Vinyl application

Skeeter McSkeet · January 11, 2015

Hey all, I just got 25 square feet of vinyl for a few parts I plan to wrap. I have never worked with the stuff before today. I started small and wrapped my chrome mirror caps. It really wasn't super tough, I managed to get it on without wrinkles or bubbles; but it was time consuming. I plan to wrap my grille surround, bumpers, and the red part of the gmc emblems.

Does anyone with vinyl experience have any tips or tricks for me on these larger parts?

I'm not sure if I should take a big piece and lay it over the grille, then cut out the interior; or if I should use 4 smaller strips cut to fit the surround. I don't know how or if the vinyl will work on top of itself, and I'm guessing it will be tough or unavoidable to hide the seams from the individual strips.

I'll be making use of a second set of hands for the bumpers. A question I have on those are what's the best way cut out the holes for the parking sensors? I'm guessing wrap the entire bumpers, then cut a small hole and pull it tight around the edges. I plan on leaving the sensors chrome and not covering them up.

The letters of the emblems seems pretty straight forward, but any advice on those is appreciated to.

Thanks in advance

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gregdec1 · January 11, 2015

Heat it up slightly with a heat gun or blow dryer. It will be more plyable and easier to stretch. I did my GMC logos on my truck and heated it up to mold into all the little crevises and it worked perfect.

Skeeter McSkeet · January 11, 2015

Worked like a charm after I added heat to it and pushed it in the gaps with a squeegee. I slipped and cut out over the red lettering a couple times and had to restart, but all in all went pretty well. I did individual pieces for each letter in case that happened. I'd say I may have to redo the "g" on the tailgate as it was my first one, but we'll see how long it holds up.

I also demolished a couple clips on the mirror caps when removing them, but they seem to have enough on them to still fit back on snug.

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Sharpb · March 6, 2015

If you don't mind me asking, how much was the vinyl wrap. I'm going back and forth on doing vinyl or plasti dip. I used plasti dip on my badges, and it's super easy to use

Skeeter McSkeet · March 7, 2015

If you don't mind me asking, how much was the vinyl wrap. I'm going back and forth on doing vinyl or plasti dip. I used plasti dip on my badges, and it's super easy to use

I used plasti dip on my last truck's wheels, bumpers, emblems, and grille with no problem. It is the less expensive route, but not by too much. I think I paid around $65 for 30 square feet. The main reason I went with vinyl is because I went with a black truck this time and it was easy to color match almost perfect. I had a grey truck last time and liked the matte black accent. They also didn't offer any of the glossifier or other color options in plasti dip spray like they do now. It was also kind of tough to wash. Seemed like bugs would almost get stuck in the stuff on the bumper in the plasti dip. I had a bunch of grass clippings stuck in the wheels on one side from a neighborhood kid I had cutting the grass the wrong way and shot it all out to the truck too. It held up good though, I can't say it didn't. I saw dipyourcar has a cleaner for the dip now too, so it might be something to look into. I've been debating doing the stock wheels with it since it will hold up to heat where vinyl won't, and it would be too hard to wrap all the nooks and crannies. Probably do a black with the glossifier or maybe a gunmetal with gloss.

-Skeet

Sharpb · March 7, 2015

Do u happen to have pictures of your last truck with the dipped parts. I have a black sierra that I'm wanting to color match

Skeeter McSkeet · March 7, 2015

If you google dipyourcar, they have a video of the new glossifier made by plastidip to make the matte colors a glossy finish. They have one of the matte black with glossifier on a wheel. I'd say that would be your best bet at color matching plasti dip with onyx black.

Here's a couple off my phone, I've got more on my laptop of the badges/emblems I did. Bumpers and wheels were done in these, maybe that grille too, I had one painted and one dipped. I'll look for some more later.

-Skeet