get a good bond. I also tried not to stretch it as much as possible, but in the videos I watched, this didn't seem to be a concern. Oh well, I have enough to wrap it two more times if needed, so I might experiment with application techniques.
Sorry if I mislead you Jo, stretching is a huge part of it. It's your best friend and a heat gun can go a long way in helping accomish that.
What I had mentioned before was just being careful to not stretch it over the edge, then cut it. You want to avoid tension at the edge, but stretching throughout the middle is going to be wicked helpful.
What I had mentioned before was just being careful to not stretch it over the edge, then cut it. You want to avoid tension at the edge, but stretching throughout the middle is going to be wicked helpful.
panther427
New member
Good to get a piece to play with. See how it reacts to heat and surface stretch. Get a better feel for the material. I have found that useful.
Things just got a little more sinister...
New pictures have been added to the original post. The chrome has now been dipped or wrapped (depending on the piece) and the wheels and emblems have been dipped. Before doing all four wheels, I decided to do one from start to finish to make sure I liked the outcome. I initially sprayed glossifier over the final coat of dip, but upon installing the wheels, I accidentally marred one of the lug nut wells with my wrench. I stepped back, thought about it for a minute, and decided to hit that wheel again with straight dip and forget about the glossifier. This will make future touch ups much easier as the glossifier is difficult to apply in place. If applied to a vertical surface, it has a tendency to run. Overall, the anthracite gray has enough sheen for my liking, so the glossifier isn't missed. I took the car for a spin earlier this evening and already had someone compliment it.
Notes for others: I was able to dip four 20" wheels and four emblems with a little over one and a half cans of dip. I ordered the full extra gloss wheel kit, which included four cans of dip and two cans of glossifier. Since the anthracite gray is not available in stores, I like the idea of having a couple of extra cans on hand for future touch ups. If you go with one of the off-the-shelf colors, two cans should be adequate for your wheels.
New pictures have been added to the original post. The chrome has now been dipped or wrapped (depending on the piece) and the wheels and emblems have been dipped. Before doing all four wheels, I decided to do one from start to finish to make sure I liked the outcome. I initially sprayed glossifier over the final coat of dip, but upon installing the wheels, I accidentally marred one of the lug nut wells with my wrench. I stepped back, thought about it for a minute, and decided to hit that wheel again with straight dip and forget about the glossifier. This will make future touch ups much easier as the glossifier is difficult to apply in place. If applied to a vertical surface, it has a tendency to run. Overall, the anthracite gray has enough sheen for my liking, so the glossifier isn't missed. I took the car for a spin earlier this evening and already had someone compliment it.
Notes for others: I was able to dip four 20" wheels and four emblems with a little over one and a half cans of dip. I ordered the full extra gloss wheel kit, which included four cans of dip and two cans of glossifier. Since the anthracite gray is not available in stores, I like the idea of having a couple of extra cans on hand for future touch ups. If you go with one of the off-the-shelf colors, two cans should be adequate for your wheels.
panther427
New member
Looks awesome.
bigmoneycloser
New member
Wow!!!
Love the new changes..
Love the new changes..
Ryan02Stang
New member
I know this thread is old...but your car looks great man. Has given me some ideas for my black MKS.
