Hi members,
I see there is not much detail on the forum here about vinyl wraps. So I thought might share some of the knowledge I have. Customizing vehicles has always been my passion, so when I got know about vehicle wrapping I began my research about it and it’s been quite some time since then.
Vehicle wrapping industry is currently growing in India but at a slow pace. One of the main reason for it is because the whole exercise of wrapping a car is expensive (You do have cheaper options but I’ll let you know why you shouldn’t go for them later. I have experienced many grades of materials right from the cheapest ones to the highest quality ones I could get my hands here.)
First the important part. What material should you choose?:
There are basically two types of materials – 1.) Calendared and 2.) Cast. The main difference is in their manufacturing process but I won’t get into much detail here, just remember one thing; always choose a premium grade cast vinyl for full body wraps. Cast vinyl is more conformable and durable than the Calendared ones. Calendared vinyl is good for decals or on flat surfaces; it won’t stay there for long on your car’s curved body parts. Also a Calendared vinyl tends to return back to its original flat form over a period of time.
Things to take car before proceeding for a wrap:
Once you’ve decided to get your ride a unique look with a wrap, you need to do a few things so you can get a perfect finish -
1.) Make sure your vehicle does not have any areas where paint can peel off, like a rusted spot or a poorly painted area. In case you have had an aftermarket paint job let your installers know that.
2.) Clean the whole vehicle. Advisable to get it washed and detailed a day earlier than the application of the wrap. Getting your vehicle clayed is also highly recommended as any spec in the surface can lead to a not so perfect finish. Waxed layer should also be removed for proper adhesion, so make sure your vehicle isn’t waxed when detailed before a wrap.
Once this is done, it’s time to leave your car for the wrap application.
It is Wrap time:
Youtube made wrapping a car look easy but here is what you might want to know.
Before the wrap begins, a few more steps will be taken. The removable parts on the vehicle will be dismantled for a proper wrap. It adds to the cost of labour but this type of wrap can stay longer.
It is possible to get the wrap done without going through the trouble of removing everything and putting it back together, saves money and takes lesser time but chances of edges peeling are more here.
Once this is done, the film is carefully installed on a clean panel one by one and care is taken not to produce any wrinkles or bubbles while doing so.
Use of heat is made where required. Extra material is cut off, edges finished off and after giving it some heat treatment the wrap is complete.
The removed parts are again installed, the surface cleaned and the ride is good to go to its customer. Though it is advisable to allow 24-36 hours for the adhesive make its bond strong before the vehicle is normally used.
After care for your wrap:
A wrap though acts a protective layer for your factory paint, needs care too.
Normal washing can be done. A good spray cleaner would work well with a soft cloth over the vinyl or you could get a special vinyl cleaner as well.
It is not advisable to pressure wash a wrapped vehicle, so advise the service station guys when you send in your car for maintenance.
If you have a Matte or some other finish (carbon,brushed) make sure you avoid using any type of wax products. It will get embedded in the small pores and change the look.
Do not park under direct sunlight, if possible get a cover.
With things taken care of your wrap should last you long enough, until you make up your mind for a new look.
And now why you shouldn’t use a cheap wrap material:
I am sure you might have been surprised by the quotes you received for a vinyl wrap and sometimes felt you could just get your car painted in that amount. But then there are some who could provide you a full wrap at fraction of that cost. Ever wondered why?
There can be two situations – 1.) They are getting the high quality material at a really great price or 2.) They aren’t using it at all.
The cheaper vinyls or the so called generic “Imported” ones are usually calendared vinyl. Which means they will at some point of time will give away and peel off.
It is also said to be less durable then a cast vinyl, which will lead it to fading and cracking earlier. Make sure you remove the vinyl as soon you notice it is cracking, as one that happens, the film won’t come off in one piece and you would be left with millions of tiny pieces to be removed.
But the main reason, I wouldn't advise you to go in for these “Imported” ones is because they do not use a high grade removable adhesive that the premium cast vinyls come with. Many of them actually use permanent adhesive, which rather than protecting your paint is going to harm it.
One example I can give you is the difference between a cheap sun film and a high quality one. You might have noticed the cheaper ones tend to get distorted and leave a bad residue when taken off, in the end making you spend more for cleanup.
Or you might have come across a stubborn decal/sticker that cannot be removed unless you scracth it out. These too use permanent adhesive.
Imagine that same situation on your painted surface with a cheaper wrap film.
In the end it is, ’You get what you pay for' scenario.
I hope this post gave you some idea of what a wrap is and what things should be taken care of. If you do have something to add into, do so as the knowledge collected will help others.
For those interested in vehicle wraps, the 3M Series 1080 wrap, according to me are currently the best. These come in various colors and finishes.
Here is the look at sample cards from 3M.
Wraps can also be given a custom graphic job (digitally printed) like I did here. This is again 3M's graphic film with a gloss overlaminate.
I have also creating some designs which will be used for DIY projects.
Regards,
Shoeb