Vinyl wrap questions

I tried to wrap my hood on my 04 tacoma today and failed miserably. I bought cheap vinyl off Amazon for 23 bucks for a 5 x 6 piece. my question is if I spring for 3m or Avery...is it more forgiving? I think my problem was the adhesion was too strong and I ripped the vinyl not to mention my rotator cuff.. this stuff was not user friendly at all. You tube makes it look so easy...lol

 

I'm no vinyl 'pro' but I've done a few projects including the hood and cab roof of my truck. I've only tried using 3M or VViViD products so I can't speak for other brands. I was able to adhere, remove and re-adhere without ripping except for one incident that I was doing outside and the vinyl was too cold.
I would recommend having on hand:
Heat gun
Felted squeegee
Any detail tools needed for the application
WrapCut knifeless edge tape
Time & patience
An extra set of hands

 

The key is to keep it soaked with soap and water. Do not let it dry.

 

@DecalsByDesign you're a bit of a wrap master. What would you recommend?

 

you can wet it? I thought it was a dry type adhesive method. I have done soapy water method with decals

 

Check out Oracal. You can get it from Metro restyling.com
I’ve used Oracal, VViVid, 3M, Avery, Sott and a no-name 5D Carbon.
Depending on what you’re wrapping, I’d probably rank them in that order.

IMO, Oracal is the most forgiving and easy to use, especially for anything body/exterior.
It stretches well, conforms/lays very well (no bubbles), sticks around wrapped under sides and edges without pulling up.
I wrapped all four corners, hood bulge, mirror caps and front door handles over two years ago. Still holding strong today. I don’t rock crawl but I do a fair bit of hunting and camping off-road and (knock wood) I’ve not had any issues with ripping or pulling up, etc.
Also wrapped several dash pieces and a couple engine parts.

For vinyl wrapping, I would not use soap/water solutions. For PPF, yes. But a good quality vinyl, it’s not needed.
Best thing for wrapping is prep! A clean surface, clean working environment, heat gun and squeegee’s (one with and without a suede edge).

 

It is a dry application. Do not use water and soap

 

You need to make sure you're using a cast vinyl. One made for wrapping. I used Oracal to wrap camper top. As GAknight said, it is very forgiving. I put a strip at the top of my tailgate where the window gasket rubbed to protect the paint as well. I heated and stretched a 4' piece to over 5' with no tears. Do NOT use water.

 

I'll order some this week....It should be easy so I thought....Not much to a 04 Tacoma hood. Worst part is I pulled some clear coat off removing it so....will probably do some light sanding.

 

970 is the series I used. You definitely want to smooth those clear coat edges. Vinyl shows all the flaws. Metrorestyling is where I got mine as well.

 

3M and Avery are dry adhesion products. There are some wet adhesion but check the product you buy first, the adhesive is specific to a particular application method. Most of the vehicle wraps I have seen are dry adhesion.

 

3M is my last choice of material, Avery my first. Orafol and KPMF are really the only other ones I'll use. Vivvid is calendared film and I would consider it trash.

Never wrap with soap and water. Works for decals with non air egress vinyl, but can cause issues when high quality vinyl is used.

Sorry, been SLAMMED this year, havent even looked at the site since I quit making products.
Ranked in order of preference

Avery
Orafol
3M
KPMF (yet to install, but getting ready to wrap shop truck this weekend)

Shitlist:
Vivvid (cheap shit pushed by youtube wrapper)
3M (just not very good for how much of a premium they charge and really temperamental film)
APA (leaves all the glue behind on removal, and it doesn't come off easily)
Arlon (digital film only, had a logo fly off a vehicle getting on the interstate after customer pickup, only made for warm humid climates)

@GAknight that 5D carbon is printed film on either Avery or 3M Inkjet Vinyl. I prefer digital films over everything else.


@RollTide82

Make sure to install in the shade, or preferably inside a climate controlled shop. Best temp is 70-75º for repositioning. Don't skimp on vinyl, even if it goes on nicely, it wont last. I wrapped a hood using vivvid for the first time last summer and that hood a few weeks ago no longer looks wrapped. It cracked into a million pieces and is not going to come off.. ever... It was on a beater, so he doesnt really care. Avery is the most user friendly film out there. 3M is the most finicky. Orafol is good, but I don't use it much because of how thin it is. Take your time. The wrapping is the easy part, the cutting is what takes a majority of the time.

Thanks for letting me vent

I'd charge 150-250 for a hood wrap, for your reference. Materials are the most inexpensive factor of wrapping.

 

I think you just answered every question I had on this particular subject.
Damn, I love this place.
Thank you!

 

I will probably wait until it gets warm again...however it is 80 degrees today. I might just wrap the entire truck. Just need to save up some money. The Tundra comes first then the Tacoma lol

 

Fair warning, the hood is your easiest panel.

 

Should I remove bumper ends to wrap or can it be done easily while still on the truck?

 

I do them on the truck, makes it easier when their not jumping around. But I would recommend taking them off so you can wrap around the edge.

 

Glad to see you back on here @DecalsByDesign

I agree about the climate control and temps. I pulled every part I’ve wrapped off the truck and wrapped inside, about 70 degrees. Clean table and parts.

Regarding the 5D. The one I used is a bit different than what you described. It actually has a series of arcs made into the pattern, then a clear gloss on top. For interior pieces (not subjected to the elements) where you can get a good wrap on the edges, it does really well and IMO, is visually one of the best I’ve seen/ used...of which, I’ve used 3M (Matte, textured), Vivvid, and Sott.
The Sott is definitely a print. Looks good from a distance, but up close...honestly it bothers me. I’ve been considering a change for several months.

Just FWIW and for anyone that wanted to see the two...

Here’s my steering wheel. 5D

Here and here and here, are the dash pieces. Horizontal center bars and lower ventilation control panel is also 5D.
Center surround and instrument cluster is Sott.

 

I definitely haven’t seen that. Where’d it come from? I have used one like it, but it’s what I used on the hood of that beater than went to shit. Was far from comfortable.

Stek just came out with an awesome carbon ppf film. I want.

 

I got the 5D off Fleabay actually.

For anything on the exterior/exposed to elements, I wouldn’t try it. Heard a few stories like what you described with fading, peeling, etc.

I’ll have to check out the Stek.
If I get rid of the Sott, I’ve been considering the forged carbons. I think Avery and Hexis are the two I’ve looked at. Any others you know of/recommend?

 

Avery is printed and looks best in gloss, matte is definitely lacking the wow factor. Hexis is textured and more of a flat with some shine. I would love to see it laminated or glossy. I bought the matte print to wrap my interior but lost all interest. Makes for good ram handle wraps.

 

is that the Avery on the handle?

 

Yea. in matte.