Vinyl Application Methods And Where To Buy!, I own my own buisness, Ill show you what its all about. Options

[Abb]

Okay so i glanced and saw that some of the questions are about putting vinyl on your car. Im a 3m certified installer and have applied many full graphic car wraps, to small decals and all types of vinyl. In my experience, ill let you know.
Heres the run down for ya>>

1. Putting vinyl on your car is great, actually protects the paint, and wax the vinyl is fine, its good for it.

2. WHERE TO BUY?. Please, if you want to buy a pre cut piece from ebay go ahead. Its a calendered vinyl, with means its one solid color throughout. so you wont notice scratches. But it does scuff a gloss finish easy. But you wont get in tight on those corners because its precut. If you wanted to you could goto your local "sign shop" and purchase a bit of vinyl. Cost of vinyl is something like 8$ a linear yard(thats at 48" wide). They may mark it up to 12ish. Then you could do it urself and lay the vinyl right into those corners u dont want to see bare. If you really want it done right, get them to install it and show them exactly what you want. There are liquid tapes that they can use to help adheison when folding the vinyl around bends.

3. TYPES of vinyl. There are all kinds you can buy to add to ur car, 1, NEVER buy decals from a general store. They contain an adhesive that is very strong and hard to remove if you ever messed up. And you need a hard cleaner to take off the adhesive which may not be paint coat friendly if u use to much. There are vinyls out there which you can get a printing company to print designs or patterns on. That would be called 3M Controltac Vinyl. Its designed for use on vehicles. Theres 2 kinds. V1 which has a sort of snakeskin pattern in the adhesive, so when its applied it has a minor textured look. And V2. Which has a smoother finish. Make sure to get the 3M scotchcal lamanate applied to it also. Thats the lam thats designed for the controltac*.
And last but not least, there are the metalic vinyls. Like the Carbon fiber, and chrome. Which are very hard to apply and and go over any surface thats curved. If you get that. make sure you have a professional do it. Or at least have knowledge of using vinyl or you can bet it wont be that good of a finish. Also make sure you apply primer 97(liquid tape meant for this application) to the bends or else they are guaranteed to lift and fail.

4. APPLICATION. When your applying the vinyl, you can get a spray bottle, and fillit with water, and add 2 drips of dish detergent. That might help you when you mess up, to remove it easier, and work out bubbles. The proper stuff to use is called RapidTac. If you are using a metalic vinyl. Dont use a solution. Generally, you wont be able to stretch it at all and is very hard to lay down when the surface is wet. for 3M controltac. Dont use any solution, U can literally press on a bubble and it will dissipate thought the lined adhesive. Great stuff.

DO NOT'S:
Do not put vinyl on rust, or a waxed surface. It will peel off like there was a layer of butter under it.
Do not pull vinyl off fast, because any stone chip can turn into a paint peel. (Unlikely unless theres rust on the chip)
Do not cut bubbles with a knife. Use a pin to "pop" them. When theres a slit in vinyl it can possibly peel back and tear. If theres a circle pin prick. It disperses tension evenly.
Don't clean surface with windex prior to applying vinyl. Windex contains canuba(or something) which is wax. "streak free finish" lol. Use a mild soap and water, or alcohol.

Here are some examples of what you can do. (Full car wrap, from brown to hot yellow). Took me 1 full day alone. 3M Controltac Printed yellow. Looks Flawless)

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And what ive done to my own vehicle! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) . With my platinum tints (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Ill answer any questions if people have any.

Carbon fiber(large weave) front bumper and emblems. Bad camera, sorry, But notice how its layed into the curves. etc.
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Hope this helped and didn't confuse you any more!. If you want it to look good. Get it done professionally. Most sign shops can do it.

Thanks, Tim

RUTTAN GRAPHICS

[Black_lancer08]

Thank you very much for a very informative write up! this will really help people out! thanks again!

[Abb]

If people are really interested in the actual. Applying it to your car step. I can do a video and youtube it. But like i said. Its a bitch sometimes if you arent experienced. And when u get only enough vinyl, you have one chance. So dont mess it up! lol.

[fullmetalpanic]

Thanks for the FYI! Your work looks pretty good!

[itsjustlenny]

wow great how-to. i've been thinking of doing this but wasnt sure how to. might give it a try to the front bumper part...not sure yet.

[Abb]

I mean, if u have a garage, and heated. No dirt or dust on it at all (dirt under smooth vinyl shows up like crazy, looks bad). and a little knowledge using heat guns. I dident use a heat gun for mine to apply, and its a metallic carbon. But to make sure it dident peel back up in the fine edges of it, i heated it up once it was all done. Trust me theres no way but the right way to do things. Might aswell take the extra 10 20 mins of prep / finishing. Another thing, when finishing it, if ur using a blade to cut it once its layed, push lightly because cutting threw doesent take much effort at all, a sharp blade does all the work. If you cut into the finish of ur car. its okay, dont freak, the bumpers pvc. Wont rust.