Thoughts on wraps

[Scott.lester1]

Just wondering what you guy’s thoughts are on vinyl wraps and any heads ups with 3M or Avery and colors like roaring thunder or deep space. Also about how long they will last in FL prolly outside most of the time

 

[Jmesl8er]

Usually 3-5 years

 

[Chef jpd]

My black roof wrap was shot after 3 years.
I kept it pretty clean, but water spots became an issue.I
Kept outside 24/7

 

[MaskedRacerX]

I think they're a good alternative to a sandwich made with bread, especially if you use a low carb tortilla.

 

[NoVaGT]

I'd think it wont last long outside in Florida.

 

[ugstang17]

Look into Oracal Vinyl. Used heavily in Marine applications. Make sure you find someone authorized and properly trained to install it as well as ANY vinyl application.

I learned the hard way by trying to save a buck on having stripes done that it does not pay to go cheap. You end up paying twice. The cut tape (think that is what it is called) for example that these guys use to do this work comes in different types for different vinyl types. If you attempt to use the wrong cut tape on the wrong vinyl application the edge will look ragged and not clean. The $300 dollar job I had done looked like this. The tape actually looked like painted on stripes that had been masked off with tape that allowed the paint to weep through. The person who I went to that did the job correctly (who was also trained on Avery, 3M, and Oracal and had credentials to prove it) showed me why the vinyl looked so jagged by demonstrating how that happens when the wrong cut tape is used with the wrong vinyl type. So make sure whatever type of vinyl work you have done is done by someone with a good rep. BTW - just because a place has a fancy website with lots of photos of high end exotic cars they have done as examples doesn't mean they will do the same job for you.

Talk to the people and don't talk to just one. Don't trust a place just because they have examples of high end exotic cars as examples. I learned in my search that people focused on tending to the elite often neglect work on more common vehicles. Be assertive in what you want. LEAVE NOTHING for the vinyl installer to assume. If you want all badges removed and all edges tucked make sure you specify this and state that you are as picky about the car as you would be if it were a Ford GT or European exotic being done.

Sorry to ramble on. I got screwed trying to go cheap (my fault). I also learned when looking for a suitable place to redo the work that examples of their vinyl work on fancy exotics does not always reflect the level of work you will get on your domestic pride and joy. Be cautious, educate yourself, and be specific in what you want including the level of professionalism you expect in the completed job. GET IT ALL IN WRITING.

 

[MX5Racer]

So how do you go about finding someone in your area? Yellow pages have gone extinct, a google search pulls up a thousand companies that do advertising graphics, and catching a wrapped car with the owner nearby is impossible!

 

[Bikeman315]

So how do you go about finding someone in your area? Yellow pages have gone extinct, a google search pulls up a thousand companies that do advertising graphics, and catching a wrapped car with the owner nearby is impossible!

I would look for the top detailer in your area and speak to them. If they do not do full wraps I'd bet they know who would.

Maybe someone like this.....

https://legendaryautosalon.com/

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Aside from simple aging, I would worry about chips or scratches. I think you would have to live with them or replace an entire panel and hope it matches. No touch ups like paint.

Another thing, and I know these are small samples, but I have never seen a non gloss wrap with real world use that the reflectivity didn't start looking different in different areas. Lastly, sort of mottled. And I've seen numerous gloss wraps in places like Barret Jackson where I would expect the owner wanted to impress yet every one of them had worse orange peel effect up close than a typical factory pant job. Looked shiny as hell from a distance but looked really bad (to me) up close.

 

[ugstang17]

So how do you go about finding someone in your area? Yellow pages have gone extinct, a google search pulls up a thousand companies that do advertising graphics, and catching a wrapped car with the owner nearby is impossible!

Contact a body shop. Most people today who do stripes and so forth in vinyl have expanded to doing wraps or will know people who do wraps. I had no problem finding three in my immediate area by doing a simple search on duckduckgo.com. Search vinyl wrap automotive + (the area you live in).

 

[Mustang5ohMan]

Thought about doing it, then thought it’s a waste of MY money... key word my but to each their own.

 

[Scott.lester1]

Aside from simple aging, I would worry about chips or scratches. I think you would have to live with them or replace an entire panel and hope it matches. No touch ups like paint.

Another thing, and I know these are small samples, but I have never seen a non gloss wrap with real world use that the reflectivity didn't start looking different in different areas. Lastly, sort of mottled. And I've seen numerous gloss wraps in places like Barret Jackson where I would expect the owner wanted to impress yet every one of them had worse orange peel effect up close than a typical factory pant job. Looked shiny as hell from a distance but looked really bad (to me) up close.

Yeah orange peel is the nature of the vinyl it’s just never the same as real paint and most wraps do end up looking bad from up close

 

[S550_Newbie]

The wrap that you use makes all the difference. There are several newer advancements that have been made to some vinyls to eliminate the orange peel but you sacrifice stretch. 3M has the worst orange peel imo, colors make a huge difference as well i.e. satin shows almost nothing where as gloss will show everything. Stick to good brands that have been proven over the years like Avery, Oracal, Vivvid, etc. I have personally used Avery, 3M and Vivvid. I don't care for 3M, Avery is great and very stretchable, not the best gloss though, Vivvid is thick, has the best gloss of the 3, but you can work it and it can take heat when you are done and heating out any peel or marks on the surface.

 

[Balr14]

every one of them had worse orange peel effect up close than a typical factory pant job. Looked shiny as hell from a distance but looked really bad (to me) up close.

A wrap is only as good as the surface it is applied over. But, many wraps have an orange peel effect to make it appear to look more like paint.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

many wraps have an orange peel effect to make it appear to look more like paint.

So can you save money going with extra smooth vinyl the manufacturer didn't have to add orange peel to?

I hope this doesn't turn into orange peel escalation as paint and wrap makers try to outdo each other.