Show me your stripes!

[Diego Narwhal]

Went with just the hood accents on mine but I love them!

Nice look on the red. I'm giving some serious consideration to those Roush extractors. I love that look as well.

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[BigWormGraphix]

I think those that are having lift issues are having them on the bends. Like right above the license plate or between the grills. All you need to do is use some heat and form the vinyl to those bends.

As for washing with pressure, the kit I have from big worm has the stripes extend past the edges where you can see them. So getting an edge to lift up with just water would actually be kind of difficult. I take mine through a couple different touchless washes here in the winter and haven't had any problems. I'm sure there is a pressure level that is too high but the big worm kits appear to hold up well.

Correct. The lifting can be caused by a couple of things - wax/dust on the surface before installation, stripe not warmed enough to cure during or after install, too high pressure water on cleaning or lifting it with something (fingers while washing, scrubbing on the edge, etc). Big thing is on the prep before installation to be sure any wax is removed, a lot of dealers use a coating or wax on all cars if you want it or not. Also some drive thru car washes apply a wax. Since you can't see the wax we use masking tape to test the surface. If the masking tape has problems sticking then the vinyl will also. We use a alcohol based solution to remove the wax and then rinse with water. There are similar products available at car parts stores usually in the paint/body area, normally called "pre-paint wax remover" or similar. If there is wax left on the car any vinyl will have a hard time sticking long term.

 

[NvrFinished]

What if the car has been treated with a ceramic coating? Does that have to be removed as well?

 

[BigWormGraphix]

What if the car has been treated with a ceramic coating? Does that have to be removed as well?

Test with the masking tape to check it. The ceramic coatings vary a lot from dealer to dealer, some of them are more of spray on waxes (which need to be cleaned off first).

 

[Stam616]

Correct. The lifting can be caused by a couple of things - wax/dust on the surface before installation, stripe not warmed enough to cure during or after install, too high pressure water on cleaning or lifting it with something (fingers while washing, scrubbing on the edge, etc). Big thing is on the prep before installation to be sure any wax is removed, a lot of dealers use a coating or wax on all cars if you want it or not. Also some drive thru car washes apply a wax. Since you can't see the wax we use masking tape to test the surface. If the masking tape has problems sticking then the vinyl will also. We use a alcohol based solution to remove the wax and then rinse with water. There are similar products available at car parts stores usually in the paint/body area, normally called "pre-paint wax remover" or similar. If there is wax left on the car any vinyl will have a hard time sticking long term.

The car wash I go to has no brushes, but it does have those spinning sponge strip looking things.. lol sorry I don't know what they are called. The main reason I am hesitant pulling the trigger is because I want to make sure that the stripes will not come off under most common conditions. I wish you guys could guarantee that. I love the stripes but I may wait and have them painted on when I get the money. IDK.

 

[NvrFinished]

Test with the masking tape to check it. The ceramic coatings vary a lot from dealer to dealer, some of them are more of spray on waxes (which need to be cleaned off first).

Thanks for the quick response. Actually I'm referring to the special aftermarket nano coatings such as Ceramic Pro, Opti-Coat, CQuartz, and etc.

 

[COYOTEV8]

Thanks for the quick response. Actually I'm referring to the special aftermarket nano coatings such as Ceramic Pro, Opti-Coat, CQuartz, and etc.

We have some folks with Ceramic Pro treatment, stripes went on top of that without problem and hold on for 6+ month now (even earlier it was claimed that nothing would stick on Ceramic Pro)

Saying that, if you have the option, put the stripes on first, then the Ceramic Pro...

 

[BigWormGraphix]

The car wash I go to has no brushes, but it does have those spinning sponge strip looking things.. lol sorry I don't know what they are called. The main reason I am hesitant pulling the trigger is because I want to make sure that the stripes will not come off under most common conditions. I wish you guys could guarantee that. I love the stripes but I may wait and have them painted on when I get the money. IDK.

How well the stripes stick depends on the install/prep before the install and how you take care of your car. Cheap, poor quality vinyl actually sticks very well - just won't last too long. Also car washes can blast off almost anything, I had one blast off the 5.0 emblems on my car. Since both of those conditions are out of our control we can't guarantee they will not come off. If you follow our recommendations then it will not be a problem.

 

[Five0GT]

What about getting the edges to stick? Is there any way to do this after the stripes are already installed? It's just the upper front bumper where the edge wraps under the hood. Everywhere else is fine


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[Xantom]

The lifting can be caused by a couple of things - wax/dust on the surface before installation...

I have held off on claying and waxing my car until I get my stripes on. Going with the 2 strip narrow and pins. Would you suggest claying it right before I take it in to be done? I assume the installer will prep surface some before as well. I have only hand washed and I am pretty confident the dealer did not even wash my car. Thanks for any pointers to tell my install guy. Hoping to have my car out in the next 6 weeks.

 

[BigWormGraphix]

What about getting the edges to stick? Is there any way to do this after the stripes are already installed? It's just the upper front bumper where the edge wraps under the hood. Everywhere else is fine


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Peel the edge up, clean the stripe and car with water, then reinstall and warm everything with a heat gun/hair dryer. More than likely in that situation the vinyl wasn't warmed enough for it to cure so you may be able to get it to stick by warming it.

 

[BigWormGraphix]

I have held off on claying and waxing my car until I get my stripes on. Going with the 2 strip narrow and pins. Would you suggest claying it right before I take it in to be done? I assume the installer will prep surface some before as well. I have only hand washed and I am pretty confident the dealer did not even wash my car. Thanks for any pointers to tell my install guy. Hoping to have my car out in the next 6 weeks.

I would clay it first and then prep it/test with masking tape yourself to be on the safe side. Most solutions that are used with a clay bar are similar to spray waxes and would make it difficult for vinyl to stick correctly.

 

[spicyypenguin]

Just had the stripes put on, not the best quality picture but I couldn't be more happy with the results!

 

[Diego Narwhal]

Just had the stripes put on, not the best quality picture but I couldn't be more happy with the results!

Very nice look. I'll also mention that I'm jealous of your weather...foot and a half of snow here, so mine's not seeing the light of day for a while...

 

[spicyypenguin]

Very nice look. I'll also mention that I'm jealous of your weather...foot and a half of snow here, so mine's not seeing the light of day for a while...

That's "winter" in San Diego for you

Also, big thanks for [MENTION=6592]BigWormGraphix[/MENTION] for these stripes!

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